AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship 2026 ($25,000 stipend)

Deadline: September 30, 2025

Applications are open for the AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship 2026. AAUW’s proud tradition of funding women pursuing higher education is anchored in its American Fellowship – AAUW’s flagship initiative. The American Dissertation Fellowship, in particular, offsets scholars’ expenses during their final year of dissertation writing and deepens AAUW’s impact by accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia.

The American Dissertation Fellowship is open to women in all fields of study, though those engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply. Established in 1888, American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate funding for women in the United States. 

Benefits

• American Dissertation Fellowships carry a stipend of $25,000. Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.

Eligibility

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Applicants must have completed all coursework, passed all preliminary exams, have a prior-approved research proposal, or plan and be engaged in completing the final year of their dissertation writing on a full-time basis from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.  
• Applicants must be completing their first doctoral degree.
• Applicants must be enrolled at an institution:
  • Accredited in the United States, or 
  • An international institution recognized as eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, as listed on the Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list. 

Selection Criteria

• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
• Research that demonstrates originality in its design and has the potential to make significant contributions to the relevant academic or professional field
• Active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research
• Feasibility of the research plans, the funding of those plans and the proposed timeline for their completion
• Applicants pursuing doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, or math fields; or those researching gender issues (Preferred)
• Applicants who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges beyond their control, such as socioeconomic status, discrimination, limited academic resources or opportunities, or other adverse circumstances (Preferred) 
• Applicants who were the first in their family to attain a bachelor’s degree (Preferred) 
• Applicants who lead or hail from single parent households (Preferred)

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship.