American Dissertation Fellowship

AAUW's American Dissertation Fellowship is the flagship initiative of AAUW's proud tradition of funding women pursuing higher education. The fellowship offsets scholars' expenses during their final year of dissertation writing and deepens AAUW's impact by accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. Established in 1888, AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate funding for women in the United States. The 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. Fellows are required to devote 100% of their working time and intellectual effort to the completion of their dissertation during the fellowship term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Fellowship awards may be used for tuition, fees, course-required expenses like books and supplies, as well as housing, food, and other living expenses including childcare. Selection criteria emphasize scholarly excellence, research originality, commitment to helping women and girls, and feasibility of research plans.