American association of university women is an American organization that was created in 1881 to promote “education and equity for all women and girls.”
The AAUW was formed in 1881 in Boston, Massachusetts at the period when women were prevented from seeking further education and finding jobs in specialized industries. The AAUW’s goal was to improve women’s lives and personal progress, but it also thought that a higher proportion of college-educated women would benefit society as a whole.
The AAUW recognized lobbying as a strong weapon for change by 1951. For example, the organization’s early lobbying activities aided in the establishment of the United States Department of Education. The AAUW established the Educational Foundation in 1958 to carry on the work of a fellowship program that had been in effect since 1888.
During the 1990s, the Foundation focused on boosting membership diversity and providing fellowships to women from ethnic and racial minority groups. In 1981, the AAUW created its Legal Advocacy Fund to promote fairness by providing financial and legal assistance to women in educational settings who have been harassed or discriminated against on the basis of gender.
The organization is made up of three corporations: the Association, a 160,000-member nationwide lobbying and advocacy group; the AAUW Educational Foundation, which funds research and provides educational subsidies to outstanding women worldwide; and the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, which provides funding and legal support to women in higher education who file gender-discrimination lawsuits.
American Association of University Women International Fellowship
Since 1917, the American association of university women has organized International Fellowships for women. The program provides financial assistance to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents who want to return to their native country to pursue a professional career while studying full-time graduate or postdoctoral studies in the United States. A limited number of grants are offered to women who are members of Graduate Women International for studies outside of the United States (excluding the applicant’s native country)
By the application deadline, applicants must have obtained the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in the United States and must have applied to their intended schools of study. Recipients are chosen for their academic achievements as well as their demonstrated devotion to women and girls.
Eligibility
- Previous beneficiaries of any AAUW national fellowship or grant are not eligible for international fellowships
- Members of the AAUW board of directors, committees, panels, task forces, and staff, as well as current interns, are ineligible to apply for fellowships and grants from AAUW.
- International Fellowships are available to women scholars in all disciplines of study at an approved institution of higher learning or, for postdoctoral fellows, research.
- Unsuccessful candidates may apply again.
- In order to be considered for an International Fellowship, candidates must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have citizenship in a nation other than the United States, or be in possession of a nonimmigrant visa if resident in the United States. Women who are presently, or anticipate to be during the fellowship year, a U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the United States, or dual citizens of the United States and another nation are ineligible.
- Possess an academic degree (acquired in the United States or overseas) equal to a U.S. bachelor’s degree before November 15, 2021.
- Plan to dedicate full-time attention to the specified academic plan throughout the fellowship year.
- Plan to return to their native country after finishing their education to seek a professional job.
- Be fluent in English and demonstrate competence by providing one of the Required Components, which may include particular English proficiency examinations, transcripts from English-speaking institutions, or a written declaration confirming English is the applicant’s native language. Applicants who intend to take one of the authorized English proficiency examinations should plan ahead of time and take the exam as soon as feasible.
- Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral applicants must have applied to an approved institution of study for the fellowship year by November 15, 2021, and must provide the name of the school in the International Fellowship application. While acceptance is not necessary at the time of application, fellows must include formal institutional confirmation with their award acceptance paperwork.
- Master’s/first professional degree fellowships are for master’s or professional degree-level programs such as J.D., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch., or medical degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., and so on. Certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees are not eligible.
- Doctoral fellowships are designed for doctorates classed as research degrees, such as a Ph.D. or an Ed.D.
- Postdoctoral candidates must show verification of their doctorate degree; have a doctorate classed as a research degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., D.M.) or an M.F.A. before November 15, 2021; and identify where their research will be conducted.
- Master’s/first professional degree applicants and doctoral candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. approved institution in the United States during the fellowship year.
- Graduate Women International members are eligible for a limited number of prizes for study or research in any country other than their own. It should be noted that international branches of US institutions are deemed to be located outside of the US.
- Applicants may apply for the fellowship during any year of their program, but they must be enrolled in a full year of study or research. International Fellowships do not cover the cost of a single semester or year of study or research. Programs that terminate before April of the fellowship year are ineligible.
- Master’s/first professional degree and doctorate fellowships supplement standard classroom-based programs of study at colleges or institutions. This fellowship program does not sponsor distance-learning or online programs, or degrees that rely primarily on distance-learning components. AAUW will make the final determination on what qualifies distant learning under these scholarships. AAUW will accept submissions from applicants who are temporarily studying remotely at their university owing to COVID-19 safeguards.
- Award Amount and Submission Deadline
- Recipients will get $18,000 for a master’s/first professional degree, $20,000 for a doctorate and $30,000 for postdoctoral research.
- The application is open on 1st of August, 2021 to November 15, 2021. Note that Application, recommendations, and supporting materials must be submitted online by the deadline.
- All candidates were notified of the results by email. AAUW is unable to accommodate demands for early notification.
- Selection and Application Review Criteria
- The group meets once a year to assess grant proposals. The criteria listed above are used to determine awards. The panel’s recommendations are subject to final acceptance by AAUW. Fellowships are given out on a competitive basis based on the amount of money available in a given fiscal year.
- AAUW does not comment on the proceedings of its award committees in order to maintain a fair evaluation process. AAUW does not give application assessments. There are no provisions for review of fellowship bids. Applications and accompanying documentation become AAUW’s exclusive property and will not be returned or retained for another year.
- Applicants who are resident in their native country at the time of application, from developing/emerging nations, or from an underrepresented group in any area will be given preference. Applicants must show financial need and desire to pursue graduate studies or research.
- Application Process
- Begin the application process by selecting the Apply Now button on the right to access the application.
- Provide three recommendations for intellectual endeavors from instructors or professional colleagues who are familiar with you, your work, and your academic background. When feasible, recommenders should be academics or professional colleagues from the applicant’s home country who can talk to the applicant’s qualifications as well as the country’s need for the specific skill or knowledge she intends to gain via her proposed study or research. References from dossier providers such as Parment or Interfolio are not accepted by AAUW.
- Upload transcripts from the college or institution where the highest degree (not a diploma) was acquired as proof of highest degree. The highest level of education must be at least a bachelor’s degree (must be earned on or before November 15, 2021).
- If the institution does not offer a transcript or a record of courses completed and grades earned, or if the degree did not require coursework, an official letter from the institution where the degree was received must be submitted, along with the degree completion date.
- Proof of current enrolment (only for presently enrolled applicants): Upload transcripts**/course lists/institution letters from the applicant’s present college or university, if she is enrolled.
- Transcripts must include a list of courses taken as well as grades earned. Many transcripts exclude current courses. If your fall 2021 semester grades are not accessible and are not on your transcript, the institution’s Office of the Registrar must give you with a list of courses completed that semester.
- If the institution does not offer a transcript or a record of courses attended and grades obtained, or if the degree did not require coursework, an official letter from the institution where the degree was awarded must be submitted, along with the degree completion dateUpload one of the following as proof of English proficiency:
- Official confirmation of a TOEFL or IELTS score that is accepted and legitimate. The results are valid for two years. TOEFL and other English proficiency exam results from institutions will not be recognized.
- The following are the minimum acceptable scores:
- TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test): 79 points
- TOEFL Fundamentals: 8.5
- TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test Revised: 60
- IELTS score: 6.5
- Written confirmation that the applicant’s native language is English.Academic transcripts or diplomas certifying one or more of the following:
- A secondary diploma or an undergraduate degree from an English-speaking university is required. For all components offered in a foreign language, a verified English translation is necessary. Translations must have a certification mark or an official signature indicating that they are genuine and full.
