Deadline: 30-Sep-2025
The AAUW Action Fund is now accepting applications for its American Dissertation Fellowship, a program designed to support women pursuing higher education. This fellowship specifically helps cover expenses during the final year of dissertation writing.
The fellowship is open to women in all fields, with a special emphasis on encouraging those in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, as well as those researching gender issues. As one of the oldest non-institutional graduate funding sources for women in the U.S., the AAUW American Fellowships have a long-standing impact in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia.
Each recipient of the American Dissertation Fellowship will receive a stipend of $25,000. These funds can be used for tuition, fees, required course materials such as books and supplies, as well as essential living expenses including housing, food, and childcare. However, the funds cannot be used for expenses incurred before or after the fellowship term.
Eligible applicants must identify as women and be completing their first doctoral degree. They should have completed all coursework, passed preliminary exams, had a research proposal approved or planned, and be fully engaged in dissertation writing from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. They must also be enrolled at a U.S.-accredited institution or a foreign institution listed as eligible to participate in federal student aid programs.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Those who are employees, interns, consultants, or board members of AAUW—or closely related to them—are not eligible. Individuals who have received another national AAUW fellowship or grant in the same year, or are working on a master’s degree during the fellowship term, are also ineligible.
Applications will be evaluated on several criteria. These include scholarly excellence, originality of the research, contribution to the field, and the feasibility and timeline of the project. The review also considers applicants’ commitment to empowering women and girls, especially through service and research.
Additional priority is given to applicants in STEM or gender-related fields, those who have overcome significant life challenges, first-generation college graduates, and those from single-parent households.
Applicants must ensure their submission is complete and correct. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be reviewed. Once submitted, no changes can be made, and no additional documents will be accepted after the deadline. Deadline extension requests will not be granted, and AAUW does not offer feedback on errors or missing materials.
For more information, visit AAUW Action Fund.
