Break Barriers and Excel: AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2025 Applications close on September 30, 2025.

 

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

This fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who identify as women and are enrolled full-time in an accredited master’s or first-professional degree program in the United States. Fields covered include architecture, computer/information science, engineering, mathematics/statistics, with select degrees in business (MBA), law (JD), and medicine (MD, DO). Applicants must not hold a prior master's or professional degree and preference is given to women overcoming adversity—such as being first-generation graduates, coming from single-parent households, having faced discrimination or financial hardship—and those committed to serving under-resourced communities 

Funding & Fellowship Term

Each fellow receives a $20,000 stipend, disbursed in two equal installments during the July‑to‑June fellowship year. Funding may support tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, living expenses, and childcare—but cannot be spent outside the fellowship dates 

Timeline & Notification

Applications for the 2025–26 cohort open on August 1, 2025, and close on September 30, 2025. Awardees will be notified by April 15, 2026, with the first stipend paid in July 2026. Interim and final progress reports are required by December 15, 2026, and July 31, 2027, respectively

Selection Criteria

The competition focuses on scholarly achievement, professional promise, contributions to your field as a role model, and service to women and girls. Special consideration is given to those dedicated to public interest and underserved populations, as well as individuals who have overcome significant challenges .

Why Apply

This fellowship is more than financial aid—it’s a catalyst for change. By bolstering your studies in a high-impact field, AAUW empowers you to become a leader, mentor, and advocate, paving the way for greater gender equity in STEM, business, law, and medicine.

Application Process

Stay alert for the launch of AAUW’s updated awards portal. Meanwhile, you can prepare required documents: academic transcripts, two letters of recommendation (one from a professor), and, for architecture applicants, 10–12 design project samples. Build a compelling narrative highlighting academic excellence, your career goals in your field, dedication to equity for women and girls, and financial need