AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2027–2028: A $20,000 Stipend for Women Earning a First Master's or Professional Degree in STEM and Medicine

AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2027–2028: A $20,000 Stipend for Women Earning a First Master’s or Professional Degree in STEM and Medicine

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has funded women’s graduate education for well over a century, and its Selected Professions Fellowship targets one of the most stubborn gaps in that story: the fields where women remain persistently underrepresented. The program awards a $20,000 stipend to women pursuing a first full-time master’s or professional degree in designated areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. For the 2027–2028 academic year, the application window is scheduled to open on January 5, 2027 and close on February 18, 2027.

This guide explains what the fellowship funds, who qualifies, which fields are eligible, how the application works, and how to build a competitive case. It is drawn from AAUW’s own program page rather than a reposted summary, so you can decide whether the 2027–2028 cycle is worth your time before you start assembling transcripts and recommendation letters.

Key Details at a Glance

Use the table as a fast screen. The sections below explain the reasoning behind each line so you can judge fit before committing to the paperwork.

What the Fellowship Offers

The award is a $20,000 stipend for the fellowship year, disbursed in two equal installments of $10,000 — the first near the start of the fellowship term and the second at its midpoint. That structure matters for planning: the money arrives in two tranches rather than a single lump sum, so you should map it against tuition due dates, living costs, and any other aid you are stacking.

A stipend, as distinct from a tuition-restricted scholarship, is meant to support you rather than a single line item on a bursar’s bill. AAUW fellowships are generally intended to help cover the real cost of being a full-time graduate student — tuition, fees, living expenses, dependent care, and the other costs that make full-time study possible. For a student in an intensive STEM master’s program or a medical degree, $20,000 in flexible support can be the difference between studying full time and taking on additional debt or paid work that competes with coursework.

The fellowship is a one-year award tied to the 2027–2028 academic year. It is designed to support a defined stretch of full-time study, not an open-ended commitment across an entire degree.

Why This Program Exists

AAUW does not fund Selected Professions fellows at random. The program is explicitly aimed at fields where women have historically been, and in many cases still are, underrepresented — the engineering labs, computing departments, mathematics programs, and medical schools where the gender balance has been slow to shift. The theory of change is straightforward: reduce the financial barriers that push talented women out of these pipelines at the graduate level, and more of them will complete the credentials that lead to leadership in those professions.

That mission shapes who wins. The strongest applicants are not simply high-achieving students; they are high-achieving women whose presence in an eligible field advances the program’s core purpose. Understanding that framing helps you write an application that speaks to what AAUW is actually trying to accomplish, rather than a generic scholarship essay.

Eligible Fields of Study

The Selected Professions Fellowship is limited to designated fields. Based on AAUW’s program page, eligible areas include:

• Science — life sciences, physical sciences, earth and environmental sciences, and health- or medical-related STEM disciplines.
• Technology — computer science, information systems, and digital technologies.
• Engineering — including mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, biomedical, and aerospace engineering, among others.
• Mathematics — including applied mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science.
• Medicine — professional medical and health degrees such as MD, DO, DDS, DMD, OD, DC, and DPM.

If your program sits squarely inside one of these categories, you are a natural fit. If your field only touches them at the edges, read the official eligibility language carefully before investing time — the program is deliberately narrow, and a loose thematic connection to STEM is not the same as enrollment in an eligible degree. Because AAUW periodically refines the list of qualifying fields and degree types, always confirm your specific program against the current official page before applying.

Who Is Eligible

The eligibility rules are specific and firm. To apply for a Selected Professions Fellowship, you must meet all of the following:

• Identify as a woman. The program is a women’s fellowship, and AAUW states that applicants must identify as a woman.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Unlike AAUW’s International Fellowships, which support women who are not U.S. citizens, Selected Professions is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
• Be pursuing a first master’s or professional degree. You must be working toward your first full-time master’s or professional degree in an eligible field, and you cannot already hold one. The program is built to open the door to the credential, not to fund a second graduate degree.
• Hold a bachelor’s-level qualification. You need a bachelor’s degree (or its international equivalent) at the time of application.
• Study at an eligible U.S. institution. Your school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or otherwise eligible to participate in federal student aid programs.

AAUW’s fellowships also generally restrict eligibility for applicants who have already received a national AAUW fellowship or grant, so if you have a prior AAUW award, check the current rules before applying. As always, verify each requirement against the official program page, since eligibility criteria can be updated between cycles.

Deadlines and Timeline

For the 2027–2028 cycle, the application is scheduled to open on January 5, 2027 at 9:00 AM ET and close on February 18, 2027 at 5:00 PM ET. That is a roughly six-week window, and it is a hard deadline — AAUW’s application system closes at the stated time, and late materials, including recommendation letters that arrive after the cutoff, generally cannot be accepted.

The rest of the calendar runs as follows: award notifications go out in April 2027, and the first stipend payment is issued between July and September 2027, aligned with the start of the 2027–2028 academic year. Build that lag into your planning. This is support for the coming academic year, not a way to cover a bill that is due this spring. If you need funds sooner, this program will not solve a near-term cash gap.

The winter deadline also has a practical implication: the pieces of your application that depend on other people — official transcripts and recommendation letters — need to be requested well before February. Start those requests in December or early January so a slow registrar or a busy recommender does not cost you the cycle.

Required Materials

Based on AAUW’s program page, a complete application generally includes:

• Two letters of recommendation. Choose recommenders who can speak specifically to your academic ability and your promise in your field, not just character references.
• Official transcripts from all institutions where you earned or are earning a degree.
• Proof of degree or diplomas documenting your qualifications.
• Admission or enrollment verification confirming that you are, or will be, a full-time student in an eligible program during the fellowship year.
• Certified translations for any documents not in English.

An application fee may apply; AAUW’s program page as summarized here does not state a fee amount, so confirm that detail on the official site before you submit. If there is a fee, factor it and any translation or transcript costs into your planning.

How to Apply

The application is submitted through AAUW’s online system, reachable from the official program page. A sensible sequence:

1. Confirm eligibility first. Verify that you identify as a woman, are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, are pursuing your first master’s or professional degree in an eligible field, and are enrolled at (or admitted to) a qualifying U.S. institution. Screening yourself in or out early saves everyone time.
2. Request transcripts and enrollment verification early. These come from your institution and can take time. Order them as soon as the cycle opens, if not before.
3. Line up recommenders in December. Give each of your two recommenders a clear deadline well ahead of February 18, 2027, along with a short summary of your goals so they can write specifically.
4. Prepare translations if needed. If any document is not in English, arrange certified translations in advance.
5. Draft your written materials with the program’s mission in mind. Frame your study plan around your field and your promise in it, and be explicit about your trajectory in a profession where women remain underrepresented.
6. Submit before the deadline, not at it. Application portals slow down in the final hours. Aim to submit a day or two early so a technical glitch does not end your cycle.

Writing a Competitive Application

Because the fellowship funds full-time study in specific fields, reviewers are assessing both your academic strength and your fit with the program’s purpose. A few principles help:

• Lead with your field and trajectory. Make it immediately clear which eligible field you are in and where you are headed. Reviewers should not have to hunt for why you belong in this pool.
• Show academic excellence concretely. Grades, research, projects, and professional experience that demonstrate you can complete a demanding degree carry more weight than adjectives.
• Speak to the mission. AAUW is investing in women advancing in underrepresented professions. Where it is genuine, connect your goals to that larger aim without overstating it.
• Make your recommenders specific. A letter that describes your actual work and potential in your field beats a warm but generic endorsement. Brief your recommenders well.
• Keep the file clean. Complete transcripts, correct enrollment verification, and properly translated documents signal that you take the process seriously and reduce the risk of a technical disqualification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying while ineligible. Already holding a master’s or professional degree, studying in a field that is not on the eligible list, or lacking U.S. citizenship or permanent residency will not survive screening. Confirm fit before you write.
• Requesting materials too late. Transcripts, enrollment verification, and recommendation letters depend on other people. Late requests are the most common avoidable reason applications fall apart.
• Treating it as a generic scholarship. A strong Selected Professions application speaks to a specific field and to the program’s focus on women in underrepresented professions, not to general academic merit alone.
• Expecting fast money. With notifications in April 2027 and first payments between July and September 2027, this supports the coming academic year, not an immediate shortfall.
• Submitting at the last minute. Portal problems near a hard 5:00 PM ET deadline are avoidable. Give yourself margin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the award? The Selected Professions Fellowship provides a $20,000 stipend, paid in two equal installments of $10,000.

Who can apply? Women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, pursuing their first full-time master’s or professional degree in an eligible STEM or medical field at a qualifying U.S. institution, and who do not already hold such a degree.

When is the deadline? The 2027–2028 application is scheduled to open January 5, 2027 and close February 18, 2027 at 5:00 PM ET.

When will I hear back? Award notifications are expected in April 2027, with the first stipend payment issued between July and September 2027.

Which fields qualify? Designated fields across science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Confirm your specific program against the official list before applying.

Can international students apply? Not through this program. Selected Professions is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; AAUW’s separate International Fellowships serve women who are not U.S. citizens.

Is there an application fee? AAUW’s program materials summarized here do not state a fee amount. Confirm on the official page before you submit.

Official Links and Next Steps

Start at the official program page: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/selected-professions-fellowship-program/. Read the eligibility, field list, and application requirements carefully against your own situation, then build your timeline backward from the February 18, 2027 deadline — transcripts and recommendation letters first, written materials next, submission a day or two early.

If you are a woman pursuing a first master’s or professional degree in an eligible STEM or medical field, this is a well-established, low-friction opportunity: a meaningful stipend, a clear application, a predictable calendar, and a funder whose entire purpose is to help women complete credentials in fields where they remain underrepresented. Because amounts, dates, eligible fields, and requirements can change between cycles, confirm the current details on the official page before you apply.