American Association of University Women International Fellowships 2022 -2023

American Association of University Women International Fellowships 2022 - 2023 

The International Fellowships program has been carrying out its nonprofit work since 1917. It exclusively caters to those who identify as women and who are not U.S citizens or permanent residents of the country and are looking to pursue higher education in the US and a subsequent successful career in their home country. The program seeks to support these women financially. 

About the scholarship

The program provides support for women who are pursuing full-time graduate or post-doctoral studies in the United States of America. 

• These women are not U.S citizens or permanent residents and return to their home country after their studies to pursue an official career in the field of their choosing. 
• After the period of study is complete, the recipients of the award return home and find their places as leaders in different scientific and non-scientific fields. 

Criteria for applying for the scholarship

To apply for the Harvard University Academy Scholars program, candidates will have to fulfill certain criteria, which are given below. 

• The applicant must be a citizen of a country other than the US or must possess a nonimmigrant visa if residing in the US. Any women who are currently citizens or permanent residents of the US, or expect to be one during the fellowship year or have dual citizenship with the US being one of the countries, are not eligible for this scholarship. 
• The applicant must hold an academic degree that they have earned in either the US or abroad, which is equivalent to a US bachelor's degree completed by November 15, 2021.
• The applicant must be devoted to the proposed academic plan during the fellowship year. 
• The applicant must intend to pursue a professional career in their home country once they have completed their studies. 
• Applicants must not have previously received any national fellowship from International Fellowships (not including branch or local awards or Community Action Grants) 
• Applicants cannot apply for the scholarship if they have any affiliation to AAUW in the form of being a part of the board of directors, committees, panels, task forces and staff, and current interns. 
• Only scholars who identify as women and are part of an accredited institution of higher education are eligible to apply for this scholarship. 
• The applicant must be proficient in English and must confirm the same by submitting one of the required components given in the application process. In short, these include certain English proficiency exams, transcripts from English-speaking institutions, and a written statement verifying that the applicant’s native language is English. 
• The applicant must apply for a Masters, first professional, or doctoral degree at an accredited institution of their choice for the duration of the fellowship year and must include the name of the institution they have applied to in their application. Although acceptance is not required, applicants must provide official confirmation from the institution. 
• Masters or first professional degree fellowships are intended for Masters or professional degree-level programs such as J.D., L.L.M., M.F.A., M.Arch. or medical degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., etc. 
• The doctoral fellowships are intended for doctorate degrees which also encompass research degrees such as Ph.D. or Ed.D. 
• Postdoctoral applicants must provide proof of their earned doctorate, hold a doctorate that is classified as a research degree or an M.F.A. by November 15, 2021, and must also state where they intend to conduct their research. 
• Master’s or first professional degree and doctoral applicants must be enrolled in a US accredited institution located in the US during the fellowship period. 
• For Graduate Women International members, a limited number of awards are available for studying and researching in any country other than their own. Foreign branches of US institutions are not considered inside the US since they are not located here. 
• Applicants are free to apply for the scholarship during any year of their program, but they have to conduct an entire year of study or research as International Fellowships do not fund partial years. Programs that end before April of the fellowship year are not considered eligible. 
• The fellowship program does not provide funding for distance learning or online programs. However, the final decision on what comes under distance learning will be taken by the AAUW, and applications of candidates who are studying remotely temporarily will be accepted. 
• Applicants who have been rejected once before are eligible to apply again if they wish to. 

 Process of application for the scholarship 

 To apply for the scholarship, log on to the official site of the AAUW and search for the scholarship, make an account and after finishing the start, background and proposal, complete the following components. 

Recommendations 

The applicants need to submit three recommendations from either professors or professional colleagues, preferably from their home country, who are well aware of their contributions and work in their academic background. AAUW does not accept references from dossier services. 

Documents 

Proof of the highest degree through transcripts from the institution it was acquired from(with lists of courses and grades received), and if that is unavailable, an official letter from the institution that includes the date the degree was completed must be uploaded. No additional certificates that the applicant may have received during her education must be uploaded. 

 Proof of current enrolment (for currently enrolled applicants) through transcripts from the institution (with lists of courses and grades received). If the list of courses is unavailable, an official letter from the institution with the degree completion date must be uploaded. 

 Proof of a doctorate or M.F.A degree (for postdoctoral candidates) through either a transcript showing the degree and date received, an official letter from the institution which includes the degree completion date, or a copy of the diploma showing the date the degree was received. 

 Proof of English proficiency through an official and valid TOEFL or IELTS score, which is valid for up to two years. Institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be considered. A written statement verifying that English is the applicant's native language or a transcript or diploma confirming that the applicant has a secondary diploma or an undergraduate degree from an English-speaking institution, or the applicant has had a semester of full-time study in her discipline at an English-speaking institution between November 2019 and 2021 will also be considered. 

 Selection criteria for the scholarship

For the selection process of a candidate, the AAUW panel will make its decision based on the given criteria. 

• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application, applicants from developing countries, or an underrepresented group will be more strongly considered. 
• The position of the applicant on their potential return to their home country 
• The applicant’s academic or professional qualifications. 
• The applicant’s dedication to the uplifting and advancement of women and girls in her home country. 
• The applicant's proposed schedule. 
• The proposed plan of study and research with respect to its quality and feasibility. 
• The evidence of prior community/civic service by the applicant in her home country. 
• The degree to which the applicant's country needs the specialized knowledge and skills she plans to acquire. 
• The financial situation of the applicant. 
• The degree of motivation the applicant has for graduate study or research. 

 Benefits of the scholarship

The applicant receives $18000 for a master’s or first professional degree, $20000 for a doctoral degree, and $30000 for a postdoctoral degree. 

 The funds can be used for educational expenses, living expenses, dependent child care, and travel to professional meetings, conferences, and seminars that make up 10% or less of the fellowship total. 

Terms to be fulfilled on selection

• The recipients of the scholarship need to sign a contract to show that they have accepted the award and adhere to the given conditions. 
• The recipient has to pursue her project full-time during the fellowship year (July 1-June 30). Therefore, no partial fellowships are awarded, and they may not be deferred. 
• The scholarship amount must be more considerable than any other single award or paying position (excluding tuition or fee waivers, as well as sabbatical support functionally equivalent to sabbatical leave) received during the fellowship year and must be acknowledged as the same. Acceptance of a lower amount of funds than the AAUW award is permitted only with the prior written permission of the AAUW. Any changes in the pre-decided plan for the fellowship year must be informed to the AAUW as soon as possible and requires their written approval to be carried out. This includes any changes in the status of an application resulting from the acceptance of any other award. 
• The recipients may spend two or fewer months traveling abroad for any research required for their project with prior written permission from the AAUW. 
• The recipients may work up to 20 hours a week or teach a course with prior written permission from the AAUW. 
• Postdoctoral recipients cannot pursue a degree during the course of their fellowship year. 
• Up to five International Master's or First Professional degree fellowships are renewable for a second year, and the application information for the same will be received by the applicants during their fellowship year. 
• Stipends are made payable to recipients, not to their institutions. 
• With a few exceptions related to tax statutes and treaties, the fellowship stipend is subject to a 14 or 30 percent tax, and these funds will be held back by the AAUW to pay the Internal Revenue Service. 
• The determination of whether a tax obligation associated with the award exists is the sole responsibility of the recipient, as the AAUW does not provide tax advice. 
• The funds are not available for the purchase of equipment, hiring of research assistants, indirect costs, previous expenses and loans taken, overhead costs, cost of dependent's education, travel grants or other grants in aid, or travel to or from the recipient’s research location. 

Conclusion 

This International Fellowship is beneficial to individuals who identify as women and aims to uplift them and encourage them to pursue their education and career goals by providing financial support.

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