AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2026: A Quick Guide for South African Women in STEM

Good to know up front: the AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents only. If you’re a South African woman who also holds U.S. citizenship/green card (or you’re a dual citizen), this guide is for you. If not, scroll to Useful resources for South Africa-based funding you can apply for today.

Applications for the 2026 cycle are open 1 August – 30 September 2025. Awards are worth $20,000, paid in two equal instalments (start and midpoint of the fellowship term). Fields include Architecture, Natural & Physical Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine.

Introduction

The AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship supports women pursuing their first full-time master’s or professional degree in fields where women remain underrepresented—especially STEM. Fellows receive a substantial stipend to help cover tuition and living expenses so they can focus on study, research, and leadership development.

Why It Matters / Opportunities

• High-impact funding: $20,000 can meaningfully reduce the financial load of a U.S. graduate program.
• Career acceleration: AAUW is a respected brand; the fellowship enhances your profile for internships, residencies, and post-grad roles.
• STEM pipeline boost: Targeted at fields with historically low female participation—an edge for applicants with clear technical goals.
• Networking & recognition: Joining AAUW’s alumnae network can open doors to mentors, collaborators, and employers.

Eligibility Snapshot

• Identify as a woman.
• Pursue a full-time master’s or professional degree in Architecture, Natural & Physical Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Medicine.
• First master’s/professional degree (you can’t already hold one).
• Program must begin on or before 1 September 2026 and finish on or after 30 April 2027.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

What You’ll Get

• Stipend: $20,000, disbursed in two equal payments (start and midpoint).
• Eligible uses: tuition/fees, required books/supplies, and living expenses (including childcare).

How to Apply

1. Confirm you meet all criteria on the official page: AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship.
2. Create an account and apply through the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal.
3. Prepare two letters of recommendation (academic/professional), degree certificates, and official transcripts (plus certified English translations if applicable).
4. If your previous degree isn’t clearly equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s, consider a credential evaluation (e.g., WES/ECE) to document equivalency.
5. Submit by 30 September 2025 (no late applications).

What to Expect After Applying

• Review focuses on academic excellence, clarity of career goals in STEM, demonstrated leadership, and commitment to serving under-resourced communities.
• Notifications: typically mid-April (2026 cycle reference).
• Disbursements: usually July (first stipend) and January (second stipend) of the fellowship year.

Common Challenges

• Citizenship rule: Many South Africans won’t meet the U.S. citizen/PR requirement. See South African options below.
• Time crunch: Referees need time. Ask early, share your CV and goals, and send polite reminders before the portal cutoff.
• Program fit: You must apply in a single discipline and align tightly with the approved fields.
• Document quality: Ensure transcripts and degree certificates meet AAUW’s strict documentation standards; include certified translations where needed.

Tips for Success

• Be specific: Quantify your impact (GPA, publications, prototypes, patents, competitions, hackathons, clinical hours).
• Show leadership & service: Highlight mentoring, outreach, and community STEM programs—AAUW values this.
• Career line-of-sight: Articulate how the degree leads to defined roles (e.g., data scientist in public health, geotechnical engineer in infrastructure resilience).
• Budget sensibly: Tie the stipend to clear cost line items (tuition share, books, housing, childcare).
• Polish documents: U.S.-style résumé (1–2 pages), crisp personal statement, and consistent details across forms and transcripts.

Useful Resources (South Africa & Official Links)

AAUW & U.S. Links

• Official fellowship page: AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship
• Application portal: aauw.fluxx.io
• Participating schools list (for accredited institutions): Federal Student Aid

South Africa–Focused Funding & Support

• DSI-NRF Postgraduate Funding (2026): national master’s & doctoral scholarships with full/partial cost of study — check the call and apply via NRF Connect. Summary info: NWU Research Support – NRF Funding.
• SAWISE Scholarships: opportunities for Sub-Saharan African women in science/engineering (Honours/4th year and others). Start at SAWISE (UCT) or search “SAWISE Angus/Hope”.
• Major SA job portals for STEM roles: Careers24, PNet, Indeed ZA, and LinkedIn Jobs.

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We track scholarships and jobs for South Africans daily. See our hub here: Wikihii.co.za — Scholarships & Fellowships. You can also join our WhatsApp channel for alerts: Wikihii Updates (South Africa).