What are the application requirements for the International Fellowship?

In addition to narrative questions, all applicants are required to submit the following: 

• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from advisors, professors, colleagues, or others who are academically or professionally familiar with the applicant and can speak to their work, professional qualifications, and academic background. Recommenders are encouraged to evaluate the applicant in relation to the fellowship selection criteria and support this assessment with specific examples.
  
  • Please provide a professional email address for recommenders, rather than a personal one. 
    
  • Register the recommenders through your online application as early as possible in the application process. The application system will send each recommender a personalized link to submit the recommendation online. 
    
  • It is the applicants’ responsibility to remind their recommender of the application deadline in order for the application to be completed on time. An application will not be considered complete until the recommendations have been submitted. 
  • Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.
    
• Proof of Degree: Copy of all degrees earned to date.
  
  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to at least a U.S bachelor’s degree. 
    
  • Applicants must upload copies of all diplomas/degree certificates OR official transcript showing conferral of degree and date of conferral for all programs from which they have received a degree. 
    
  • The documents provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application and must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, and the degree conferred. 
    
  • Applicant must submit translations for all degrees that were awarded in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required. 
    
  • Applicants with an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (particularly if the transcript or degree certificate does not explicitly state it is a bachelor’s degree) must provide an official explanation from the academic institution or governing body, or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES, ECE, or any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member that clarifies the equivalency of your qualification to a bachelor’s degree. 
    
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two bachelor’s degrees or two master’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest. 
    
• Transcripts: Official transcripts confirming conferral of all degrees received.
  
  • Applicants must upload copies of all official academic transcripts from all programs from which they have received a degree. 
  • The transcripts provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application. 
    
  • All transcripts must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, and the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcripts must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcripts reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required. 
    
  • Applicants must submit translations for all transcripts issued in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required. 
    
  • Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript, or a list of courses taken, and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date. 
    
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two bachelor’s degrees or two master’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest. 
• Copy of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) calculation on a 4.0 grading scale 
  • Applicants must upload proof that the CGPA of their highest earned degree is at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. 
    
  • If applicants’ educational institutions do not use a 4.0 grading scale, they must provide supplemental official documentation that indicates the CGPA on a 4.0 scale based on the grades or points awarded by their academic institution. Alternatively, they may upload a CGPA equivalent calculation using a GPA/credential conversion tool, such as  Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or by submitting a credential evaluation report from a service such as WES, ECE, or any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member (General with GPA), both of which should include a detailed list of all grades. 
    
  • If the CGPA was calculated on a 4.0 scale, applicants may submit a transcript page that clearly shows this. 
    
  • If applicants’ institutional transcripts do not include a CGPA, they must submit an official institutional letter confirming the CGPA and the degree completion date, a CGPA equivalent calculation using a GPA/credential conversion tool, such as Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or a credential evaluation report from services like WES or ECE (General with GPA), both of which should include a detailed list of all grades. The original transcript should be provided along with these documents. 
    
• Proof of English Proficiency. Applicants must upload one of the following: 
  
  • Official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge assessment score. Institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be accepted.  All test scores are valid for two years from the test date, except for the Cambridge Assessment, which is valid for life. 
    
  • Minimum acceptable scores are as follows: 
    
    • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test): 79 
      
    • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5 
      
    • Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test: 60 
      
    • IELTS: 6.5 
      
    • Cambridge Assessment: 176 
      
    • Duolingo English Test (DET): 120 
      
  • Written statement affirming the applicant's native language is English. 
  • Academic transcript or diploma confirming one of the following: 
    
    • Secondary diploma or undergraduate degree is from an English-speaking institution. 
      
    • One semester of full-time study in the applicant’s discipline at an English-speaking institution. 
      
• Proof of admission or current enrollment in a program an applicant plans to pursue 
  
  • Students who have been admitted to their program but not yet started: 
    
    • Upload a copy of the official admission letter that indicates the anticipated start date of the program; or 
      
    • Upload the official deferral approval for the 2027-28 academic year along with the official admission letter, if the applicant’s college or university admission was deferred. (if applicable) 
      
  • Students who have been enrolled in their program: 
    
    • Upload transcripts/ course listings or an enrollment verification letter from the college or university in which the applicant is currently enrolled, if enrolled. All submitted documents must clearly state the applicant’s name and their institution’s name. 
      
• Proof of Graduate Women International Membership: 
• If applicants plan to pursue studies or research outside of the U.S. during the fellowship year, and their country of citizenship is not subject to a U.S. travel ban, one of the following is required:
  
  • Official letter from a GWI affiliate confirming the applicant’s membership; 
    
  • Official membership certificate; or 
    
  • Any other official documentation that confirms the applicant’s membership status. 
    

A certified English translation is required for all highest earned degree materials provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.

 
If the name on any of the above documents differs from the one stated in the application, an explanation must be provided, such as a marriage certificate or a court letter of name change.

 
Applicants are responsible for the submission of all required documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.