Individual Fellowships
- University of Michigan undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students are eligible, regardless of citizenship.
- Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program.
- Ph.D. candidates are not eligible.
- Students graduating before the start of the project are not eligible.
- Eligible internship or research projects must be at least one month in length, constitute at least a 30-hour-per-week time commitment (exclusive of language training), and meet all requirements of the University Travel Policy and the Institutional Review Board.
The International Institute Individual Fellowships are designed to support University of Michigan students, regardless of citizenship, who are enrolled in a degree program and wish to participate in internships or conduct research abroad. Award amounts are up to $5,000.
Project Categories
Internships: Funding is available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students to participate in internships abroad. Internships can be with private companies, government agencies, international organizations. or non-governmental organizations. The International Institute cannot assist applicants in obtaining internship placements. Internships may be paid or unpaid, but students with paid internships must include their salary amounts in their budgets, and are eligible only for partial funding.
Research Projects: The fellowship also supports undergraduate and professional school students who are doing research abroad as part of their degree program. For the purposes of this award, research is defined as thesis research, participation in an on-going research project as part of a required degree-related work experience, or other independent research toward degree requirements. The research project does not have to be for academic credit.
Preliminary Dissertation Research: Additionally, the award provides support for preliminary visits to prospective overseas dissertation sites by graduate students who are planning doctoral research on topics in area and international studies. These awards are intended to enable students to develop a firm foundation for their research. Only Doctoral pre-candidates are eligible for this research award. Doctoral candidates are not eligible and should apply for the Rackham International Research Award.
Application Submission: Electronically submit each of the items listed below.
1. The International Institute Individual Fellowship online application. https://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/ii/iiif/application.aspx
2. A statement of purpose (a maximum of two pages, single-spaced, 12-pt. font). Internship statements must include information on how this experience will benefit the applicant's academic program and his or her future career plans. Research statements must describe the project and discuss its rationale, objectives, design, and methodology, as well as the projected benefits of the trip. If the applicant will be working with an established research project, a description of the organization and the activities in which he or she will be engaged must be included.
3. A letter of invitation is required only for internship applicants. It must be a letter or e-mail from the host organization describing the organization, the specific work, and the financial terms of the internship. Research applicants may submit a letter of invitation if it is pertinent. (e.g., a letter from a faculty member at a university abroad acknowledging and supporting the applicant's plans or offering research oversight, or a letter from an archive granting access, etc.).
4. A budget, which must include the total estimated cost for airfare, airport transportation, local transportation, housing, food, visa fees, CDC-required immunizations, and HTH insurance fee. The total budget may exceed the maximum award.
5. A resume or curriculum vitae.
6. An unofficial U-M transcript.
7. One letter of reference from a U-M faculty or staff member. The referee should comment on the applicant’s ability to carry out the internship or proposed research project, the feasibility of the proposal, and the contribution it will make to the applicant’s academic program and career.
Grantees will be required to provide a brief report (2–5 pages) outlining the experience within one month of their return to the United States. Grantees are also encouraged to write an article or submit photographs (or both) to be considered for publication in International Institute materials.