Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program 2025 at University of Michigan

Highly motivated African Students looking to pursue their academics in the USA for the 205/2026 academic session are invited to apply for the Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program 2025 at University of Michigan. The University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program (UMAPS) aims to bring early-career faculty from African universities to Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Scholars for this Postgraduate scholarship are paired with a faculty collaborator during their stay and have full access to the University of Michigan’s (U-M) resources to further their work on a research project, an academic degree, publications, grant proposal, or other relevant activity starting from the 2025/2026 academic year. The Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program supports the development of the next generation of African scholars by integrating them into international academic networks, and promoting U-M’s international commitment to research and teaching collaborations across diverse disciplines, from engineering to literature to economics.

The University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars program hosts two cohorts every year from August through December and January through May with one application round for both cohorts. Applicants will have the opportunity to indicate their preference for a particular cohort during the application process, but placement in a particular cohort (upon acceptance into the program) is not guaranteed.

Scholarship Summary:

Scholarship Sponsor(s): University of Michigan

Host Institution(s): University of Michigan, USA

Scholarship Worth: Fully Funded

Number of Awards: Several

Study Level: Postgraduate

Nationality: African Students

Eligibility for the Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program 2025 at University of Michigan:

Applicants must be an early career faculty member who has taught in the higher education system for less than ten years and is presently teaching in a college or university in Africa.
Applicants must be employed in an ongoing position at a university or college in Africa.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate support from a home institution with a letter of recommendation from the head of the department, dean, or vice chancellor.
Applicants will not be able to fully submit their application until the endorsement from their home university has been received.
Applicants must not be able to remain in residence for five months.
Applicants from other countries in Africa cannot apply directly to UMAPS but need to be nominated by a University of Michigan faculty member with whom they already have an established relationship.
Direct applications from faculty members of colleges or universities from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.

Scholarship Benefits:

Five months of residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, paired with a faculty collaborator with full access to the university’s resources
Round-trip airfare from their home country to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Free housing (private room & bath in a suite setting), medical insurance, a research allowance, and a modest stipend to cover living (Important note: The UMAPS program is unable to accommodate spouses and/or dependents)
Office/Laboratory space
Opportunity to present research to the U-M community

Method of Application for the Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program 2025 at University of Michigan:

Interested applicants should follow the steps below:

Complete the online application form (In this application cycle, this link can only be used by applicants from the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda)
Upload a curriculum vitae using the online application
Upload a scholarly program/research proposal (not to exceed five pages). Applications from a wide range of disciplines and schools are welcome; applications that align with the center’s disciplinary initiatives —AHHI, ASRI, and STEM-Africa are encouraged
Provide the complete name and contact information of the department head, dean, or vice chancellor at the applicant’s home institution who will be writing their letter of support. This must be submitted before applicants can fully submit and complete their online application.

Note: Only applications submitted through the online system will be considered.

Scholarship Nomination Process:

Applicants from outside Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda require a nomination to be completed by a U-M faculty member familiar with the work of the prospective applicant. The nominating faculty must:

Complete the online nomination form (for University of Michigan faculty only, and access requires a U-M login)
Submit /upload a letter of endorsement that indicates their willingness to serve as a mentor during the length of the residency, commit to meet regularly, and if possible provide office space for the prospective participant.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2024.

For more information about this opportunity, Visit the Official Website.

Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars Program 2025 at University of Michigan