2027 University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program

The UMAPS program hosts two cohorts per year—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 in the program) is not guaranteed.

Unfortunately, ASC is not able to help prospective applicants connect to U-M faculty, nor do we recommend reaching out to them directly.

Since 2009, the UMAPS Program has hosted scholars from Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Gabon, and Zambia representing a wide range of disciplines that closely align with several initiatives

All applicants for the 2027 University of Michigan Presidential Scholars Program must:

• Be an early career faculty member who has taught in the higher education system for less than ten years, and who is presently teaching in a college or university in Africa

• Be employed in an ongoing position at a university or college in Africa

• Be able to demonstrate support from a home institution with a letter of recommendation from the head of department, dean, or vice chancellor

• Be able to remain in residence for five months.

Previous recipients of the UMAPS fellowship are not eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants without extensive international experience outside the continent.

Those admitted to the UMAPS Program will receive:

• Four to six months residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, paired with a faculty mentor 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 costs.

• Office/Laboratory space

• Opportunity to present research to the U-M community

• Scholars 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.

To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;

• Complete the online application form » (IN THIS APPLICATION CYCLE, this link can only be used by applicants from the following countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, 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 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

Applications will be reviewed after the closing date on October 15. Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

Interested and qualified applicants should use the button below to visit the scholarship application webpage.

For applicants from outside Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda, nomination is required and needs to be completed by a U-M faculty member familiar with the work of the prospective applicant. The nominating faculty must:

• 1

  Complete the online nomination form (for University of Michigan faculty only and access requires U-M login)

• 2

  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 an office space for the prospective participant

As soon as UMAPS receive the complete nomination form and letter of support, they will send the nominated candidate an email invitation with a link to the application portal for nominated applicants; please do not use the regular application portal.