University of Michigan UMAPS Fellowship 2027

UMAPS Fellowship 2027 in the USA

The UMAPS Fellowship 2027 is a fully funded residential research fellowship offered by the African Studies Center at the University of Michigan in the United States. The fellowship is designed for early-career faculty members teaching at African colleges and universities who want to advance their research while working with University of Michigan faculty mentors.

The program provides a five-month research residency in Ann Arbor, Michigan, allowing fellows to focus on independent research, participate in academic activities, and develop international research collaborations. For the 2027–28 cohort, the application deadline is October 15, 2026.

UMAPS Fellowship 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Scholarship Name	University of Michigan UMAPS Fellowship 2027
Host Country	United States
University	University of Michigan
Host Department	African Studies Center
Fellowship Type	Research Fellowship
Duration	5 Months
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Location	Ann Arbor, Michigan
Eligible Applicants	Early-Career African Faculty
Teaching Experience	Fewer Than 10 Years
Application Opens	August 15, 2026
Application Deadline	October 15, 2026

The fellowship supports scholars from a wide range of disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, STEM, public health, education, and agriculture.

What Does the UMAPS Fellowship Cover?

The UMAPS Fellowship provides comprehensive financial and academic support during the five-month residency.

Successful fellows receive:

• Five months of research residency at the University of Michigan
• Round-trip airfare between the fellow's home country and Ann Arbor
• Free housing
• Medical insurance
• Research allowance
• A modest living stipend
• Office or laboratory space
• Access to University of Michigan research resources
• Faculty mentorship and collaboration
• Opportunities to present research to the University of Michigan community

The official award details confirm that the fellowship provides airfare, housing, medical insurance, research support, and a living stipend.

Who Can Apply?

The UMAPS Fellowship is intended for early-career faculty members currently teaching at African colleges or universities.

Applicants generally need to:

• Hold a current academic position at an African university or college.
• Have fewer than 10 years of higher-education teaching experience.
• Be able to reside in Ann Arbor for the complete five-month fellowship.
• Have strong institutional support from their home university.
• Demonstrate a clear research plan.
• Show commitment to academic collaboration and engagement.

Applicants should also have sufficient academic and research experience to complete an independent research project during the residency.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

Direct applications are accepted from faculty members based in:

• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Rwanda
• South Africa
• Uganda

Faculty members from other African countries may still be eligible, but they generally require nomination by a University of Michigan faculty member.

For applicants outside the listed countries, the University of Michigan faculty nominator must complete the required pre-application process and agree to support and mentor the candidate during the fellowship.

Eligible Academic Disciplines

The UMAPS Fellowship welcomes scholars from a broad range of academic fields.

Eligible areas can include:

• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• STEM
• Public Health
• Education
• Agriculture
• Interdisciplinary Research

Applicants whose research connects with the academic priorities of the African Studies Center are particularly encouraged to apply.

Research and Academic Benefits

The fellowship is designed not only to provide financial support but also to strengthen the research careers of African scholars.

Fellows can benefit from:

• Access to University of Michigan research facilities
• Faculty mentorship
• Academic seminars and workshops
• Interdisciplinary research collaboration
• International scholarly networking
• Opportunities to present research
• Development of institutional partnerships
• Interaction with researchers from different disciplines

The program aims to help fellows advance their own research while building long-term academic connections between African institutions and the University of Michigan.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents:

• Completed online application form
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Scholarly research proposal of no more than five pages
• Contact information of the department head, dean, or vice chancellor providing institutional support
• Institutional endorsement or support

The institutional endorsement is an important part of the application and must be received before the application can be considered complete.

Research Proposal Requirements

The research proposal is one of the most important parts of the UMAPS application.

Applicants should present a clear and focused research project that can realistically be advanced during the five-month residency.

The proposal should explain:

• The research topic
• Main research questions
• Research objectives
• Methodology or approach
• Expected outcomes
• Importance of the research
• How the University of Michigan environment will support the project

The proposal must not exceed five pages according to the official application requirements.

Institutional Support Requirement

Applicants need strong support from their home institution.

The application asks for the contact details of the department head, dean, or vice chancellor who will provide institutional support.

The institutional endorsement demonstrates that the applicant's home university supports their participation in the five-month UMAPS residency. Applications are not considered complete until the required institutional support is received.

Previous UMAPS Fellows

Applicants who have previously participated in the UMAPS Fellowship are not eligible to apply again.

The program also gives preference to candidates with limited international academic experience outside Africa. The selection process additionally considers academic quality, research fit, home-institution support, and other factors.

How to Apply for UMAPS Fellowship 2027

Applicants should first confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements, including their current faculty position, teaching experience and ability to spend five months in Ann Arbor.

Next, prepare an updated CV and a focused scholarly research proposal of no more than five pages. Applicants should also identify the appropriate department head, dean, or vice chancellor who will provide institutional support.

Eligible applicants from the listed countries can complete the online application through the University of Michigan's official application system. Applicants from other African countries must first obtain the required nomination from a University of Michigan faculty member before receiving access to the appropriate application process.

Application Process

Check your eligibility: Make sure you are an early-career faculty member at an African college or university and have fewer than 10 years of higher-education teaching experience.

Develop your research project: Prepare a clear research proposal that can be meaningfully advanced during the five-month residency.

Prepare your CV: Highlight your academic qualifications, teaching experience, publications, research activities and relevant achievements.

Arrange institutional support: Provide the contact information of your department head, dean or vice chancellor who will provide the required institutional endorsement.

Check your application route: Applicants from the listed countries can apply directly, while applicants from other African countries require nomination by a University of Michigan faculty member.

Submit the online application: Complete and submit the application through the official University of Michigan system before the deadline.

Fellowship Duration and Cohorts

The UMAPS Fellowship lasts for five months.

The program has two residency periods:

• August to December
• January to May

Applicants can indicate their preferred cohort during the application process, although final placement depends on programme availability.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the UMAPS Fellowship 2027 is:

October 15, 2026

The 2027–28 application cycle opens on August 15, 2026, and applications are reviewed after the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Applicants should therefore make sure that their institutional endorsement and other required documents are completed before the deadline.

Is the UMAPS Fellowship Fully Funded?

Yes.

The UMAPS Fellowship is a fully funded residential research opportunity.

The award includes:

• Round-trip international airfare
• Free accommodation
• Medical insurance
• Research allowance
• Living stipend
• Office or laboratory space
• University research resources
• Five-month research residency

These benefits allow selected fellows to concentrate on their research without bearing the major costs associated with relocating to the United States for the fellowship period.

Why Apply for UMAPS Fellowship 2027?

The UMAPS Fellowship can be highly valuable for African academics seeking international research experience.

Some of its major advantages include:

• Fully funded five-month residency
• Research opportunity at the University of Michigan
• International academic exposure
• Faculty mentorship
• Access to research facilities
• Free accommodation
• Airfare support
• Medical insurance
• Research allowance
• Living stipend
• Academic networking
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Opportunities to develop institutional partnerships

The fellowship combines financial support with an intensive research and academic environment, making it particularly useful for early-career faculty members.

Important Points for Applicants

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements before applying.

The fellowship is specifically designed for early-career African faculty members, not for undergraduate or general Master's students.

Applicants must also be able to spend the complete five-month fellowship period in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Strong institutional support is required, and the research proposal must not exceed five pages.

Applicants from countries outside the direct-application list should not submit the regular application immediately. They first need to follow the University's nomination process through a University of Michigan faculty member.

Final Thoughts

The University of Michigan UMAPS Fellowship 2027 is an excellent fully funded research opportunity for early-career African faculty members who want to advance their research in the United States.

The five-month residential fellowship provides airfare, accommodation, medical insurance, research support, a living stipend, and access to University of Michigan facilities. Fellows also benefit from faculty mentorship, academic seminars, and international research collaboration.

Eligible applicants should prepare a strong research proposal, update their CV, and arrange institutional support well before submitting the application.

The application deadline is October 15, 2026, and applicants should carefully follow the correct application or nomination route based on their country of employment. Apply Now