University of Michigan Opens UMAPS Fellowship Applications for African Faculty
The University of Michigan’s African Studies Center (ASC), in partnership with the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies (CMENAS), has opened applications for the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program, offering early-career African university faculty an opportunity to spend five months in residence at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The program is also expanding its reach to North Africa, with applications welcomed from scholars currently teaching at colleges or universities in Egypt. Faculty members from other North African countries may apply only if they are nominated by a University of Michigan faculty member with whom they already have an established academic relationship.
Applications open annually from August 15 to October 15
The UMAPS application cycle runs annually from August 15 through October 15. The program hosts two cohorts each year:
- August–December
- January–May
There is one application round for both cohorts. Applicants can indicate their preferred cohort during the application process, although admission to a particular cohort is not guaranteed.
Applicants can also consult the program’s latest webinar and recording for guidance on the application process.
Eligible countries
Direct applications are welcomed from faculty members currently teaching at colleges or universities in the following African countries:
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Rwanda
- South Africa
- Uganda
Faculty members from other African countries may apply only if they are nominated by a University of Michigan faculty member with whom they already have an established relationship.
The African Studies Center states that it cannot facilitate introductions between applicants and University of Michigan faculty and does not recommend that prospective applicants contact U-M faculty members directly for this purpose.
Who can apply?
The UMAPS program is intended for early-career faculty members who have taught in higher education for fewer than ten years and who are currently employed by a college or university in Africa.
Applicants must:
- Currently hold an ongoing position at a university or college in Africa.
- Demonstrate support from their home institution.
- Obtain a letter of recommendation from their department head, dean or vice chancellor.
- Be able to remain in residence in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for five months.
The endorsement from the applicant’s home university must be received before the application can be fully submitted.
Previous recipients of the UMAPS fellowship are not eligible to apply. The program also gives preference to applicants who have not had extensive international experience outside the African continent.
Application requirements
Applicants must complete several components before the October 15 deadline.
The application checklist includes:
1. Online application form
Applicants must complete the official online application form. The program notes that, during the current application cycle, the form is available only to applicants from the following countries:
Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uganda.
2. Curriculum vitae
Applicants must upload an up-to-date CV through the online application system.
3. Scholarly program or research proposal
Applicants must submit a scholarly program or research proposal of no more than five pages.
Applications are welcomed from a wide range of academic disciplines. Proposals connected to the African Studies Center’s disciplinary initiatives, including AHHI, ASRI and STEM-Africa, are particularly encouraged.
4. Institutional letter of support
Applicants must provide the full name and contact information of the department head, dean or vice chancellor who will provide a letter of support.
This letter must be submitted before the applicant can fully complete the online application.
October 15 is the deadline
Applications will be reviewed after the October 15 closing date.
The African Studies Center warns that incomplete applications will not be processed and that only applications submitted through the official online system will be considered.
Special nomination process for applicants from other African countries
Applicants from countries outside the direct-application list may still be considered, but they must first receive a nomination from a University of Michigan faculty member who is familiar with their academic work.
The nominating faculty member must complete the required pre-application process and provide an endorsement confirming their willingness to:
- Serve as a mentor throughout the five-month residency;
- Meet regularly with the prospective participant; and
- Provide office space for the participant, if possible.
Once the pre-application has been completed and the University of Michigan nomination has been verified, the prospective applicant will receive an email invitation containing access to the full application portal for nominated applicants.
Prospective nominees are instructed not to use the regular application portal before receiving this approval.
An opportunity for African scholars
The UMAPS fellowship provides early-career African university faculty with the opportunity to spend an extended period at the University of Michigan, develop their research and scholarly projects, and engage with the university’s academic community.
With the new partnership between the African Studies Center and the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, the program is also creating opportunities for eligible scholars in Egypt and North Africa to participate in the initiative.
For eligibility questions, prospective applicants can contact the UMAPS program at UmapsInfo@umich.edu.
Application period: August 15 – October 15
Host institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Program duration: Five months
https://ii.umich.edu/asc/fellows/umaps/apply.html