Frequently Asked Questions

AWARD DETAILS & PROCESS

Q: What are the basic requirements to be eligible to apply?

A: II Student Fellowships are designed to support students, regardless of citizenship, who wish to participate in internships or conduct research abroad. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and internships or research projects may not begin before May 1. Students must return to campus for at least one semester prior to graduation. Other eligibility criteria may differ per award. It is the applicant's responsibility to visit an award's website in order to determine their eligibility.

Q: Are study abroad programs eligible to receive funding through the Fellowship?

A: The majority of awards offered do not fund traditional study abroad programs (focus on language and/or culture study through enrollment in courses overseas), such as those offered or administered by the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) at U-M or other external agencies. Undergraduates who are seeking to study abroad in Albania or a country that became a European Union member in 2004 or later through an approved program offered by CGIS are eligible to apply for program funding through the Weiser Center. For more details, please visit their web page. PhD candidates applying for the Rackham International Research Awards (RIRA) may propose the study of a language not taught at U-M provided that it is necessary for research and takes place simultaneously with the conduct of the research itself. For more details, please visit the RIRA web page.

Q: If I received a student fellowship in the past, am I eligible to apply again?

A: Yes -applicants may apply (and receive) funding more than once. However, given that the goal of this funding is to provide a wide-range of students the opportunity to participate in internships or conduct research abroad, first time applicants may be given priority. Therefore, those who have previously received funding may be at a competitive disadvantage. RIRA applicants: preference will be given to students who have not previously received a Rackham International Research Award. The total award amount for students who have received a prior award will be $10,000. Please speak with an II Fellowships advisor if you have questions.

Q: What expenses/costs will the fellowship cover and how much is the award?

A: Most fellowships will cover expenses/costs related to round-trip international airfare, ground transportation, living expenses abroad, visa fees, immunization costs, and U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance. However, some may only support round-trip international airfare, and some may additionally support research expenses (i.e., Rackham International Research Award [RIRA]). Award amounts also differ per award, and are based on the funding available from each source. Most II Student Fellowship awards average $1,000-$3,600, although some award amounts may be less. In some instances, award amount may be up to/over $5,000 (i.e., RIRA). Please review the website for each award in order to determine what expenses/costs will be covered, and total possible award amounts.

Q: Must I go abroad to be eligible? Will the fellowship allow me to conduct internationally focused research from here in the U.S.?

A: 2021 update: it is intended that IISF projects take place outside of the U.S. and U.S. territories, however, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, certain awards may allow for projects to be partly/wholly virtually conducted. Further information about virtual projects is available on each award's information page.

Q: Is there a chance for a partial award if my time in country does not meet the minimum eligibility criteria (e.g., less than required length of time abroad)?

A: No - partial awards are not made for II Student Fellowships. Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility criteria as stated on the award website in order to be considered for funding.

Q: How are awardees selected? What is the award process and how soon will I be notified of results?

A: Although there is one common application for II Student Fellowships, each award application is reviewed by individual award selection committees. All applications are reviewed on the following criteria: feasibility, relevance to degree program, relevance to career goals, record of academic achievement, and overall quality of the application. Therefore, someone applying to multiple awards will have their application read by multiple selection committees (e.g., Individual Fellowship & African Studies Center). 2021 applications are due March 1, and award announcements will be made by late April.

Q: If selected to receive an award, how soon will I receive funds?

A: Awardees must meet all requirements of the IISF award process and the University of Michigan and LSA International Travel Policy before payment will be made through the Office of Financial Aid. It is reasonable to assume that the processing of payments and/or disbursement of funds will not begin until on or after May 1. Please speak with an II Fellowships advisor for more details.

APPLYING

Q: Can I apply for and receive more than one type of fellowship (e.g., Individual Fellowship Award & African Studies Center)? Am I less eligible if I indicate that I am applying to more than one award?

A: YES - you may apply for more than one fellowship provided that you are eligible. Applicants may receive funding from more than one fellowship as long as the award amounts do NOT exceed the total costs of the project as stated in the application and as indicated in the project expenses sheet (we will not over fund applicants). For more details, please review the "How to Navigate the Online Application" page on this site or speak with an II Fellowships advisor.

Q: How do I complete an application if I am applying to more than one award? Can I submit multiple statements and project expense sheets?

A: In the II Student Fellowship application, applicants must indicate to which award(s) they are applying. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the country/location and internship/project for which they are seeking funding. Applicants may submit only ONE statement of purpose and ONE project expense sheet. Please review the resources (How to Navigate the Online Application, Statement of Purpose, General Application Tips) made available on this site for tips on how to submit an application if applying to multiple awards, or make an appointment with an II Fellowships advisor.

Q: Can I apply for support a project that will take place in more than one country (e.g., Japan and South Korea; Netherlands and South Africa)?

A: Projects may take place in more than one country. However, selection committees take the location and feasibility of proposed projects into consideration when making award decisions. For more details, please speak with an II Fellowships advisor.

Q: When should I begin working on my application? When am I able to meet with an advisor?

A: The 2021 application opens January 15 and all applications are due March 1. II Fellowships advisors are available to meet with interested students to discuss applications before and during this time.

Q: Can my recommender submit their letter of recommendation past the deadline?

A: No. The deadline for all application components is 11:59 pm (ET) on March 1. Applicants should plan accordingly and follow up with their recommender to ensure that all components are submitted by the deadline.