1. Online Application Form

• The IISF online application form asks the applicant to provide basic data information, a title and an abstract for the project, and to indicate the award(s) for which you are applying.

• For further details, please visit the "How to Navigate the Online Application" section of this site.

2. Letter of Recommendation

• The Letter of Recommendation should come from a U-M faculty, staff member, or advisor. Doctoral students should have the letter submitted by the principal advisor.

• The recommender should comment on the applicant’s achievements and ability to carry out the internship or proposed research project. For research applicants, recommenders must comment on the feasibility and significance of the proposal, and the contribution it will make to the applicant’s academic program and career.

• The letter of recommendation must be submitted by the recommender before the application deadline.

• For further details, please visit the "How to Navigate the Online Application" section of this site.

3. Statement of Purpose

Formatting

• Statements are to be typed, using size 12-pt. font and 1-inch margins, and be no more than 3 pages, single-spaced, in length (this includes citations, graphs, charts, etc.). Statements should be uploaded as a .doc or PDF file.

Required Content

Internship – Statements must clearly demonstrate a need to be abroad for the project. Statements should include information on how this experience will benefit the applicant's academic program, career plans upon completion of the U-M degree, and provide a description of the host organization and the activities in which the applicant will be engaged. The statement should also discuss any language skills needed to successfully undertake the internship. Statements may include a budget narrative that explains any expenses provided in the project expense sheet.

Research – Statements must clearly demonstrate a need to be abroad for the project. Statements must describe the proposed research project and discuss its rationale, objectives, design, timetable, feasibility, and methodology, as well as the projected benefits of this trip. If working with an established research project, a description of the organization and the activities in which the applicant will be engaged must be included. Applicants should also discuss any language skills needed to conduct the proposed research. Statements may include a budget narrative that explains any expenses provided in the project expense sheet.

4. Project Expense Sheet

• • The Project Expense Sheet provides a line by line breakdown of all project expenses. Those traveling to multiple locations should break out expenses and group by location. Applicants must download, complete, and upload the Project Expense Sheet to their online application.

  • DOWNLOAD PROJECT EXPENSE SHEET

  • For further details, please visit the "How to Navigate the Online Application" section of this site.

5. Letter of Invitation or Description of In-country Resources

Internship

• • Applicants must submit a letter or email from the host organization describing the organization, the specific work, and the financial terms of the internship (e.g., paid, unpaid).

  • For those without a formal invitation letter or placement at time of application deadline, an email from the host organization or internship coordinator at the University of Michigan that details the name of the organization, nature of the internship, and dates of the internship will suffice. You are encouraged to contact a fellowships advisor and discuss this in detail prior to applying.

Research

• • All research applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of invitation from a host institution, university, or organization acknowledging and supporting your plans or offering research oversight. The letter could be from a faculty member at a university abroad, from an archive granting access, etc. Letters should be signed and on letterhead. Letters can be addressed to “to whom it may concern.”

  • Those without a formal in-country affiliate at the time of application should submit a brief description of the in-country resources to be used and how they will be secured. You are encouraged to contact a fellowships advisor and discuss this in detail prior to applying.

6. Resume or C.V.

A brief resume or C.V. should be uploaded as a .doc or PDF file.

7. U-M transcript

Should be uploaded as a PDF file.