2027 University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program (UMAPS) | Fully Funded

A fully funded five-month research residency in Ann Arbor for early-career faculty from African universities — housing, medical insurance, a research allowance, and a living stipend all included.

Early-career academics teaching at African universities now have a new window to spend a semester embedded at one of the world’s leading research institutions. The University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program (UMAPS) pairs selected faculty with a U-M mentor, gives them full access to the university’s research infrastructure, and covers essentially every cost of the residency.

What Is UMAPS?

UMAPS brings early-career faculty from African universities to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for an immersive period of research. Rather than pursuing a new degree, scholars spend their time advancing an existing project — a research paper, a book, a grant proposal, or any other serious scholarly work — under the mentorship of a University of Michigan faculty collaborator.

Since 2009, the program has hosted scholars from countries including Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Gabon, and Zambia, spanning disciplines from engineering to literature to economics.

At a Glance

Who Can Apply?

UMAPS is aimed squarely at early-career faculty, not students. To qualify, you must:

• Be an early-career faculty member with fewer than ten years teaching in higher education
• Currently hold an ongoing teaching position at a college or university in Africa
• Be able to secure a letter of recommendation from your department head, dean, or vice chancellor
• Be available to remain in residence in Ann Arbor for five months

Previous UMAPS fellows are not eligible to reapply, and preference is given to applicants who have not had extensive international experience outside the African continent.

What the Fellowship Covers

Selected scholars receive a genuinely comprehensive support package for their time in Ann Arbor:

• Four to six months of residency at the University of Michigan, paired with a faculty mentor
• Round-trip airfare from your home country to Ann Arbor
• Free housing — a private room and bath in a suite setting
• Medical insurance for the duration of the residency
• A research allowance plus a modest monthly stipend for living costs
• Office or laboratory space, depending on your field
• The opportunity to present your research to the wider U-M community

Required Documents

Direct applicants should be ready to submit:

1. A completed online application form
2. A current curriculum vitae
3. A scholarly research proposal, no longer than five pages — proposals aligned with the center’s AHHI, ASRI, or STEM-Africa initiatives are especially encouraged, though all disciplines are welcome
4. Full contact details for the department head, dean, or vice chancellor who will provide your letter of institutional support

Applications are reviewed only after the October 15 closing date, and incomplete applications will not be processed — so it’s worth confirming your recommender is ready to submit their letter well before the deadline.

How to Apply

For applicants from the directly eligible countries, the process is straightforward: complete the online application, attach your CV and research proposal, and provide your recommender’s details through the official portal.

If you’re based outside those countries, the route is different — you’ll need a University of Michigan faculty member to nominate you. That faculty member completes an online nomination form and submits a letter of endorsement confirming they’ll mentor you during the residency. Only once that’s received will you get an email invitation with a link to the separate application portal for nominated applicants.