External fellowships

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program is a collaborative effort between the United States Department of State and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The programs provide academic and professional preparation for outstanding candidates to enter the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service, representing America’s interests abroad. Pickering Fellows are undergraduate and graduate students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. Women, members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, and students with financial need are encouraged to apply.

The Rangel Program seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The program seeks individuals interested in helping to shape a freer, more secure and prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing U.S. foreign policy. The program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need.

The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding young people who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our times--poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism--the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development provides an opportunity to advance U.S. foreign policy interests and reflect the American people's compassion and support of human dignity. The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $90,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, provides a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service.

The American Indian Graduate Center of Albuquerque, New Mexico offers graduate fellowships for American Indian and Alaska Native students from federally recognized U.S. tribes.

The CBCF has awarded scholarships to talented and deserving students for nearly three decades. Each year, they award more than 200 scholarships to students across the United States. Recipients demonstrate leadership ability through exemplary community service and academic talent, while others received need-based scholarships to award their persistence in pursuing quality education.

This resource site provides a compilation of scholarship and fellowship opportunities targeted at Hispanic students.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program was established to provide outstanding African-American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete a graduate education. Students pursuing studies in mathematics, science, engineering, education, or public health are eligible to apply.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers competitive awards for students of Hispanic heritage.

MAES Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to MAES student members (membership is $10). The purpose of the program is to assist Hispanic students in completing their higher education goals.

The Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver provides tuition assistance for qualifying American Indians who are Michigan residents attending public colleges and universities in Michigan. To be eligible, a student must have not less than one-quarter Indian heritage as certified by the students' tribal affiliation and must be a legal resident of the state of Michigan for at least twelve consecutive months. Note: The Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) has ruled that because this program is "based on a political relationship, it should not be considered a racial classification under Proposal 2."

Native American Scholarship Fund Scholarships are for American Indians or Alaskan Natives (one-quarter heritage or more) in science-related fields.

Barbour Scholarship

Chia-Lun Lo Fellowship

International Institute Individual Fellowships

Center for the Education of Women Scholarship Program

For international students, many countries provide loans or scholarships specific to their citizens. As we become aware of these programs, we will provide links. While U-M has not endorsed any specific program, we are making the information available to you.

Insitute for International Education: Funding for U.S. Study

International Scholarships

American Association of University Women Fellowships and Grants

Prodigy Finance accepts loan applications from International students attending the Ford School of Public Policy who do not have a U.S. co-signer. To learn more and to apply, visit Prodigy Finance Loans for International Students at the Ford School of Public Policy.

International students may also apply for other private loans in the U.S, provided they have a qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. For help comparing loan options, see the UM FinAid website loan analyzer.

Federal regulations and University of Michigan policy severely limit the types of U.S. federal financial assistance available to international students. Specifically, international students with F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2; and G series visas are not eligible for federal student aid.

Non-U.S. citizens may qualify for student financial aid programs if they are one of the following:

• A U.S. permanent resident with an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151, I-551, or I-551C) Note: If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you are not eligible for federal student aid.
• A U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
• An eligible non-citizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service showing one or more of the following designations:
  • Refugee
  • Asylum Granted
  • Indefinite Parole or Humanitarian Parole
  • Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
  • Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
  • NOTE: Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau are eligible only for Federal Work-Study.

If you meet the above criteria, you may qualify for federal assistance and should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

The University of Michigan Library has a number of databases available to U-M students to explore external funding opportunities:

Pivot is a directory of researchers, funding opportunities, and publishing opportunities that combines three editorially maintained databases: the Funding Opportunities database of over 400,000 funding opportunities worth over $40 billion, the Scholar Universe database of over 3.5 million profiles of scholars worldwide, and the Papers Invited database from over 150 professional disciplines worldwide. Its proprietary algorithm compiles pre-populated researcher profiles unique to an organization (such as The University of Michigan) and matches them to relevant current funding opportunities. This allows U-M users to search for a funding opportunity and instantly view matching researchers from inside or outside U-M. Conversely, a search for a given scholar will link to matching funding opportunities.

Among the many online options, some students find it helpful to subscribe to search engines such as FastWeb. FinAid.org also contains a good deal of useful information. There are many, many reputable and valuable online resources. Unfortunately, scams exist the area for fellowships and scholarships just as they do in other areas of the online world. You should never pay a fee in order to compete for a scholarship. Any group that asks for even a small payment is suspect.

Creative keyword searches online can be used in the same way the subscribed databases use them, and may provide listings of smaller or more specialized awards. To tailor a search to your academic or personal profile, use words that describe your research and writing interests and professional goals and skills, and, in a personal search, affiliations with organizations which may have funds to support students who share your interests and background. Consider who may benefit by the study or work you hope to do.

Try combinations of keywords (pre-dissertation, graduate fellowships, pre-doctoral grants and scholarships); use advanced search options to refine your ideas. Look up relevant professional societies; see if your undergraduate institution offers helps. Consider and search your affinity groups (religious, ethnic, gender, racial) for opportunities as well.

Financial Aid Calculators page – Resources provided by the Office of Financial Aid.

College Board Online – A scholarship search database, financial aid calculator, and college search database.

Fastweb – A searchable database of more than 275,000 private sector fellowships, scholarships and grants.

FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page – A free, comprehensive guide to student financial aid maintained by Mark Kantrowitz, author of The Prentice Hall Guide to Scholarships and Fellowships for Math and Science Students, and sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

MOLIS Search (Minority On-Line Information Service) – This search provides information about scholarship opportunities for qualified minority applicants.

National Association of Graduate-Professional Students – Website for the NAGPS, including a section on Financial Aid.

Nellie Mae – For student loans, focusing on the Nellie Mae loan program.

SallieMae – For student loans. A general guide to financial aid with several financial aid calculation forms, a glossary of financial aid terms, and a lender search engine.

U.S. Department of Education – A section on student financial assistance, which provides some useful information regarding government support.

LendEDU- Guide to college scholarships