University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) 2027-2028

Overview

The University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) programme helps retain and strengthen faculty members at African institutions of higher education, and empowers them to contribute to international academic networks and set their own research agendas. It brings early-career faculty from African universities to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where each Scholar is paired with a faculty collaborator and has full access to University of Michigan resources. Scholars can use their stay to advance a research project, an academic degree, publications, a grant proposal or another relevant activity. The programme promotes research and teaching collaborations across disciplines from engineering to literature to economics.

What you get

Those admitted receive a five-month residency at the University of Michigan and round-trip airfare from their home country to Ann Arbor. They also receive free housing in a private bedroom and bathroom in a suite setting, medical insurance, a research allowance and a modest living stipend, plus office or laboratory space and the opportunity to present their research to the university community. The programme cannot accommodate spouses or dependents, with no exceptions.

Who can apply

Applicants must be early-career faculty who have taught in higher education for fewer than ten years and who hold an ongoing position at a college or university in Africa. They must be able to stay in residence in Ann Arbor for five months and return home afterwards. Support from the home institution is required through an endorsement letter from the department head, dean or vice chancellor, which must arrive by the deadline although the application can be submitted while it is pending. In this cycle, direct applications come from faculty teaching in Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. A partnership with the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies extends the reach to North Africa through scholars in Egypt.

How to apply

Applicants complete the online form, upload a CV and a scholarly programme or research proposal of up to five pages, and give the name and contact details of the person who will submit the endorsement letter. Applications from many disciplines are welcome. A multidisciplinary faculty committee reviews them, weighing the academic quality of the candidate and proposal, fit with other selected scholars, balance across three disciplinary initiatives and home institution support.

Key dates

The application deadline is October 15, 2026, for the 2027-2028 programme.