Summer in South Asia - CSAS Undergraduate Fellows Program
The Center for South Asian Studies offers a special opportunity to chart your own course in India…
Thanks to a generous donation to the Center for South Asian Studies, undergraduate students at UM have an opportunity to design and carry out their own fellowship programs in India during the summer. This fellowship is intended for non-graduating students who have not already spent significant amounts of time in India. The program is designed to be flexible: you research and choose the NGOs, tell us what you want to study, design a program to accomplish your goals, and we will fund the best and most unique proposals to cover most of your costs.
We strongly encourage students to work with existing non-governmental organizations, but working independently may also be acceptable. Internships with for-profit companies and paid internships will not be funded.
Read about our Summer in South Asia 2012 Fellows: BLOG 2012
Please contact Zilka Joseph if you have any other questions or concerns.
- Stage 1: A Preliminary Application is due on November 19, 2012. Application is available here.
- Stage 2: Students are notified of first round decisions by November 26, 2012 Successful first round applicants meet with CSAS to refine their proposals: November 27-29, 2012
- Stage 3: Final application is due on January 2, 2013
All projects MUST be self-directed research projects and not paid or unpaid internships
- Carry out research in business, social work, government, or education
- Work with an NGO on women's issues, diversity, deforestation, cultural or religious projects, AIDS, urbanization, or similar issues. For example, students interested in medicine might do an internship at a hospital or intern in a public health program as long as it is an independent, self-directed project and not something specified by the organization
- Do preliminary work for an honor's thesis, also on an independent basis
- Seek out an apprenticeship that complements your academic work. For instance, an art or art history student might apprentice with a master Indian artist or artisan.
Information sessions for the application process:
September 21, 2012: Noon to 1 pm
Room 1636 SSWB
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
October: TBA
Interested students should plan to attend the Summer in South Asia Colloquium on October 19, 2012. Applications deadline for fellowship is November 19, 2012, for travel to India in the summer of 2013. Students who wish to apply are encouraged to read blogs written by previous students and watch the video recordings of presentations available on our website. http://www.ii.umich.edu/csas/events/audiovideo.
It is mandatory for students to have contacted NGOs in India who work in their field of interest before they apply.
Important Dates:
November 19, 2012: Stage 1 Application due (send as pdf)
November 26, 2012: Notification of results
November 27-29, 2012: Meeting with students to refine proposals and confirm NGOs
January 2, 2013: Stage II application due (pdfs of applications and recommendation letters from professors)
January 25, 2013: Notification of results
January 28, 2013: Collect acceptance and permission forms from office
January 30: Submission of acceptance, parental permission forms. (pdf, fax accepted, originals should follow.)
February (first week approx.): Orientation meeting
Please visit this website for updates.
Other U-M Study Abroad Programs and Funding Opportunities
Graduate FLAS
Undergraduate FLAS
Summer FLAS
