Summer in South Asia

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 tell us what you want to study, design a program to accomplish your goals, and we will fund the best proposals to cover most of your costs. As you devise your proposal, the Center for South Asian Studies can assist you in connecting with organizations based in India as well as contacting and working with faculty members affiliated with CSAS.

We strongly encourage students to work with existing institutions, agencies, or organizations, but working independently may also be acceptable. If you don’t already have a partner organization in mind our staff can help you research organizations in India that might be good matches for your interests.

Please contact Zilka Joseph if you have any other questions or concerns.

Application Process +

  • Stage 1:  A Preliminary Application is due in late January. Download the application from (here is a Word Document version) our website, complete it, and send it to Zilka Joseph
  • Stage 2:  Students are notified of first round decisions by early February
  • Stage 3:  Successful first round applicants meet with CSAS to refine their ideas in mid-February
  • Stage 4:  Final application is due in mid-February

Examples of Possible Programs  +

All projects MUST be self-directed research projects and not paid or unpaid internships

  • Carry out an internship 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.

Summary of Important Dates +

January 30, 2012                    Initial application due

February 10, 2012                  Notification of Stage 1 results

by February 17, 2012             Submit questionnaire and transcripts, set up individual meetings with staff

by February 24, 2012             Final Application and all supplemental materials (recommendations, invitation letters) due

by March 12, 2012                 Notification of final application decisions

by March 19, 2012                 Accepted and waitlisted participants should pick up information, health forms and parental notification forms

by March 26, 2012                 Accepted participants confirm intent to complete the program; health forms and parental notification forms to be filled out and returned, submit any additional or pending paperwork

April 3, 2012                          Orientation for accepted participants at CSAS

Previous Summer in South Asia Blogs +

2011 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

2010 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

2009 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

2008 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

2007 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

2006 Summer in South Asia Student Blog

Other U-M Study Abroad Programs and Funding Opportunities

International Institute International Funding Opportunities

GoGlobal! Center for Global Opportunities in Kinesiology

Center for Global and Intercultural Study

The University of Michigan's Center for Global and Intercultural Study, a department within LS&A, administers over 80 programs, in 41 countries on 6 continents. One of their mainstay programs is held in Varanasi and Madurai. The CGIS program in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin's College Year in India program offers students the opportunity to study in either Madurai or Varanasi, India - each site highlighting India's ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. Both sites feature intensive language study and allow students to learn about their surroundings firsthand by completing an in-depth, year-long fieldwork project.