Applying to UM

The Center coordinates admissions with the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Please consult their information for prospective students.

There are some elements of the application you will need to submit to Rackham, and others to the Center. (See steps and instructions, below).

The application deadline is January 15. The application and all supporting materials (Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores) must be received by this date.

Step 1: Complete the Rackham Online Application, available here.

In the "Preliminary Questions" section select "Asian Studies: Southeast Asian Studies."

Step 2: Submit the following to the Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

• Application fee (Paid online)
• One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, with undergraduate degree posted if completed.

Send Rackham materials to:

Rackham Graduate School
Attn: Transcripts
915 E. Washington Street
Ann Arbor MI 48109-1070

Step 3: Submit the following to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

• A Statement of Purpose
  The Statement of Purpose should be a concise, well-written statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives.
• A Personal Statement
  The Personal Statement should be a concise, well-written statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree.
• One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, with undergraduate degree posted if completed.
• Three letters of recommendation using the forms included with the application. These should be from academic sources if possible. (If you use the option of submitting these online, you do not need to send hard copies to the Center directly.)
• GRE general test scores, taken within the last 5 years. (Please include a photocopy of your score report with your application packet). For official transmission of GRE scores, use the University's institutional code, "1839" (in addition to sending us the copy).
• Applicants to the MBA/MA Dual Degree Program in Southeast Asian Studies and Business may submit GMAT scores in place of the GRE scores.
• TOEFL, MELAB or IELTS score, if you are not a native speaker of English. Please include a photocopy of your scores with your application packet.

Send CSEAS materials to:

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
ATTN: Graduate Admissions
Suite 3603 SSWB
University of Michigan
1080 South University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

Step 4: If you are applying for a dual-degree program, you must also complete the Departmental application for the other school. Please note in both applications that you are applying for a dual-degree program.

Step 5: All U.S. citizens applying to the MA Program should also apply for FLAS [Foreign Language and Area Studies] fellowships. The deadline is February 1.

FLAS application for MA applicants:

Your MA application materials will be used to accompany your FLAS application as well, so you do not need to submit extra copies of your transcripts, GRE scores, Statement of Purpose, and Recommendation letters for consideration in the FLAS competition.

• Click here to get the PDF application form, fill it out, and return it to the Center.
• Please include a CV (curriculum vitae).
• If you have undertaken language study in the past, you should fill out the Language Report Form Part 1. Also have an instructor fill out the Language Report Form Part 2, and enclose a recommendation letter. If you have informal language experience, but no formal experience, you can indicate that on Part 1, and send that in directly.
• Please visit the following site for detailed FLAS information.

Contact Information:
Student Services Coordinator:
Gigi Bosch Gates
Telephone: 1-734-764-5261
E-mail cseas.admissions@umich.edu
Fax: 1-734-936-0996.