Independent. Funded. Life Changing.
All travel must follow current guidelines, which are detailed in the International Institute Travel Policy.
Beginning in 2006, and thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the Summer in South Asia Fellowship has provided over 100 students with funding to volunteer and/or conduct a project in India over the summer months. The program is designed to be student-centered.
Students awarded fellowships in 2023 will receive $4,500. This typically is sufficient to cover all or most costs associated with traveling to—and time spent in—India. The minimum required time in India is four weeks, but students have stayed up to four months.
SiSA Fellows have focused on a wide variety of topics related to their academic degrees and/or areas of personal interest. This fellowship has provided students with opportunities ranging from building solar panels with community members in a rural area, to working on a Bollywood movie set. Participating in this fellowship provides students with invaluable international experiences that are transformative and leave a lasting personal, academic, and professional impact on their lives.
No prior research or professional experience is required, and staff members at CSAS are available to assist throughout the application process.
Learn more about the impact of SiSA by reading about programs our alumni have designed for themselves over the past ten years, and watch the video of the 2018 fellows discussing their projects.
Application Requirements
All applicants must fill out the online Summer in South Asia Fellowship application through the MCompass platform. Only non-graduating undergraduate students from any academic discipline may apply.
Unofficial U-M Transcript
All applicants must upload an unofficial UM transcript as part of the application. While there is no minimum required GPA, the admissions committee will take academic performance into account.
Recommendation Letters
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required; at least one must be from a faculty member or GSI at the University of Michigan. As with all recommendations, please request letters from someone who can speak to your ability to succeed in SiSA.
