- Donia Human Rights Fellows Program
- Funding Opportunities
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- Fair Labor Association Fellowship
- Ian Fishback Human Rights Fellowship
- International Human Rights Fellowship
- Korea-Michigan Human Rights Research Fellowship
- Robert J. Donia Graduate Student Fellowship
- Social Change Initiative Fellowship
- Student-Initiated Summer Internship Fellowship
- Syria Justice and Accountability Centre Fellowship
- Fellowship for Research to Advance Global Health & Human Rights
- Student Organizations
All travel must follow current guidelines, which are detailed in the International Institute Travel Policy.
Currently under review. More details to come.
The Donia Human Rights Center is offering a rising U-M undergraduate junior or senior a fellowship to work with (or at) an international human rights institution or organization identified by the student. The fellowship seeks to support a student with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in human rights.
The successful applicant is expected to spend eight weeks, between May and August 2025, working with an international human rights institution or organization. To qualify for the fellowship, the placement must be with a government, a non-governmental organization (NGO), an international organization, or a research institution that works on issues of international human rights. The placement can be located within the United States or abroad. The following are not eligible placements: (a) an organization that works primarily on issues of domestic law or policy without some focus on international human rights; (b) any program for academic credit; (c) research for a faculty member at a university.
Students must provide a letter of invitation from the proposed host organization that will set out in detail the work that the student will perform.
The fellowship provides a stipend of up to $5,000 to defray the costs of living for eight weeks. Applications will be reviewed by a committee from DHRC. If COVID-19 restrictions and conditions permit travel to the relevant placement, the fellowship will provide an additional $1,000 to reimburse travel expenses.
Upon completion of this internship, fellows are expected to deliver a presentation of their internship projects and experiences and submit a written reflection to DHRC.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 11, 2025
Notification: Friday, May 2, 2025
Eligibility Requirements
This fellowship is open to U-M undergraduates in the class of 2026 or 2027. Students can apply from any department. It is not open to graduating seniors (i.e., students graduating in WN25 or SP/SU25). Students must return to campus for at least one semester after completing this internship.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit the following:
1. A proposal: The 2-3 page single-spaced proposal should include a complete description of the student's proposed internship. The proposal should include a detailed description of the organization and the nature of the work the student will be performing; the dates of the proposed internship; any relevant experience; relevant language skills; proposed itemized budget; and other relevant information. It should be sufficiently detailed to permit the selection committee to evaluate the quality and feasibility of the proposed project or program. Students do not need to have a track record of experience to be considered.
2. Letter of invitation from the proposed placement. The student must submit a letter from the organization, and ideally from the student’s proposed supervisor, regarding the substantive work or projects. Students will not be funded to perform administrative or clerical work for the organization.
3. Resume or CV
4. Unofficial or official U-M transcript
5. At least one letter from a U-M Instructor
6. Identify other funding sources. Applicants must identify all other funding sources they have applied to and received funding from. If this does not apply to the applicant, the applicant must explicitly state that they have not applied for other funding. During the application review process and leading up to the experience, fellowship recipients who receive additional funding towards their internship or research must inform our office immediately.
7. Submit application. Please email all the requested application materials in a single PDF file to dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu by the April 11, 2025 deadline.
Contact Information: dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu
About
Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC)
The Donia Human Rights Center is a forum for intellectual exchange on issues around human rights among scholars, practitioners, students, and the broader public. Toward that end, we invite leading practitioners and scholars to share their insights and expertise on human rights gained through their experiences and research. We also offer internship and study-abroad opportunities to students that would enhance their understanding of contemporary human rights issues and equip them with the tools to tackle challenging human rights problems around the world.
