Funding

The department is committed to providing continuous funding through the first six years of study. This is designed to allow students to work on their research throughout the six year period, including in the summer. The summer stipend it intended to offset living expenses and support the student's academic progress. 

This commitment will be honored as long as the student maintains: (a) satisfactory academic performance; (b) satisfactory performance of teaching duties and on evaluations (if applicable); (c) satisfactory progress towards degree; (d) satisfactory fulfillment of research objectives and responsibilities; and (e) a professional level of decorum and behavior.

Students are encouraged to seek extra-departmental sources of funding during the spring/summer (May-August) terms. External funding—such as the Rackham Language Award and FLAS— that is specifically earmarked for the expenses of tuition or flights for language study and archival work, can be accepted on top of the current per term .50 GSI stipend rate. Students who receive other external funding may have their spring/summer departmental funding proportionally reduced. Funding external to the department could include U-M resources, such as the International Institute, Rackham awards or CEW+, or grants and awards external to U-M. Such funding could include research appointments, teaching appointments, and fellowships. In no case will total summer funding exceed 1.5 times the current per term .50 GSI stipend rate. The department’s Executive Committee will review any funding that students receive from extra departmental sources on a case by case basis in March/April. 

Decisions regarding the impact of such awards on departmental funding will be based on progress towards degree, travel requirements, and prestige of the award, amongst other factors.

For the duration of the student’s studies as a PhD candidate in the department, students will be provided with health and dental insurance on an annual basis (12-months).

The University offers a number of short-term funding opportunities for the final stages of completing the degree, such as a One-Term Dissertation Fellowship. Students are selected and nominated to Rackham by the department for this award. The university also offers generous resources for conference travel, international research-related expenses and research grants at the pre-candidancy ($1500) and candidacy ($3000) level.

Graduate students are eligible to receive numerous departmental prizes/awards. The Frank X. Braun Prize is awarded annually for the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor in the department. See details about past award winners below.

The Katharina and Kurt Bettsteller, Sr., Endowment is used to support students who are pursuing the study of German and/or German-American History in Germanic Languages and Literatures. 

The Frank X. Braun Prize for the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor is awarded each year in honor of the late Professor Frank Braun, who was a dedicated teacher in the department for many years. This award was established in 1989 when it was presented to Ann Schmitt. The following year it was presented to Hartmut Rastalsky. In 1994 it become a memorial endowment, furthering Frank X. Braun’s legacy.

Frank X. Braun Award Winners

2024: Alexander Nye
2023: Harrison Parker, Martin Amesquita
2022: Veronica Williamson
2021: Onyx Henry, Erin Johnston-Weiss
2020: Özlem Karuc
2019: Lauren Beck, Elizabeth McNeill
2018: Emily Gauld, Andrea Rottmann
2017: Domenic Desocio, Calder Fong
2016: Mary Hennessy, Kathryn Holihan
2015: Naomi Vaughan
2014: Catherine Combes, Landon Little
2013: Hannah McMurray
2012: Marc-Niclas Heckner, Elizabeth Nijdam
2009: Seth Howes
2008: Solveig Heinz, Sara Jackson
2006: Michael André
2005: Helga Rom
2002: Ilka Rasch
1990: Hartmut Rastalsky
1989: Ann Schmitt

About Frank X. Braun

Frank Xavier Braun was born in 1904 in Spaichingen, Germany, the eldest of a long line of Swabian organ builders. He followed his father to the U.S. in 1923, becoming a citizen in 1930. Living in St. Louis, he made various scientific instruments ranging from microscopes to submarine engines. In 1928, Ford Motor Company offered him a job as toolmaker. From there he was promoted to inspector, and finally Chief Inspector of the Experimental Department. While working full time at Ford, he completed his college prerequisites, and went on to receive his bachelor of arts degree in 1934 from Wayne University, a master of arts degree in 1935 and a doctor of philosophy degree from U-M in 1940. In 1945, he was appointed an instructor in German at U-M, assistant professor in 1949, associate professor in 1954, and full professor in 1960. Upon being granted Emeritus status in 1974, a local (unidentifi ed) paper quoted the Regents as saying, “Above all else Professor Braun demonstrated excellence as a teacher... He displayed amazing skill in motivating and captivating students with a teaching style that was at once compelling and highly effective.”

In addition to his extraordinary classroom success, Professor Braun was deeply involved with student housing needs and spearheaded the effort to establish the Max Kade House; moving it from an idea to reality within two years. He also was an ardent supporter of the LSA Language requirement (which was threatened to be removed around 1966), the academic year in Freiburg program, and counseling students’ academic endeavors.