RC students take their language skills and passion for social justice into the world in myriad ways every year, contributing to the fact that the University of Michigan has the most students studying abroad among Big Ten universities and is fourth in the nation among higher education institutions.
Since 2008, the RC has awarded over $250,000 to students pursuing study abroad, internships, and other academic experiences.
The Residential College abides by University measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes any travel restrictions described on the Center for Global and Intercultural Studies website, as well as the domestic and international travel details on the Global Michigan website.
Overview & Eligibility
Available RC Scholarships:
- Brown Scholarship for Students in the World
- Honeli Award for Student Engagement
- Jean McGuire Language Study Award
- Residential College Scholarship Award
- Rose Silverman Award for Engaged Learning in the Residential College
- Rose Silverman International Educational Scholarship
- William S. Blackford Scholarship
Award Range: $50 - $2,500
Eligibility Requirements:
- Residential College Student: Applicants must be currently enrolled in the LSA Residential College to be eligible for these scholarships.
- Students with a declared RC Major or Minor are eligible to apply
- Pre-Reading: Before applying, students are required to complete any designated pre-reading materials related to the scholarship.
- Need-Based Scholarships: Scholarships marked as "FAFSA: Yes" require the student to have submitted a FAFSA for their term of funding. A consultation with the Office of Financial Aid is necessary to ensure that the scholarship will not negatively impact the student’s financial aid package.
- Appointments with OFA are the student’s responsibility and should be scheduled prior to a submitted application
- International vs. Domestic Travel: Some scholarships require that awarded funds be used for experiences outside the United States, while others are available for any type of application, whether international, domestic, or remote.
- Supported Activities: Each scholarship supports various activities such as language study, travel, thesis funding, or project-based learning.
- RC Impact Statement: Student recipients are required to submit an impact statement to the RC following their experience, travel, or use of funds.
See individual scholarship details for additional requirements. Questions about eligibility can be sent to Katie Gass at kgass@umich.edu.
Application Instructions
Must be an RC Student. LSA students with a declared RC major or RC Minor are also eligible.
- Complete the required prereading (found below)
- Determine the funding amount you want to request
- Select the award or scholarship that best fits your situation
- Begin the online application process!
- Request letters of recommendation (the earlier, the better!) via the online application.
- Submit your completed application, budget, and essay - make sure your essay question matches the fund you are applying for.
Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please allow a minimum of 4 weeks from submission for review and award notification. Spring/Summer applications should be submitted by the last day of classes in the Winter term.
FAQs
I'm not accepted to my program yet, can I still apply for funding?
Do I need a FAFSA to be eligible for RC funding?
Can I travel anywhere? What about travel restrictions?
I'm confused about the application. Who can I talk to?
Learn More about the RC Scholarship Funds
The Brown Scholarship is a need-based fund that supports off-campus experiences designed to enrich a student’s education. Whether domestically or abroad, the scholarship helps students engage in activities that enhance their academic and personal development.
Student-designed projects abroad examples include research in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London; a student-designed internship with the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma in Heidelberg; and research for an Honors Thesis with Sepp Holzer, a leader in permaculture design.
Details
- FAFSA Required: Yes
- International Travel Required: No
- Award Amount: Up to $2500 - Increased for 2024/25!
- Supported Activities: Off-campus experiences that enhance the student’s University experience, either domestically or abroad.
Essay Question: Describe an off-campus experience you wish to pursue that will enhance your university education. Whether domestically or abroad, explain how this experience aligns with your academic and personal goals. Discuss your financial need and how this scholarship would enable you to undertake this opportunity, contributing to your growth as a student in the Residential College.
The Honeli Award encourages students to engage with communities through volunteer work, internships, and outreach programs. It aims to foster a sense of civic responsibility and global citizenship by supporting students in activities that have a positive impact on communities. Recipients are encouraged to share a final project or impact statement such as a work of art, thesis, or other material at the conclusion of their project or experience.
Details
- FAFSA Required: No
- International Travel Required: No
- Award Amount: Up to $1000
- Supported Activities: Volunteer work, internships, alternative study programs, and community outreach activities in Detroit, across the US, and globally.
Essay Question: Share a story about a time you engaged in volunteer work, an internship, or another form of community outreach. How did this experience impact you and the community you served? What motivates you to continue engaging with communities, and how do you plan to use this scholarship to pursue further opportunities in Detroit, across the US, or globally?
This award supports students pursuing language studies abroad. It encourages students to immerse themselves in another culture while improving their language skills, an experience deemed invaluable for personal and academic growth.
Details
- FAFSA Required: No
- International Travel Required: Yes
- Award Amount: Up to $2000
- Supported Activities: Language study abroad; academic or experiential.
Essay Question: Describe your passion for language study and your plans to include language acquisition in a study abroad experience, language immersion program, or travel experience. How will this experience help you achieve fluency and deepen your understanding of the culture associated with the language? Explain how this scholarship will support your language study goals and contribute to your overall academic success.
This scholarship offers financial support to students based on academic or other significant achievements. It is a general scholarship fund intended to ease the financial burden of education for deserving students in the Residential College.
Details
- FAFSA Required: No
- International Travel Required: No
- Average Award Amount: $50-1000
- Supported Activities: Grants or payments to support education based on academic or other achievements.
Essay Question: Reflect on your academic achievements and contributions to the Residential College community. What drives your pursuit of academic excellence, and how do you plan to continue making the most of your education at the Residential College? Discuss your financial need and how receiving this scholarship would help you achieve your academic and personal goals.
This scholarship supports Residential College students who need financial assistance to pursue international academic experiences. It aims to help students expand their global perspectives and apply their learning in an international setting.
Details
- FAFSA Required: Yes
- International Travel Required: Yes
- Award Amount: Up to $2000
- Supported Activities: Off-campus international academic travel experiences for students with financial need.
Essay Question: Discuss your interest in pursuing an off-campus international academic experience. How will this experience enhance your understanding of your field of study and contribute to your academic and career goals? Please include details about your financial need and how this scholarship would make it possible for you to participate in this experience.
This award is designated for students who propose the most compelling international project related to their academic studies. The project should involve meaningful engagement with the world, allowing the student to apply their academic knowledge in real-world contexts.
Details
- FAFSA Required: No
- International Travel Required: Yes
- Award Amount: Up to $2000
- Supported Activities: International travel for a compelling project related to the student’s academic program (e.g., internship, senior project, thesis)..
Essay Question: Describe a project you wish to undertake that involves international travel and is directly related to your major, minor, or academic program. Explain how this project will take you into the world in a meaningful way, and how it will contribute to your academic and personal growth. Why do you believe your project proposal is compelling, and how will it enrich your education at the Residential College?
The Blackford Scholarship provides need-based support for internships, with a special focus on students majoring in Political Science or Social Theory. Preference is given to those who are involved with the Michigan Daily, emphasizing the importance of combining academic learning with practical experience.
Details
- FAFSA Required: Yes
- International Travel Required: No
- Award Amount: Up to $2000
- Supported Activities: Internships for students, with a preference for Political Science or Social Theory majors, especially those affiliated with the Michigan Daily.
Essay Question: Explain your interest in Political Science or Social Theory and how it has shaped your academic and career aspirations. If you have experience working at the Michigan Daily or a similar publication, describe how this experience has influenced your studies. Discuss your financial need and share how receiving this scholarship would support your internship goals and why it is important for your development as a scholar and future professional.
