Researchers, students and academic staff working on Africa-focused research can access financial support through the University of Michigan African Studies Center (ASC) Conference Travel Grants.
The programme provides up to $500 for domestic travel and up to $1,000 for international travel to help eligible University of Michigan faculty, students and staff participate in conferences where they are presenting Africa-focused research or contributing to Africa-focused sessions.
Unlike scholarships with fixed annual deadlines, these grants are available on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funding.
The Conference Travel Grants are designed to supplement other University of Michigan conference participation funding. They support members of the university community who are actively contributing to academic discussions about Africa.
Funding can be used to support participation in regional, national or international conferences, provided the applicant is presenting an Africa-focused paper or serving as a chair or discussant for an Africa-focused session.
The programme is administered by the African Studies Center at the University of Michigan, giving scholars and students an opportunity to strengthen their academic engagement and share Africa-focused research with wider audiences.
How Much Funding Is Available?
Successful applicants can receive:
- Up to $500 for domestic conference travel.
- Up to $1,000 for international conference travel.
The grants are intended to supplement other university conference participation grants rather than necessarily cover all conference-related costs.
Funding is also dependent on the availability of resources, so eligible applicants are encouraged to apply when they have identified a relevant conference opportunity.
Who Can Apply?
The funding opportunity is open to three main groups within the University of Michigan community:
- Faculty
- Staff
- Students
Applicants must be participating in a conference in a way that directly contributes to Africa-focused academic programming.
For example, an applicant may qualify if they are presenting an Africa-focused research paper or serving as a chair or discussant for an Africa-focused session.
The African Studies Center gives priority to applicants who have not previously received ASC funding. Priority is also given to projects focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Requirements for Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff interested in the conference travel funding must complete the African Studies Center’s online application form.
Applicants are required to provide supporting documentation, including:
- A copy of the conference programme or invitation.
- A short abstract of the presentation.
These materials help demonstrate the applicant’s participation in the conference and the Africa-focused nature of the proposed academic contribution.
Applicants should ensure that their documentation clearly reflects their role at the conference before submitting the application.
Requirements for Students
Students have additional requirements.
To be eligible, students must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree programme at the University of Michigan.
Student applicants must complete the online application form and provide:
- A copy of the conference programme or invitation.
- A short abstract of their presentation.
- A letter of recommendation, preferably from their academic advisor.
- Documentation showing other funding requests.
The conference programme should list the student’s institutional affiliation as “University of Michigan.”
This requirement is particularly important for students preparing their applications because the conference documentation must accurately establish their connection to the university.
What Kind of Conference Participation Is Supported?
The grant specifically targets Africa-focused conference participation.
Eligible activities include presenting papers focused on Africa and serving as a chair or discussant for Africa-focused sessions.
This means the grant is not intended as general travel funding for any academic conference. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a clear connection between their conference participation and African Studies.
The programme’s stated priority for Sub-Saharan Africa may also make it particularly relevant to researchers whose projects focus on countries, communities, institutions or issues within the region.
Why Apply for the Travel Grant?
Conference participation can be an important part of academic and professional development. Presenting research allows scholars and students to receive feedback, engage with researchers working on related questions and share findings with broader academic audiences.
For early-career researchers and students, conference participation can also provide opportunities to develop presentation skills and establish academic connections.
The University of Michigan’s travel grant can help reduce some of the financial barriers associated with attending conferences, particularly for international participation where travel expenses can be significant.
Because the award can reach $1,000 for international travel, it may provide useful supplementary support alongside other university or external funding.
Application Deadline
One of the notable features of the University of Michigan African Studies Center Conference Travel Grants is that there is no single annual application deadline.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funding.
This gives eligible applicants greater flexibility to apply when appropriate conference opportunities arise. Nevertheless, applicants should prepare their materials early and apply with sufficient time before the conference.
How to Apply
Interested University of Michigan faculty, staff and students should complete the online application form provided by the African Studies Center.
Applicants should prepare the required conference documentation and presentation abstract before submitting their application. Students should also obtain their recommendation letter and provide documentation concerning other funding requests.
Apply through the University of Michigan African Studies Center’s official Conference Travel Grants page:
University of Michigan African Studies Center – Conference Travel Grants
Final Thoughts
The University of Michigan African Studies Center Conference Travel Grants provide a useful funding opportunity for University of Michigan researchers, faculty, staff and students whose conference participation focuses on Africa.
With awards of up to $500 for domestic travel and $1,000 for international travel, the programme can help supplement other sources of conference funding.
Applicants who have never received ASC funding and those whose projects focus on Sub-Saharan Africa receive priority. Since applications are accepted on a rolling basis, eligible applicants can apply when relevant conference opportunities become available.
Prospective applicants should carefully review the requirements, prepare their supporting documents and submit applications through the official African Studies Center platform.
