The University of Michigan Scholarships 2027 provide funding opportunities for international students pursuing undergraduate and PhD programmes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, United States. Undergraduate funding for international students is limited, but newly admitted students to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) can apply for renewable International Student Scholarships that help cover the cost of attendance for up to four years. At the doctoral level, University of Michigan PhD students receive much stronger support, with Rackham funding packages covering full tuition, benefits, and 12 months of stipend support, generally for four to six years. International engineering PhD students may also benefit from the new James F. Lu World Fellows Program, which provides up to US$150,000 per student. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the University of Michigan Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The main funding opportunities covered in this guide are:
- LSA International Student Scholarship
- University of Michigan PhD Funding
- James F. Lu World Fellows Program
International undergraduate students should be aware that the University of Michigan does not provide its regular federal or institutional need-based financial aid to students on temporary international visas. Scholarship opportunities exist, but they are limited and are often administered by individual schools and colleges.
University of Michigan Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / PhD
- Institution: University of Michigan
- Study Destination: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- PhD Funding Period: Typically four to six years
- Courses Offered: Eligible undergraduate and doctoral programmes
The University of Michigan offers programmes across engineering, computer science, business, sciences, social sciences, humanities, medicine, public health, education, architecture, arts, and many other disciplines. Graduate funding varies by programme, but Rackham PhD students on the Ann Arbor campus receive a university-wide funding commitment described in their admission offer.
University of Michigan Scholarships Application Deadline
For Fall 2027 undergraduate admission, the University of Michigan currently lists:
- Early Decision: November 1, 2026
- Early Action: November 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: February 1, 2027
The LSA International Student Scholarship does not yet have a published 2027 scholarship deadline. The scholarship application generally becomes available after students receive their LSA admission decision and runs during the spring.
PhD application deadlines vary by department and generally fall between December and January. Applicants should check the exact deadline for their selected programme because Michigan does not use one university-wide PhD deadline.
University of Michigan Scholarship Coverage
LSA International Student Scholarship
The LSA International Student Scholarship is one of the strongest University of Michigan undergraduate scholarships specifically available to newly admitted international students.
It is administered by the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
The scholarship:
- Helps cover the student’s cost of attendance
- Supports Fall and Winter terms
- Can be renewed for up to four consecutive undergraduate years
- Is available to newly admitted international first-year students
- Considers academic performance and financial circumstances
The exact scholarship amount varies according to:
- Cost of attendance
- Available scholarship funding
- Student qualifications
- Family financial circumstances
Michigan does not publish one fixed award amount for every recipient.
Students who continue to satisfy the scholarship requirements receive automatic renewal before each fall semester.
The scholarship can help with the overall cost of attending Michigan, but applicants should not describe it as a guaranteed fully funded scholarship. International students are still expected to be able to demonstrate sufficient financial resources for their studies.
University of Michigan PhD Funding
The University of Michigan provides comprehensive financial support to PhD students enrolled in Rackham programmes on the Ann Arbor campus.
Standard PhD funding packages include:
- Full tuition
- 12 months of stipend support
- University benefits
- Funding through fellowships or graduate appointments
- Support generally lasting four to six years
The exact length of guaranteed support is stated in the individual admission offer and depends on the normal time to degree and funding arrangements of the programme.
Funding can come from:
- Rackham fellowships
- Departmental fellowships
- Graduate Student Research Assistantships (GSRA)
- Graduate Student Instructor positions (GSI)
- Graduate Student Staff Assistant positions (GSSA)
- Faculty research grants
- External fellowships
A student’s funding source may change throughout the PhD. For example, a student may receive a fellowship during one year and move to a research or teaching assistantship later.
Michigan Engineering states even more directly that its PhD students are fully funded, with packages including:
- Tuition waiver
- Monthly living stipend
- Comprehensive health insurance
The exact stipend varies by department and is adjusted periodically. Applicants should therefore rely on the funding amount stated in their individual offer rather than using one university-wide stipend figure.
James F. Lu World Fellows Program
The James F. Lu World Fellows Program is a major new scholarship programme designed specifically to attract exceptional international PhD students to Michigan Engineering.
The programme was established through a US$10 million gift and will support:
- Up to 55 PhD students
- Up to US$150,000 per student
- Multi-year doctoral study
- International students in Michigan Engineering
- Research in areas such as computing, artificial intelligence, medicine, space technology, and other engineering-related fields
The programme is merit-based and began with its first cohort in Fall 2026.
The fellowship supplements Michigan’s broader PhD funding system rather than replacing it. Michigan Engineering PhD students already receive full funding through tuition waivers, monthly stipends, and health insurance.
The Lu World Fellows Program therefore provides additional financial resources to help Michigan attract high-performing international doctoral researchers.
Eligibility Criteria for University of Michigan Scholarships
LSA International Student Scholarship
Applicants must:
- Be newly admitted first-year international students
- Be admitted to a degree programme in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
- Enter during the Fall term
- Plan to study full-time
- Enrol in at least 12 credit hours each term
- Not be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Complete the LSA International Student Scholarship application after admission
Selection also considers:
- University of Michigan admission application
- Academic grades
- Financial circumstances
- Available scholarship resources
Receiving admission to LSA does not automatically guarantee a scholarship.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
International applicants generally submit:
- Common Application
- Secondary-school transcript
- School Report
- One teacher evaluation
- English proficiency evidence where required
- Official college transcripts if they completed college-level study during high school
- SAT or ACT scores if they choose to have them considered
The current undergraduate application fee is US$75. International students are not typically eligible for the normal application fee waiver.
The University of Michigan currently allows first-year applicants to decide whether they want SAT or ACT results considered as part of their application.
English-Language Requirements
Applicants who speak English as a second language generally need to demonstrate English proficiency.
Michigan accepts tests including:
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- Michigan English Test (MET)
- Other approved English proficiency examinations
Requirements can vary according to the applicant’s educational background and programme.
You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but the University of Michigan makes the final decision on whether an applicant satisfies its English-language requirements.
PhD Funding Eligibility
Applicants must first receive admission to an eligible University of Michigan PhD programme.
Strong applicants generally demonstrate:
- Excellent undergraduate or postgraduate academic performance
- Relevant academic preparation
- Research experience
- Strong recommendation letters
- Clear research interests
- Good alignment with Michigan faculty
- Required English-language proficiency
- Programme-specific academic requirements
Funding is then described in the PhD admission offer. Rackham PhD students must remain in good academic standing to retain their funding commitment.
James F. Lu World Fellows Eligibility
The Lu World Fellows Program is designed for exceptional international PhD students in Michigan Engineering.
Selection is merit-based and targets high-performing international researchers pursuing innovative work in engineering and technology-related fields.
The university has not published a separate public application process for prospective students. International applicants should therefore first submit a competitive application to an eligible Michigan Engineering PhD programme.
How to Apply for University of Michigan Scholarships?
LSA International Student Scholarship
(1) Apply to the University of Michigan and select a programme in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
Complete the Common Application and submit your academic documents, teacher evaluation, and English-language evidence where required.
(2) Wait until you receive admission to LSA.
You cannot access the International Student Scholarship application before being admitted.
(3) After admission, access the LSA Scholarships Portal.
Use the same email address associated with your University of Michigan application and complete the account verification process.
(4) Complete the International Student Scholarship application.
One application allows LSA to consider international students for scholarships for which they are eligible.
Provide accurate information about:
- Academic achievements
- Family financial circumstances
- Educational background
- Relevant activities
- Other requested information
(5) Submit the application and monitor your email and scholarship portal.
Successful students receive their scholarship offer from the LSA Scholarships Office.
University of Michigan PhD Funding
(1) Select a University of Michigan PhD programme closely aligned with your academic and research interests.
Review:
- Faculty research areas
- Laboratories
- Current research projects
- Programme requirements
- Funding arrangements
(2) Identify potential research supervisors where appropriate.
Read recent faculty publications before contacting professors.
A short faculty email should explain:
- Your current degree
- Previous research
- Research interests
- Relevant skills
- Publications or conference experience
- Why the professor’s research matches your interests
Attach a concise academic CV.
(3) Prepare your graduate application.
Typical documents include:
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Personal statement where required
- Academic CV
- Recommendation letters
- English-language test results where required
- Research or writing samples where required
Use our statement of purpose guide and scholarship recommendation letter guide when preparing these documents.
(4) Submit the graduate application to your selected programme.
Funding consideration is generally integrated into the PhD admission process rather than requiring a separate university-wide scholarship application.
(5) Review the financial package carefully if admitted.
Confirm:
- Tuition coverage
- Annual stipend
- Health benefits
- Funding duration
- Fellowship periods
- Teaching requirements
- Research assistantship requirements
The admission offer is the authoritative source for your individual funding package.
James F. Lu World Fellows Program
International students interested in this fellowship should first apply to a suitable Michigan Engineering PhD programme.
There is currently no separate public application form for prospective Lu World Fellows.
Selection is tied to the university’s effort to recruit exceptional international engineering PhD students.
Applicants can strengthen their profile through:
- Strong academic results
- Research publications
- High-quality undergraduate or master’s thesis
- Relevant engineering research
- Technical skills
- Conference presentations
- Academic awards
- Clear research alignment with Michigan faculty
Documents Required for University of Michigan Scholarships
Undergraduate Documents
International undergraduate applicants should prepare:
- Common Application
- Secondary-school transcript
- English translation of academic documents where required
- School Report
- One teacher evaluation
- Counselor recommendation, where available
- TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or another accepted English test where required
- SAT or ACT scores if the applicant chooses to submit them
- College transcripts for any university-level study completed during high school
- Additional documents required by the selected school or programme
For the LSA International Student Scholarship, admitted students must also complete the separate scholarship application through the LSA Scholarships Portal.
PhD Documents
Graduate requirements vary by department, but applicants generally prepare:
- Online graduate application
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Master’s degree certificate where applicable
- Academic transcripts
- Certified English translations where necessary
- Academic CV
- Statement of purpose
- Personal statement where required
- Recommendation letters
- TOEFL or other English-language evidence where required
- GRE or another examination where required
- Research proposal where requested
- Publications or research evidence
- Writing sample where required
Applicants can use these ScholarshipRoar resources:
Website
For more information about University of Michigan Scholarships, visit:
- LSA International Student Scholarship
- University of Michigan PhD Funding
- Michigan Engineering Scholarships and Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Michigan offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, but undergraduate scholarships are limited.
Newly admitted international students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts can apply for the LSA International Student Scholarship, while other schools and colleges may offer a smaller number of merit or donor-funded awards.
PhD students have substantially stronger funding opportunities.
Are University of Michigan Scholarships fully funded?
The LSA International Student Scholarship is not necessarily fully funded. Its amount varies according to the cost of attendance, available funding, and student circumstances.
University of Michigan PhD packages on the Ann Arbor campus are comprehensive and include full tuition, benefits, and 12 months of stipend support during the guaranteed funding period.
How much is the LSA International Student Scholarship?
There is no fixed scholarship amount.
The award varies according to the student’s cost of attendance and available scholarship funding.
Is the LSA International Student Scholarship renewable?
Yes.
Eligible scholarships can be renewed for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study, provided the student continues to satisfy the scholarship conditions.
Can every international undergraduate apply for the LSA Scholarship?
No.
The scholarship is specifically for newly admitted international students entering the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
Does Michigan provide financial aid to international undergraduate students?
International students on temporary visas are not eligible for the university’s regular financial aid and should expect to finance most of their attendance costs.
Limited scholarship opportunities are available through individual schools and colleges.
Are University of Michigan PhD programmes fully funded?
Rackham PhD students on the Ann Arbor campus receive funding packages that include full tuition, benefits, and 12 months of stipend support during the period specified in their admission offer.
Michigan Engineering specifically states that its PhD students receive full funding consisting of a tuition waiver, monthly living stipend, and health insurance.
How long does University of Michigan PhD funding last?
The normal guaranteed funding period is approximately four to six years, depending on the PhD programme.
What is the James F. Lu World Fellows Program?
It is a merit-based fellowship programme created to support exceptional international PhD students at Michigan Engineering.
The programme will support up to 55 doctoral students over five years and can provide up to US$150,000 per student.
Do I need a separate application for University of Michigan PhD funding?
Usually no.
Standard PhD financial support is arranged through the admitting programme and described in the admission offer.
Is SAT or ACT required for the University of Michigan?
The University of Michigan currently allows first-year applicants to choose whether they want SAT or ACT scores considered as part of their application.
Is IELTS compulsory for the University of Michigan?
Not necessarily.
International applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency can use accepted examinations such as TOEFL, IELTS, or the Michigan English Test. The exact requirement depends on the applicant’s educational background and programme.
What is the University of Michigan undergraduate application fee?
The current undergraduate application fee is US$75. International applicants are generally not eligible for standard fee waivers.
