Becoming an international visiting scholar

All interested candidates are welcome to apply to the U-M School of Nursing's International Visiting Scholars program. Please read each requirement carefully and email the Office of Global Affairs with any questions you may have as you compile the necessary application material. Since deadlines apply, you are encouraged to begin the application process well in advance of the deadline for the desired entry date into the program.

Applying to the program

  • Find one to three possible research mentors who have similar areas of interest to you. Search here for faculty with mentorship capacity.

  • Complete the application form

  • Early in the application process, email UMSN-GlobalOutreach@med.umich.edu to discuss payment of program fees

  • Include the following documents in PDF or Word document format with your completed application:

    • Curriculum vitae or resume

    • 4-5 page research proposal with timeline

    • Proof of English proficiency (see below for details) 

Application deadlines

  • February 15 for programs beginning in the fall semester of the same year

  • August 15 for programs beginning in the winter semester of the following year

Acceptance notifications will be made in mid-April for fall semester programs and mid-September for winter semester programs.

Minimum English requirements

Applicants whose native language is English or who have completed a degree at an English-speaking institution will be exempt from the English proficiency requirement. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed a degree at an English-speaking institution must provide one of the following documentations to qualify for the required U.S. J-1 visa:

  • TOEFL scores from the last 2 years 

    • iBT TOEFL – Overall 84; minimum score by section: RD 23, LIST 23, SPK 17, WR 21

    • CBT TOEFL – Overall 220

    • Paper/pencil TOEFL – Overall 560

  •  IELTS score of 6.5 or higher

  • Signed documentation of proficiency from an academic institution or English language school

If none of these documents are available, applicants will be assessed by our exchange visitor center prior to J1 visa issuance. Applicants are required to pass the evaluation which is conducted in the form of an in-person or videoconference interview. 

International visiting scholar fees

Scholars will be charged a fee per semester or any part of a semester; amounts will depend on the nature of the collaboration and the educational level of the participant (doctoral, postdoctoral, etc.) Learn more about the program fees. Fees are due before arrival at UMSN.

Please be aware that funding opportunities are available for international visiting scholars through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar program. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Information is available below:

Additional information

  • Allow at least six months for application review and trip planning.

  • Admission is dependent on availability of a faculty mentor whose work is a good match for the scholar’s interests.

  • Prospective scholars may be asked to submit other relevant information to assist in a full evaluation of the request (e.g. evidence that degree requirements in home country have been completed, examples of scientific papers published or presented at professional conferences).

Note: World Health Organization Fellows should not apply for the International Visiting Scholars program as requests for the U-M School of Nursing to accommodate WHO fellows comes from the Regional Office for the Americas (PAHO).

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