How to apply to the MA Program
in Southeast Asian Studies

The Center coordinates admissions with the Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

Please also check the Rackham web site for information for prospective students at:
http://www.rackham.umich.edu/prosp.html
(Once on that page, scroll down for Estimated costs of attendance, Housing, International student and other information. Then click on the Admissions link on the left side bar for specific application information and instructions.)

The deadline for admissions application materials is January 15, prior to the Fall or Winter term in which you wish to be admitted. Students are usually admitted for the Fall Term.

Students must use the Rackham Online Application, available at: http://apply.embark.com/Grad/UMich/Rackham/ProgramA/
In this way, your application can be accessed by both Rackham and the Center. The on-line application for fall 2007 is scheduled to go up on August 1. This is a target date set by Rackham.

If you cannot access and use the on-line application, please email the Student Services Coordinator and provide an explanation. Rackham will handle these issues on a case-by-case basis.

When filling out the application:
The online application requires you to select your program of study from a drop-down list in the "Preliminary Questions" section. Please select "Asian Studies: Southeast Asian Studies." It will automatically be entered into Line 14 of the on-line application.

In addition, you do need to send accompanying materials to Rackham and to the Center.

The deadline for admissions application materials is January 15, prior to the Fall or Winter term in which you wish to be admitted.

The following should be sent to the Rackham Graduate School:

• Application fee
  
• One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, with undergraduate degree posted if completed.
  
• International applicants must also submit the Affidavit of Financial Support with supporting documentation.
  

The following should be sent to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies

• A Statement of Purpose
  The Statement of Purpose should be a concise, well-written statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how
  Michigan’s graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives.

• A Personal Statement
  The Personal Statement should be a concise, well-written statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to
  pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree.
  

• One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, with undergraduate degree posted if completed. Please request these early enough to arrive by Jan. 15.

• Three letters of recommendation on the forms included with the application- these should be from academic sources if possible. There is an option for having these submitted on-line in addition to the application itself. If that option is used, then the letters do not need to be mailed to the Center. Please make sure your recommenders mail or submit letters in time for us to receive them by Jan. 15.

• GRE general test scores, taken within the last 5 years.(please include a photocopy of your score report with your application packet). For official transmission of GRE scores, use the University's institutional code, "1839" (in addition to sending us the copy). Please take the test early enough for us to receive scores by Jan. 15.

• Applicants to the MBA/MA Dual Degree Program in Southeast Asian Studies and Business may submit GMAT scores in place of the GRE scores.

• TOEFL, MELAB or IELTS score (if you are not a native speaker of English - please include a photocopy of your scores with your application packet)

Send departmental materials to:

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
ATTN: Graduate Admissions
Suite 3603 SSWB
University of Michigan
1080 South University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

Funding:  The Center for Southeast Asian Studies does not have its own funds for student support. However, the Center administers Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships (FLAS) for area studies and study of a Southeast Asian language, including Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese.

FLAS application for MA applicants:  All applicants for the MA program who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents should apply for the FLAS fellowship if you plan to study language in the coming year. If you are eligible, please visit the following site for detailed FLAS information. Click here to get the PDF application form, fill it out and return it to the Center. You also need to add a CV (curriculum vitae). Your MA application materials will be used to accompany your FLAS application as well: Transcripts, GRE scores, Statement of Purpose, and Recommendation letters. (You do not need to send extra copies of these for the FLAS.) In addition, if you have undertaken language study in the past, you should fill out the Language Report Form Part 1. Also have an instructor fill out the Language Report Form Part 2, and enclose a recommendation letter. If you have informal language experience, but no formal experience, you can indicate that on Part 1, and send that in directly. There is a checklist of materials on the web site. More information about the FLAS and the application process can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions document, also at the web site above.

The deadline for us to receive all FLAS application materials is 5pm, February 1, each year. Please take steps to make sure that all of your materials will arrive at the Center no later than this date

Contact Information:
Student Services Coordinator: Gigi Bosch Gates
Telephone: 1-734-764-5261
E-mail (gigib@umich.edu)
Fax: 1-734-936-0996.

Please note:

Beginning Fall 2006, certain entering international students must be screened for tuberculosis. Screening will be offered free on campus. See http://www.uhs.umich.edu/tbscreen or send an email to tbscreen@umich.edu for more information. Students who need to be screened will also be notified via email.

We want to reassure international students that a TB infection would not jeopardize a student's visa status. Health care is completely confidential. Screening will be free and treatment will have a minimal cost.

[Back to top] [Graduate Program Index] [Student Information Index] [MA page]