Opportunity Scholarship

The purpose of the Opportunity Scholarship is to expand access to ICPSR Summer Program research methods training to those for whom attendance would otherwise present exceptional difficulty, and to broaden the voices in empirical social science research. The Opportunity Scholarship is open to incoming and currently enrolled graduate students at any institution within the United States.

The Opportunity Scholarship covers the registration fee to attend a single session (either the First Session or the Second Session) in the General Sessions of the ICPSR Summer Program. Recipients of the Opportunity Scholarship will also receive funding to cover on-campus housing (in a University of Michigan student dorm) and on-campus meals, plus a stipend to help defray travel costs. Recipients of the Opportunity Scholarship will be expected to attend their classes in-person in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Applicants must be incoming or currently enrolled graduate students at universities based in the United States.

The following application materials are required:

  1. A current curriculum vitae
  2. A cover letter describing your research interests and how participation in the ICPSR Summer Program will will support your educational, research, or career goals. You must specify which Session (First or Second) you would like to attend and which Course(s) you would like to take. Your cover letter must also include:
    • A statement of need (1-2 sentences, 75 words max) describing any financial hurdles to attending the ICPSR Summer Program in-person. Please note that you do NOT need to submit financial documents with your application.
    • A statement (1-2 sentences, 75 words max) explaining how you would broaden the perspectives represented in empirical social science research.
  3. One letter of recommendation from faculty. Letters of recommendation should be 1 page in length, and include the length of time the recommender has known the applicant and the nature of their relationship. The recommendation letter should also include the applicant’s academic and research achievement, background, and potential, citing current examples of the applicant’s course and/or research work as evidence of aptitude, ability, and commitment that will carry the applicant forward into a significant research career.

How to apply

You must fill out the application form and submit all required materials through our scholarship application manager.

2026 Application deadline

⚠️ The deadline for all ICPSR scholarship application forms and materials (including letters of recommendation) is 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, March 1, 2026.