ANN ARBOR—Earlier this year Václav Havel, president of the Czech Republic, visited the University of Michigan to receive an honorary degree and participate in the symposium “Globalization’s Intellectual Challenge.” On that occasion, U-M President Lee C. Bollinger announced the creation of the Václav Havel Fellows Program to honor Havel.

The fellowships will provide assistance for students of exceptional promise in three categories and will be administered by the U-M’s International Institute.

• Václav Havel Fellowship in Czech Studies will provide five years of support for an incoming student in a Rackham School of Graduate Studies doctoral program who expects to focus his/her graduate studies and dissertation research on Czech lands and culture. Departments and professional schools are invited to submit nominations for the Václav Havel Fellowship to the Center for Russian and East European Studies, which is handling the nomination process on behalf of the Graduate Board of the International Institute. Students may not apply directly for this award, but interested faculty or potential students may notify the International Institute of their interest.
• The Václav Havel Fellowship for Incoming Graduate Students who are Residents of the Czech Republic. This fellowship provides five years of support for an incoming student in a Rackham doctoral program who is a resident of the Czech Republic. Departments and professional schools are invited to submit nominations to the Graduate Board of the International Institute. Students may not apply directly for this award, but faculty or potential students may notify the International Institute of their interest.
• The Václav Havel Doctoral Dissertation Research Award is a 12-month fellowship for U-M students enrolled in a Rackham doctoral program to conduct research anywhere in the world or to write-up a dissertation that focuses on topics that reflect the life, work, intellectual contributions, or spirit of Václav Havel. In addition to a stipend of $16,800 and GradCare coverage, the student may receive an award that includes, as needed, candidacy tuition for up to three terms or funding for travel. Only students who have been advanced to candidacy by the Rackham Academic Records and Dissertation Office are eligible.

For more information about these awards,

Related Links:

• Václav Havel
• International Institute
• Czech Studies