Due to the support of generous donor Morad Elhafed and his wife Ghita Akkar, the International Center is excited to announce the creation of the Akkar Elhafed Scholarship Fund for undergraduate international students.
The Donor, Morad Elhafed, attended the University of Michigan as an international student. He graduated in 2005 with a BBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. From his time at U-M, he understands how international students often have different experiences and/or struggles than domestic students. Morad and his wife, Ghita Akkar, make this Gift to reduce the burden of unexpected scholarship needs in hopes that undergraduate international students are able to graduate from U-M, regardless of circumstances.
Eligibility
- Degree-seeking undergraduate international students at U-M Ann Arbor
- Students must be enrolled full-time.
- Holds F-1 or J-1 student visa status at the time of application
High Priority/Preference
- Undergraduate students in non-STEM majors (see list for STEM majors) and whose country of citizenship has 25 or fewer students enrolled at the time of application (see IC Statistical Report for countries that have 25 or fewer students enrolled)
Other Selection Preferences
- Undergraduate students who are approaching graduation
- Undergraduate students who have not received this scholarship in the past
- Undergraduate students without significant institutional or external funding, fellowships, governmental or other scholarships, or emergency funds)
Funding Uses
The Akkar Elhafed Fund for Undergraduate International Students can be used to fund expenses including but not limited to:
- Tuition and fees
- Housing
- Food
- Healthcare expenses
- And other emergency needs
Scholarship Amount and Timeline
- Scholarship amounts generally range from $3,000-$5,000
- Funding given to support tuition expenses will be distributed in the Fall, Winter, or Spring/Summer semesters based on enrollment and application review timeline.
- Funding will be applied directly to student accounts.
- Students requesting funding should complete the Akkar Elhafed Fund for International Students Application and include the requested supporting documentation. A committee will review completed applications. Students will be informed of the application decision at the end of the selection period, generally 4-6 weeks after the application deadline. Students granted awards must accept the scholarship within 2 weeks. It typically takes two weeks for the funds to be disbursed to student accounts.
Dates
The application will be open on January 20, 2025 - February 17, 2025
How do I apply?
- Follow this link to complete the Akkar Elhafed Fund for International Students application.
- Please email [email protected] if you encounter any technical difficulties while accessing the application form.
Grant Taxes:
Funds received are generally subject to tax withholding and are processed accordingly by the University. For more information about these taxes or to see if your country of citizenship has a tax treaty with the U.S., please review the following links: