What is the Torske Klubben Fellowship?

The Torske Klubben, founded in 1933, is a Minneapolis luncheon club of Norwegian heritage who are deeply interested in Norway and Norwegian-American history and relationships. The organization funds UMN graduate fellowships for students who have an interest in or connection with Norway and/or its culture. Torske Klubben is interested in supporting students of high academic achievement who show great promise of becoming leaders in their chosen profession, who have a deep and abiding cultural and/or professional interest in Norway (in a historical or present-day context), and who convey a sensitivity to the future of Norway and its global relationships. The overarching goal of the fellowship program is to support future leaders.

How much is the award?

$16,000 stipend

Who Is Eligible?

  • Master’s and/or doctoral students
  • Incoming or current students
  • U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, incoming or current students lawfully in the U.S. on a non-temporary basis, and MN Dream Act students
  • International students, incoming or current, who completed an undergraduate or high school degree in Norway, or the equivalent thereof

Preference will be given to students, incoming or current, pursuing a Ph.D as well as to students, incoming or current, who completed an undergraduate or high school degree in Norway, or the equivalent thereof. Recipients are eligible to apply for a second year of support, but the award is not automatic.

How DO I APPLY?

Incoming and current graduate students apply directly through this link.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

The submission deadline has passed and applications are currently under review. Recipients will be notified in early March 2024 of award decisions.

WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS? (OR MATERIALS?)

The applicant will upload a single PDF of the application materials in the following order:

  • Fellowship Application Cover Page (download as a PDF to edit)
  • Project Statement, see details below
  • Personal Statement, see details below
  • Undergraduate Transcript(s)
  • Graduate Transcript(s), if applicable
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation, see details below

Required PDF title format: Last Name, First Name - Name of Graduate Program

Further Information

If you have questions, please contact the Graduate School Fellowship Office.

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PROJECT STATEMENT

  • Three-page maximum, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman type, 1-inch margins;
  • Statement should be written in plain English using non-specialized terms that are clear and unambiguous;
  • 100-word abstract (summary);
  • Provide a brief overview of the project, placing it in the context of previous work in the profession;
  • Provide a description of the goals and objectives of the project; and
  • Provide a description on the potential significance of the project (e.g. what important new knowledge will be gained; what substantive questions will be answered; and what is the relevance of the project, in the larger context, to the needs of science, technology, the arts, or society).

PERSONAL STATEMENT

  • Three-page maximum, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman type, 1-inch margins;
  • Statement should be written in a way that offers a picture of the applicant and conveys a strong sense of who they are as an individual and as a professional;
  • Communicate the applicant’s values and motivation for pursuing their graduate degree;
  • Describe the influences on the applicant’s development that has led to their choice of academic discipline and how that shapes the applicant’s long-term goals;
  • Explain the applicant’s interest in or connection to Norway and its culture that goes beyond superficial appreciation; and
  • Reveal accomplishment and a capacity for leadership that foretells future promise in the chosen profession.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

  • One letter of recommendation should be written by your current or prospective faculty advisor. This letter can be co-authored by your current or prospective co-advisor.
  • Second letter of recommendation can come from your current or prospective co-advisor or another faculty member who is either internal or external to the University of Minnesota.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does the Fellowship include tuition and health benefits?

  • No, the Fellowship does not include tuition benefits. Recipients of the Torske Klubben Fellowship can supplement the award with a 50% research or teaching assistantship, which will provide tuition benefits.
  • No, the Fellowship does not include health benefits; however, recipients have two options. One, recipients can supplement the award with a 50% research or teaching assistantship, which will provide tuition benefits; or two, Fellowship recipients can select to receive the health insurance benefits and the cost will be deducted from the stipend amount upfront.

Can I apply if I am an international student?

If you received a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, at a school, university, or institution in Norway, then yes, you are eligible to apply.