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?

$20,000 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 2025-26 application window will open October 2, 2024. The submission deadline is January 24, 2025 by 5:00pm central time.

Deadline extensions will not be granted; late submissions will not be accepted.

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 Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards.

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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.