The GenMH University Mental Health Fellowship, launched in Summer 2023, is a
6 month funded opportunity for undergraduate/bachelors students.
It is aimed at university students who have identified a mental health need on their campus and have a program they want to launch to address that need. The Fellowship sees successful applicants participate in a number of
workshops and mentoring sessions tailored to support and empower them to design, implement, and evaluate their own mental health project.
Applications are now open for our 2025 Fellowship cohort! In the application, we ask questions about you and your proposed campus mental health project. We anticipate it will take 30-60 minutes. For a preview of the questions, see
here.
Applications are due April 20th 2025 at 11:59pm EDT.
What are the benefits of becoming a Fellow?
By becoming a Generation Mental Health University Mental Health Fellow, you can receive:
- Workshop trainings on project management, safety in advcocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and many other topics crucial to delivering an impactful program
- Networking sessions with other Fellows and members of the broader global mental health community
- One-on-one mentorship from a mentor matched with you based on your needs and interests
- A 400USD stipend for your participation, and access to an additional 350USD in funding for your project
- Practice pitching your project and receive feedback from field experts
- Access to additional speaking opportunities to share your work
- A certificate of completion for your work in the Fellowship.
What is the time commitment?
- You should expect to spend 3-6 hours per month on synchronous activities (workshops, mentorship sessions, networking sessions)
- You will be expected to complete assignments connected to each of the workshops, which we anticipate to take 1-4 hours per month
- Beyond this, we expect that you will be spending time on your project, but the amount and cadence will depend on the specific needs of your project
- Additional engagements may be provided on an optional basis.
When are Fellowship sessions?
Sessions will be held via Zoom, on two Saturdays a month at at 11am New York/4pm Lagos/8:30pm Delhi time.
When does the Fellowship take place?
The Fellowship takes place July through December 2025.
What is the selection process and timeline?
The Fellowship selection process involves two rounds of review. First, the written applications are reviewed and scored. Based on these reviews, shortlisted candidates will be selected and invited to interview with members of our team for 20-30 minutes. We anticipate interviews to happen in May. Fellows will be selected by June 2025.
What are the selection criteria?
Our team looks for:
- Viable project with compelling plan, able to be launched successfully through the Fellowship.
- Personal connection to project's target group.
- Some evidence of relevant skills such that the Fellowship will help Fellows and their project reach the next level.
- Commitment to the success of their project and a vision for continuing past Fellowship period.
- Commitment to the success of the Fellowship program, including the co-creation process.
- Collaborative approach with interest in working with mentors and other Fellows.
What advice do you have for increasing my chances of being successful in my application?
While we can't give personalized advice, we are happy to share what we learned from our last application cycle. Here are some insights we had after reviewing applications in 2023:
- Make sure to carefully read the directions and check eligibility requirements! We received applications from a number of people who were not university students. At this point this program is only for individuals who are enrolled in undergraduate studies at the time of the fellowship, with a university focused project proposal.
- While you may have an excellent idea, presenting it in terms of the process, value, and potential impact is essential. Our team looks for a clear vision of how you would achieve your intended outcome with your proposed project. It is critical to be specific about the tools, people, resources, and timelines involved in your project, even if these are subject to change. Providing concrete examples of how you plan to execute your project can help demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the area.
- Presenting a clear vision of your anticipated impact does not require impacting thousands of people. We are interested in seeing that you have a plan that is feasible, including having an attainable goal.
- We suggest that the evidence you provide of your ambition and relevant experience should align with your project execution, even if it was not in the mental health space. We encourage you to spotlight the "transferability" of your skills and experiences, particularly those relevant to the proposed project. We are not looking only for people who have run mental health projects before, but it was important for us to see that you have applicable skills that could contribute to your ability to run your project successfully.
How many Fellows will be selected?
We anticipate selecting 4-5 Fellows for this cohort.
Can students based anywhere in the world apply?
Yes! There is no specific geographic focus of this program.
I have a team of people working on my project. How should we apply?
We ask that one person who is most likely to be able to participate actively in the Fellowship apply. Additional team members will be welcomed to join skill-building sessions and some networking sessions; but we will not be able to fund any additional team member participation.
