The Global Professional Research Program (GPRP) is a one-semester to one-year long research focused program where international scholars at any stage of their academic career can work with one or more relevant MSU faculty to conduct a specific research project. Admission is subject to a successful research proposal and interview with the relevant MSU faculty.
GPRP will allow you to recharge without the daily responsibility of teaching, administration or management burdens and will let you focus on enhancing your research capacity. Connecting with and working alongside world-leading scholars, professionals, and scientists at MSU will offer you an opportunity to further develop new research ideas and directions.
Once admitted, VIPP will process your J-1 non-degree scholar visa and provide support to you and the faculty mentor throughout your program. The full settlement service includes:
Shan LiuAssociate Professor and Master’s Supervisor, School of Advertising and Brand Communication, Communication University of China
Visiting Scholar, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University (Aug 2024 – Aug 2025)
After ten years of working, I was given the rare opportunity to return to campus—and I’ve cherished every moment of my year at MSU. This year, I became a student again—not standing on the podium, but sitting among the audience. I could freely choose courses that truly interested me, actively participate in discussions, complete assignments with care, and make full use of the university’s academic and digital resources to broaden my horizons. From a different perspective, I rediscovered my original passion for my discipline.
At the same time, I immersed myself in a completely new campus and cultural environment. We admired the beauty of MSU through the changing seasons, took part in diverse activities organized by VIPP, made new friends, and experienced American culture firsthand. For me, this short yet fulfilling year has been a rare period of calm between years of teaching and research—an opportunity to slow down, breathe, and savor both life and time. I believe that everyone who has studied at MSU will carry this journey deep in their memory, and take pride in having once felt the true spirit of the Spartans.
Yue LiuCapital Normal University, Beijing, China
As a Ph.D. student in world history, it has always been my dream to see the world and experience different academic and cultural environments. With the guidance and support of my supervisors, Professor Yao Baihui and Associate Professor Qiao Yu at Capital Normal University, and with the mentorship of Professor Michael Stamm and the kind assistance of Dr. Chen Xiaoqing at Michigan State University, I was able to conduct archival research abroad and consult first-hand materials related to my research topic. To advance my study on the environmental history of the Cold War, I visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and the National Archives (NARA) in College Park, where I collected valuable archival materials that have greatly enriched and inspired my dissertation.
Beyond my academic work, I am also deeply thankful to my friends Kate, Janet, Courtney, and Alaina, whose kindness and companionship gave me unforgettable memories of North America. This year abroad was brief but truly fulfilling and joyful.
Shuhuibo LiangResearch Scholar
The contours of East Lansing cannot be fully captured in just a year, yet within this brief time, I have felt both vitality and tranquility here. The scenery, the climate, and the local culture have gradually drawn me in. When I first arrived, the city was blanketed in snow under a dazzling blue sky. The biting cold of a subzero morning welcomed me—a newcomer thrown into a new world at dawn.
The natural beauty here eases much of the initial unease: dense forests, the occasional deer or squirrel, and the ever-present Canadian geese, even the rainy-day spiders and summer bugs—all part of life in East Lansing. Beyond nature, there is also the hum of a modern college town—the lively conversations of students, the youthful energy in their voices, sometimes rebellious, sometimes exuberant. I have heard exhaustion and complaints too, but not despair. So far, what I’ve sensed is a natural calm, and a quiet vitality in everyday life.
I haven’t yet explored East Lansing in its entirety—only glimpsed its many sunsets, walked through nearby neighborhoods, and admired how each sunny day feels especially precious after long spells of rain. The academic atmosphere here is inspiring, and both my advisor and colleagues are open and kind. Outside the History Building stands a stone pillar inscribed with the words: “At Michigan State University, dreams and aspirations are nourished, talents and passions are cultivated, and lives are transformed.”
I think this captures MSU’s true essence—and my greatest takeaway from this journey. Life here may not be as convenient as home, but I’ve come to appreciate its unique rhythm and distinct character. Perhaps these impressions are just my romantic illusions of East Lansing, but to me, this period of study and life has been deeply meaningful and unforgettable.
We strongly encourage you to submit your online application at least six months before your desired start date.
The application must include:
An invitation letter can only be issued after we receive your completed application.
Program fee varies based on discipline and research project. Generally speaking, arts, humanity, education, communication and social science is from $7,750 for 12 months, while business, law and STEM and lab-based program is from $12,750.
For more information about fees and finances, including living costs, health insurance, and housing please visit:
2026 Global Summer School Brochure
Bolashak Program
VIPP Strategic Plan
Bold Goals Toward 2030
VIPP Program Brochure
