Center for Southeast Asian Studies > Opportunities > Student Scholarships

Student Scholarships

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Student Grants, fellowships, scholarships, and other funding opportunities geared toward or applicable to Southeast Asia studies.

Unless otherwise noted, CSEAS scholarships and fellowships have been consolidated on the UH Star System. Click “Scholarships” and use the advanced search to look for the scholarships/fellowships listed below. After you have located the scholarship/fellowship, click on “Apply” and you will be directed to the application form and extended award requirements. Please follow all directions to insure a proper application has been submitted and the deadline for each application has been met.

The Center maintains a database of scholarships which are applicable to study in and of Southeast Asia. Some of these are only for University of Hawaiʻi students, while others have broader criteria. The database is accessible via the link below:

Southeast Asia Related Scholarships Database

There are three UH scholarships which the Center administers. These are the Southeast Asia Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, the Embree Scholarship, and the Moscotti Fellowship. More information on each of these, including deadlines and how to apply, can be found on the scholarships’ dedicated pages:

Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship | Deadline: January 31, 2025

Administered by UH CSEAS! For US citizens/nationals/permanent residents enrolled full time, in residence, at UH Mānoa. Must be taking an eligible SEA language during the award period.

Summer 2024 Benefits for both Undergraduate and Graduate Students: $2,500 stipend and up to $5,000 for tuition for undergraduate and graduate students for summer language classes.

Graduate Student Benefits: $20,000 stipend and up to $18,000 for tuition for up to 9 credits per semester for one academic year.

Undergraduate Student Benefits: $5,000 stipend and up to $10,000 for tuition for up to 12 credits per semester for one academic year.

Deadline: January 31, 2025

The Moscotti Fellowship | Deadline: March 7, 2025

Administered by UH CSEAS for graduate students at UHM in the arts, humanities, or social sciences with a concentration on Southeast Asia.

This fellowship is to assist full-time, classified graduate students in a degree program at UHM in any department or program in the arts, humanities or social sciences whose area of focus is Southeast Asia. Non-US citizens are eligible to apply.

This fellowship may be used for any of the following purposes:
– to attend a professional meeting at which the graduate student will present a scholarly paper or participate in the meeting as a discussant of a scholarly paper;
– to provide travel expenses for Southeast Asia graduate students so that they can conduct research which will contribute to the preparation of a scholarly paper by the student or other appropriate research purposes.

Application Deadline: March 7, 2025

The John Fee Embree Endowed Scholarship | Deadline: TBA

The John Fee Embree Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the late Asia scholar, Professor John Fee Embree. Dr. Embree served as Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawai’i in 1937–41 and during World War II in 1943–45. He was also Associate Professor of Anthropology and head of the Japanese area studies of the Civil Affairs Training School for the Far East which the War Department set up at the University of Chicago for the training of military government officers for Japan and the Occupied Areas. He was Associate Professor of Sociology and Research Associate of Anthropology at Yale from 1948 to 1950 and, later in the year, was appointed the University’s Director of Southeast Asia Studies.

The scholarship is earmarked to assist graduate students in anthropology or sociology (or other disciplines in the absence of anthropology or sociology applicants) who are concentrating their academic work on Southeast Asia related studies at UHM. Non-US citizens are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline: TBA

Call for Applications: 2024-2025 GETSEA Language Tuition Support | Deadline: July 12, 2024

With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, The Southeast East Asian Language Council (SEALC) and The Graduate Education and Training in Southeast Asian Studies (GETS) consortia award financial assistance to students who incur tuition fees when studying a Southeast Asian language via synchronous distance learning during the academic year at an institution other than their home institution. This award is intended to facilitate cross-institutional collaboration and increase access to Southeast Asian language instruction. Eligibility requires that the course is credit-bearing at a North American institution and that the applicant is a full-time student at a North American institution. Priority will be given to graduate students, but all are encouraged to apply. SEALC and GETSEA encourage applicants to consider attending SEASSI which serves as an excellent resource for summer language instruction. This award is intended to improve access during the academic year so that students can obtain multi-year instruction in a timely manner.

Please send any questions to SEALC at sealc@intl.wisc.edu. For more information and to apply, click here.

Deadline: July 12, 2024

Wenner-Gren Research Funding | Deadline: August 1, 1024

The Engaged Research Grant (https://wennergren.org/program/engaged-research-grant/) is open to applicants with PhDs in anthropology and related fields. We also welcome applications from students enrolled in a doctoral program (or equivalent, if applying from outside the U.S.) at the time of application. There is no preference for any methodology or subfield. Individuals of all nationalities are eligible to apply.

Award Money
The maximum Engaged Research Grant is $25,000. Grants are nonrenewable. There is no limit to the duration of the grant, and applicants may request funding to cover distinct research phases (for example, two summers) if this is part of the research design.

Application Deadline
The application deadline is August 1 for projects beginning no earlier than April 1 of the following year. The application portal opens 2 months before the deadline. It takes us 6 months to complete the review process and arrive at a final decision.

Who Can Apply
Doctoral Students, Doctorates in Anthropology, Doctorates in Related Fields, Independent Scholars

The Wang Gungwu Visiting Fellows Programme | Deadline: August 2, 2024

The Wang Gungwu Visiting Fellows Programme is now open for application! The programme aims to build the next generation of scholars and policy makers exploring the nexus of big-power relations and its impact on Southeast Asia, through policy relevant and contemporary research on international politics and security, regional economics and digital technology, in the following priority areas of research:

More info: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/about-us/opportunities/fellowships/wang-gungwu-visiting-fellows-programme/

Applicants must submit:
Cover Letter
CV/Resume
Research Statement (3 pages, double-spaced) addressing: Area of research, research methodology, timeline, and expected outputs
Duration of fellowship in residence at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Two Reference Letters
Proposal for partial/full cost-sharing (if applicable)

Application Deadline: August 2, 2024

CSS Travel Funds | Deadline: September 12, 2024

The College of Social Sciences (CSS) sets aside a limited amount of funds (maximum $3000, once a year) for travel support from overhead monies generated by extramural grants and contracts awarded to CSS faculty members. The purpose of these travel awards is to promote research by supporting travel to conferences, training programs, and other events that facilitate professional development in research. Funding is open to CSS faculty, lecturers, APTs, and graduate students.

CSS Travel Award Guidelines and Criteria.

-APPLY HERE-

For questions regarding this application, email ssridir@hawaii.edu.

Deadline: September 12, 2024

2025 Blakemore Freeman Fellowships and Blakemore Fellowships | Deadline: December 30, 2024

Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Khmer at the advanced level in approved language programs in East or Southeast Asia. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be an American citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• Be pursuing a professional, business, or academic career that involves the regular use of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Khmer.
• By the start of the grant, have (at minimum) a bachelor’s degree.
• Be at or near an advanced level in the language. By the start of the grant, applicants must have completed (at minimum) the third year of language classes at the college level, through formal classroom study at a college or university and/or in rigorous college-level language programs.• Be able to devote oneself exclusively to full-time intensive language study during the term of the grant; grants are not made for part-time study or research.

Links to Additional Information:
For further information see our website at https://www.blakemorefoundation.org

Visiting Research Fellowship Program, Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | Deadline: Ongoing

CIPS invites qualified researchers to join our Visiting Research Fellowship Program. The program offers opportunities for both Indonesians and non-Indonesian nationals who are completing their Indonesia-related PhD and post-graduate theses abroad, to conduct field research in Indonesia over a 3-6 month period. CIPS also opens the opportunity for post-doctoral or non-degree fellowships.
If you are interested in the Fellowship Program, please send an e-mail to contact@cips-indonesia.org.
More info about this fellowship, visit CIPS website [new window]
Deadline: Ongoing

Sunlit Residency, The Sue-Je Lee Gage Residency for Human Rights and Social Justice | Deadline: Ongoing

Year-Round Residencies — Weekly residencies are available for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Monthly residencies may be considered for up to 3 months.

Weekly and Monthly Residencies — Private bedroom work spaces at Sunlit are available throughout the year at a highly subsidized rates for week-long and month-long residencies for writers, scholars, artists, and activists.

Mini-Residencies — While we prefer residents stay at least 1 week, we aim to be flexible.
Stays of 1, 2, or 3 nights can be arranged.

For more information, see https://www.sunlitresidency.com/residencies
Deadline: Ongoing

ProFellow: 29 Dissertation Research Fellowships for Doctoral Students | Deadline: Ongoing

Dissertation research fellowships provide financial support to doctoral students who are in the stages of conducting research and writing their dissertation. Funding can be used to support travel, field work, supplies, language training, and even living expenses. Often these fellowships have “no strings attached” – their intention is simply to support scholars completing original research in a particular field of study. Check out and bookmark these 30 unique dissertation research fellowships for domestic and international doctoral students enrolled in U.S. universities.
More info about this fellowship, visit ProFellow website [new window]
Deadline: Ongoing

UH Funding (recurring)