Fellowship Opportunities

Summer Fellowships

East Asia Fellowships

Summer FLAS (Foreign Language Area Studies)
The Summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship competition is open to undergraduates (including Barnard College) who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a full-time program (either domestic or overseas) that combines modern foreign language training with international or area studies.

Weatherhead Undergraduate Training Grant
Provides up to $2,500 in support to undergraduate students for summer projects in East Asia that develop academic and/or professional expertise.  Examples of eligible projects include research or a secured, uncompensated internship. Projects involving a single East Asian country are eligible, and priority will be given to projects that cross traditional disciplinary, geographic, or temporal boundaries, as well as to applicants with a commitment to make East Asia a part of their long-term careers.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Created to assist U.S. undergraduate students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents only) with demonstrated financial need and limited prior experience in East and Southeast Asia, Freeman- ASIA will fund approximately 400 U.S. students over the next two academic years (2016-17, 2017-18), with awards ranging from $3,000 per student for summer study and $5,000 per semester, to a maximum of $7,000 for a full year abroad. Prospective students should visit the Freeman-ASIA website for eligibility requirements, full application instructions and a list of deadlines.

David L. Boren Scholarship
Summer-only programs must be eight (8) weeks or more and are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics students.

Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being approximately $4,000. Undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at two-year or four-year colleges or universities are eligible to apply. Students who apply for and receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad are then eligible to receive an additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Supplement from the Gilman Scholarship Program for a total possible award of up to $8,000.

Japan Fellowships

KCJS Summer Scholarships
The Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS) offers a limited number of scholarships for participation in the KCJS summer program. The number and amount of awards vary depending on the pool of applicants but the awards can range from $500-$1500.

Mitsui USA Research Fellowship
Provides up to $5,000 in support for academic research in Japan. The Mitsui USA Research fellowship provides two Columbia students financial support to conduct first-hand academic research in Japan over a 6-8 week period during July and August. Priority will be given to those students with interest in international trade, business, investment, and/or interest in Japan’s role in regional and global affairs as demonstrated through course selection(s) and/or participation in past research projects. Priority is also given to applicants committed to the study of Japanese language through past courses.

Nobuhisa and Marcia Ishizuka Global Fellowship in East Asian Studies
This generous grant, provided by Mr. and Mrs. Ishizuka has been created to provide funds for tuition and fee waivers, round-trip travel to the program site, a living allowance, and a work exemption grant to students on scholarship who wish to study abroad during the summer. Preference shall be given, first, to students engaged in the study of Japanese language and culture and second, to students engaged in the study of other East Asian languages and cultures, but whose research and interests include Japan.

Shirato Fund for Japanese Language Study
The Shirato Fund Scholarships will provide two $2,000 scholarships to undergraduates and graduate students accepted to Columbia-approved intensive Japanese-language study programs for the summer. Please note that awardees will be required to take a Japanese course upon their return to Columbia in the fall; to submit a short report on your use of the scholarship; and to give a presentation at the study abroad information session about the language program in which you participate. Contact Dr. Miharu Nittono (mn70@columbia.edu) for more information.

Korea Fellowships

Il Hwan and Soon Ja Cho Fellowship
The Il Hwan and Soon Ja Cho Fellowship for Summer Language Study in Korea provides up to $7,500 for intensive study of Korean at the second-year level or above. It requires a full-time course of summer language study in Korea for at least 10 weeks (usually includes two 5-week programs). The Fellowship is open to all Columbia University undergraduate and graduate students with special consideration given to those who have a proven record of academic excellence and a commitment to the language as part of their long-term academic or professional career goals. If you have any questions regarding this fellowship, please reach out to the Director of the Korean Language Program Joowon Suh (js604@columbia.edu).