31st Annual Columbia Graduate Student Conference on East Asia
March 27th and 28th , 2026
Graduate students are cordially invited to submit abstracts for the 31st Annual Columbia Graduate Student Conference on East Asia, to be held at Columbia University on March 27th and 28th , 2026.
We welcome applications from students engaged in research on all fields in East Asian Studies. While applicants are welcome to anchor their research within specific disciplines such as History, Literature, Cinema, Art History, Religion, Sociology, and others, we particularly encourage projects that transcend national, temporal, and disciplinary boundaries, aiming to investigate how solidarity can be fostered among groups with diverse backgrounds.
Participation
Presenters deliver a talk no longer than 20 minutes based on an academic paper that summarizes research in progress. Presentations may take three possible forms: a standard academic research paper, a PowerPoint presentation accompanied by a talk, or a work of documentary filmmaking. A documentary work should be 20 minutes or less. Those interested in proposing research in alternative forms should directly contact us at columbiaealacgradcon@gmail.com.
The committee also encourages applications from pre-arranged panels of three to four presenters organized around a specific research topic, such as a region, discipline, or theme. If you are applying as a pre-formed panel, please make sure to include a tentative title for your panel on the application form. Preference will be given to such applications; we encourage panels to include participants from multiple institutions.
Deadlines
Applications are due December 16 , 2025. Please fill in the application form here or scan the QR code in the flyer.
Successful applicants will be notified of acceptance in January 2026.
Final Papers are due February 26 , 2026.
Housing
Housing will be available on an extremely limited basis. We encourage everyone to arrange their own accommodations in advance. The conference runs from Friday afternoon to late Saturday evening. Travel and lodging information will be available soon.
Funding
The committee will provide funding to cover travel expenses, but on an extremely limited and competitive basis. Preference will be given to international travelers. Participants are strongly encouraged to apply for funding from their home institutions or other sources.
Accessibility
We are committed to holding an accessible conference. Please let us know what accommodations you require.
Contact Information
Graduate Student Conference on East Asia
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
407 Kent Hall, Mail Code 3907
Columbia University
New York, NY 10027
Fax: 212-678-8629
