Funding for the Study of Asia

The following are possible sources of funding for MSU undergraduate and graduate students studying Asia.

For Undergraduates

S.C. Lee Scholarship and Paper Prize

MSU undergraduates pursuing the study of Asia may apply for the S.C. Lee Scholarship, and may also submit paper written in MSU courses to the S.C. Lee Paper Prize competition. Click here for more information.

FLAS Fellowships

Pending funding, beginning with the 2010-11 academic year, the Asian Studies Center will award undergraduate fellowships under the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship program of the U.S. Department of Education. The FLAS Fellowship program is designed to meet critical needs for specialists in American education, government, and other services of a public and/or professional nature who will utilize their skills in training others and in developing throughout the United States a wider knowledge and understanding of other countries and cultures. ASIA's FLAS Fellowships are awarded to students enrolled in programs at MSU combining the study of a modern foreign language with advanced training and research in an academic or professional area with an Asia focus. Fellowship support includes the payment of tuition and fees and a stipend for the academic year. To be considered for fellowship support, you must:

  1. Be a citizen or national of the United States; a permanent resident of the United States; or a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
  2. Be admitted to or currently enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate degree program at Michigan State University.
  3. Study an Asian language in the course at third-year level or above both semesters of the year the fellowship is held.
  4. Show potential for high academic achievement, as evidenced by such indices as grade point average or other measures.

Applicants must propose a course of study that includes both language training and Asian Studies course work. More information will be available when funding is confirmed.

For Graduate Students

Gu Wei Hui China Exchange Program

The MSU-Gu Wei Hui exchange program offers support of up to $10,000 per calendar year for MSU graduate students to do research in China. Funds may be used for living expenses and research costs but may not be used for transportation to/from China. If needed, the Asian Studies Center can provide assistance in finding a suitable host academic institution in China. Recipients must make their own visa arrangements.
Applications to this program may be made by submitting the following to the Asian Studies Center at the address below:

  • A brief description of the research to be undertaken
  • the time frame in which the research is to be done
  • an itemized project budget, indicating expenditures for living and research costs while in China.

FLAS Fellowships

Pending funding, the Asian Studies Center will award graduate fellowships under the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship program of the U.S. Department of Education. The FLAS Fellowship program is designed to meet critical needs for specialists in American education, government, and other services of a public and/or professional nature who will use their skills in training others and in developing throughout the United States a wider knowledge and understanding of other countries and cultures. ASIA's FLAS Fellowships are awarded to graduate students enrolled in programs at MSU combining the study of a modern foreign language with advanced training and research in an academic or professional area with an Asia focus. Fellowship support includes the payment of all or most tuition and fees, and a living stipend. Summer fellowships for intensive language study are also available.

Click here for more information