Student Funding

The Dr. Delia Koo Global Student Scholarships provides financial support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students at Michigan State University, including both domestic and international students from all academic disciplines. Preference will be given to students whose work focuses on Asia. The scholarship supports expenses related to conference travel, study abroad programs, internships, field research, and associated living costs.

Qualifications:

• Current or incoming MSU students—both domestic and international are eligible to apply for funding to support experiences that contribute to their coursework or research.
• Must be a full-time enrolled student at MSU during the award period.
• Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better, or its equivalent, at the time of application.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better and good standing while holding the scholarship.

Important Information:

• Scholarship awards will be made up to $3,000.
• The Awards Committee will only review completed applications.
• Qualifying applications consist of:
  • A completed online application form.
  • An essay (800-1000 words):
    • For international students: Describe how your academic background and/or professional experience will contribute to the MSU community and outline your specific study plan and career goals.
    • For domestic students: Explain how this scholarship will support your interest in international studies—particularly related to Asia—enhance your cross-cultural understanding, and advance your academic and professional goals.
  • An academic transcript.
• The selection committee will take into consideration both merit and need.
• If you are awarded an assistantship anytime during the semester, please inform the Asian Studies Center so that any award you have received may be given to another applicant.
• Priority will be given to first-time applicants and to students whose work focuses on Asia.

IMPORTANT: After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive one, please contact us to ensure your application was submitted successfully.

Application Deadlines:

• July 1 (Fall Semester)
• November 1 (Spring Semester)
• February 1 (Summer Semester)

If you have questions while completing the online application, please contact Soksamphoas Im, associate director for the Asian Studies Center).

Apply for Dr. Delia Koo Global Student Scholarship

The Shao-Chang (S.C.) Lee Scholarship Fund was established by friends and colleagues of the late Professor Shao-Chang Lee (1891–1977) to provide two types of awards to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Michigan State University.

• The first type of award is the Scholarship for Undergraduate Students, which recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence in Asian studies and are pursuing, or planning to pursue, a program that includes Asian studies.
• The second type of award is the Best Paper Competition Award, open to both graduate and undergraduate students who produce outstanding and original research papers focusing on Asia.

Professor Lee was a renowned authority on Chinese history and religion and worked tirelessly to promote greater understanding between East Asia and the United States.

Applications for S.C. Lee Undergraduate Scholarship and Best Paper Award for AY 2026-2027 are now open.

S.C. Lee Undergraduate Scholarship:

The S.C. Lee Undergraduate Scholarship is open to undergraduate students enrolled at Michigan State University in any academic discipline through the Spring 2027 semester. Applicants must demonstrate both academic excellence in Asian studies and financial need during their studies. Preference will be given to students who have not previously received this scholarship. No student may receive this scholarship awards two years consecutively. Applicants are encouraged to review the application instructions provided at the bottom of this scholarship page before preparing their application.

The deadline to apply for AY 2026-27 S.C. Lee Undergraduate Scholarship is December 5, 2026.

Apply for S.C. Lee Undergraduate Scholarship

S.C. Lee Best Paper Award:

The S.C. Lee Best Paper Award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students for research papers focusing on Asian topics. Students from any academic discipline may submit a paper (typically 10 – 15 pages with citations) completed for a course, or under the supervision of a faculty member at MSU during the Spring, Summer, or Fall semesters of the preceding year (for example papers submitted for the 2026-27 competition should have been written during the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, or Fall 2026). To qualify, the paper must focus on an Asian topic or include a significant content related to Asia. Book reports or reviews are not eligible. The paper competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled through the Spring 2027 semester. Only one paper may be submitted by a student for a particular annual competition. Applicants are encouraged to review the application instructions provided at the bottom of this scholarship page before preparing their application.

The deadline to apply for AY 2026-27 S.C. Lee Best Paper Award is January 5, 2027.

Apply for S.C. Lee Best Paper Award

The Richard Kichu & Joan Sojeon Moon Scholarships are awarded by the Council on Korean Studies at the Asian Studies Center to two qualified Michigan State University students. Recipients are selected based on academic performance and financial need, with additional consideration given to students who have demonstrated engagement in promoting cultural understanding of Korean culture through community service, extracurricular involvement, or related activities. The scholarship is open to all regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or shared ancestry.

To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant:

• Must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at MSU during the scholarship year.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Has promoted an understanding of Korean culture through participation in community service, extracurricular or related activities.

A Complete Application consists of:

• Scholarship application form;
• Copy of transcripts;
• Completed financial document;
• 250-300 word essay, which addresses 1) how you helped to promote an understanding of Korean culture, and 2) how your activities help to advance the university’s stated mission of building and supporting a culture of diversity and inclusion; and
• Two recommendation letters

Please arrange to send two letters of recommendation directly from your recommenders to the Chair of the Scholarship Committee at cks.globalkorea@gmail.com

Upon notification of the award a recipient:

1. Must express acceptance and appreciation of the award in writing within six weeks of notification of the award, by correspondence addressed to Ms. Joan Sojeon Moon, 11301 Kilarney Drive, Washington, MI 48095.
2. Will receive $500 of the award into the student's account in the next few weeks after confirming the letter sent to Ms. Moon, and the remaining half $500 at the Global Korea Award ceremony.

Application Materials and Scholarship Dates:

Please visit the Council for Korean Studies website to check application deadlines and access the submission portal.

The David Cho Scholarships are awarded by the Council on Korean Studies at the Asian Studies Center to two qualified Michigan State University students. Recipients are selected based on academic performance and financial need. Special consideration will be given to students who promote an understanding of Korean culture and students that are U.S. veterans, ROTC members, and/or active members of the military. The scholarship is open to all regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or shared ancestry.

To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant:

• Must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at MSU during the scholarship year.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Has promoted an understanding of Korean culture through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities.

A complete application consists of:

• Scholarship application form;
• Copy of transcripts;
• Completed financial document;
• 250-300 word essay, which addresses 1) how you helped to promote an understanding of Korean culture and 2) how your activities help to advance the university’s stated mission of building and supporting a culture of diversity and inclusion; and
• Two recommendation letters

Please arrange to send two letters of recommendation directly from your recommenders to the Chair of the Scholarship Committee at cks.globalkorea@gmail.com.

Upon notification of the award a recipient:

1. Must express acceptance and appreciation of the award in writing within six weeks of notification of the award, by correspondence addressed to Dr. Young Ho Cho, 5053 Okemos Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823.
2. Will receive $500 of the award (into the student account) in the next few weeks after confirming the letter sent to Dr. Cho, and the remaining half $500 at the Global Korea Award ceremony.

Application Materials and Scholarship Dates:

Please visit the Council for Korean Studies website to check application deadlines and access the submission portal.

The MSU/Israeli Universities Cooperative Fund endowment supports academic exchanges and collaborative activities between Michigan State University (MSU) and Israeli universities with comparable academic programs where partnerships can provide mutual benefit to both MSU and participating Israeli institutions. The fund is intended to expand research, teaching, and study opportunities for MSU faculty and students and may provide support for travel and other activities that advance sustained institutional and scholarly collaboration.

Details of the Award:

The fund may support MSU student for activities such as:

• Undergraduate student exchange and study opportunities in Israel.
• Graduate student study and research visits in Israel or at Israeli universities, such as the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and others.
• Student research and scholarly activities
• Graduate student recruitment and exchange activities involving Israeli universities.

Submission Requirements:

• A completed online application form.
• A one-page proposal describing the proposed activity or initiative, including its purpose; detailed information about the visit in Israel and primary point(s) of contact; the proposed timeline; and the anticipated outcomes.
• An estimated budget for the proposed research study or exchange program.
• Current transcript at MSU.

If you have any questions regarding this funding opportunity, please contact Siddharth Chandra or Soksamphoas Im.

Apply for the MSU/Israeli Universities Cooperative Fund