The Bridge to Asia Fellowship places community college and undergraduate students with National Bureau of Asian Research teams for policy research and professional development. The four-month program begins with a remote orientation in May and continues with an in-person residency in Washington, D.C., from June through August.
Fellows contribute to projects, events, and publications concerning U.S.-Asia relations and the Indo-Pacific. They also research an Asia-related topic, prepare a policy memo and briefing, and write a Q&A with an expert for possible publication.
Benefits & funding
- The fellowship is paid; NBR does not publish the payment amount.
- Qualified fellows receive modest relocation support.
- Fellows receive one-to-one mentorship, join the Summer Learning Series, and gain publication and networking opportunities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Applicants must be current community college students or first-year, sophomore, or junior undergraduates interested in Asia and U.S. foreign policy.
- Applicants must be able to relocate to Washington, D.C., or already live there for the June-through-August in-person portion.
- NBR welcomes students of all backgrounds and strongly encourages applicants from groups historically underrepresented in foreign policy.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Confirm work authorization, current enrollment, and availability for the Washington, D.C., residency.
- 2Prepare three essays of no more than 250 words each and answer the program’s supplemental questions.
- 3Upload an unofficial transcript and a resume or activity list through NBR’s application system.
- 4Arrange for one academic reference and one character reference to send letters of support directly to NBR.
- 5Submit every required item; the 2026 application is closed and its former listing is no longer available.
Program timeline
Applications closed; NBR does not publish the exact deadline.
2026 cycle
Remote orientation at 5–10 hours per week.
May 2026
In-person residency in Washington, D.C.
June–August 2026