Chinese Language Fellowship Program — Fellowship

The Chinese Language Fellowship Program (CLFP) is run by the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), an independent Asia policy research institution founded in 1989 with offices in Seattle and Washington, D.C. It funds American graduate students to spend one academic year in full-time intensive Chinese-language training at an institution in China or Taiwan, so that the next generation of China specialists pairs language fluency with a deep grasp of contemporary Chinese politics, society and history. Two tracks run in parallel: a PhD track for students already enrolled in a doctoral program, and a Prospective PhD track for current or recent master’s students planning to pursue a PhD. Fellows apply separately to their language program — most often ICLP at National Taiwan University in Taipei or IUP at Tsinghua University in Beijing — and the award is contingent on being accepted there.

The program is made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Applications for the 2026–27 year closed on 16 February 2026; the fellowship runs on an annual cycle and NBR has not yet published dates for the next round.

Benefits & funding

PhD track: up to $50,000 for nine months of intensive language study in China or Taiwan, followed by a summer language program of one-on-one classes in which fellows may read primary sources tied to their dissertation research.
Prospective PhD track: up to $40,000 for nine months of intensive language study in China or Taiwan.
The award is intended to cover all expenses at a graduate-student level, including tuition, housing, a living stipend and other miscellaneous fees.
NBR pays tuition directly to the language program and provides a stipend covering airfare and living expenses for the academic year.
Funded by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Eligibility

U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States.
PhD track: currently enrolled PhD students. Fifth- and sixth-year students may still apply, though candidates usually apply within the first three years of their program.
Prospective PhD track: applicants currently enrolled in a master’s program (first-year students included) or already holding a master’s degree, with plans to pursue a PhD. Graduating seniors and applicants holding only a bachelor’s degree are not eligible.
Intermediate Chinese ability, evidenced by transcripts or language assessment results — normally at least two or three years of college-level Chinese. The fellowship is not intended for beginners; applicants with non-traditional language backgrounds may explain their circumstances.
Willingness to devote one full academic year to full-time intensive language study. The fellowship does not support substantive doctoral research.
A focus on China and policy, together with the aim of either advancing U.S. public policy toward China through improved expertise and understanding, or contributing to scholarly research and teaching on China.
Designed primarily for PhD and MA students at American universities; American citizens enrolled in PhD programs overseas receive full consideration.
Applicants apply to their language program themselves, and the fellowship is contingent on acceptance. Online study is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, and study of Chinese dialects such as Cantonese or Taiwanese is reviewed case by case.

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Residence required
USA
Education required
Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled

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Application process

1
Choose a track (PhD or Prospective PhD), decide which language program to attend, and apply to that program alongside the fellowship application, since awards are not announced until April.
2
Complete the application form, covering academic experience, Chinese-language skills and Chinese classes taken.
3
Attach a two-page summary resume including academic and professional honors — full academic CVs are not reviewed.
4
Attach a two-page cover letter explaining how the chosen language program will serve the applicant’s language training, doctoral studies and future plans; Prospective PhD applicants also set out their plans to pursue a PhD.
5
Ask an academic supervisor or professor, and a recent Chinese-language teacher, to send letters of recommendation directly to fellowships@nbr.org by the deadline.
6
Upload PDF transcripts from every institution currently attended and every institution that granted a degree.
7
NBR’s fellowship team reviews applications and makes recommendations to an independent selection committee, which meets in March; awards are conferred and announced in April.

Program timeline

2026–27 application deadline, 11:59 PM ET; recommendation letters due the same day
Feb 16, 2026
Independent selection committee meets and makes final decisions
2026-03
Awards conferred and announced
2026-04
Nine months of intensive language study; PhD track fellows continue into a summer program
2026–27 academic year