The Harvard-Yenching Institute (HYI) offers this fellowship to doctoral students and junior faculty in South Asian studies at universities in mainland China. Fellows spend one year on research at HYI in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
It is the second stage of a route that begins with the South Asian Studies in China workshop, run with NYU Shanghai’s Center for Global Asia. Only workshop participants may apply; HYI explains the fellowship application at the workshop.
Benefits & funding
- A one-year research stay at HYI.
- A monthly stipend and individual medical insurance while at the Institute; the amount is not published.
- The page does not say whether travel to Cambridge is covered.
Eligibility
- PRC citizens only.
- Currently affiliated with a university or research institution in mainland China.
- Doctoral students, or faculty who received their doctorate within the past 7 years (2019 or later for the 2027–28 round).
- Working on South Asian studies in a humanities or social-science discipline.
- Able to present research in English, orally and in writing.
- Must first attend the two-and-a-half-day workshop at NYU Shanghai.
- No age limit; HYI seeks early-career scholars doing academic rather than applied or policy research.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Applicants must be currently affiliated with a university or research institution in mainland China. … Applicants who are faculty members should have received their doctorate within the past 7 years” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
China
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Apply to the workshop by email under the current call (the 2026 call closed August 1, 2026).
- 2If selected, attend the workshop, where HYI shares the fellowship guidelines.
- 3After the workshop, apply for the fellowship for the following academic year; HYI does not publish this deadline.
Program timeline
Workshop application deadline (entry to the fellowship)
August 1, 2026
Workshop results
September 1, 2026
Workshop; fellowship guidelines shared
November 26–28, 2026
Fellowship year at HYI
2027–28 academic year