The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), with Henry Luce Foundation support, funds recent PhDs to research and write toward a significant scholarly product in China studies, such as a monograph, articles or chapters.
Long-Term fellows take four to nine consecutive months of full-time leave from teaching and service. Topics on Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang qualify; travel to China is not required.
Benefits & funding
- US$5,000 a month for four to nine consecutive months of full-time work (US$20,000–45,000).
- Covers research costs (travel, archives, conferences, research help outside the US or Canada) and living costs, including childcare or eldercare.
- Fellows must be on leave and take no other employment; other non-ACLS funding is allowed.
- Optional NYU Shanghai residency for fellows travelling to China; a final report is due at the end.
Eligibility
- PhD in the humanities or interpretive social sciences officially conferred 1 Jan 2018 – 5 Nov 2026 (conferral, not defence, counts).
- US or Canadian citizen or permanent resident; anyone else must hold a long-term, regular research or teaching appointment at a US or Canadian institution that begins by the fellowship start.
- No tenure, and no tenure file submitted by the deadline.
- Working knowledge of Chinese or another China-studies language (e.g. Tibetan, Uyghur).
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Eligible nationalities
USA · Canada
Residents of USA · Canada can also apply.
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Prepare an essay (1,300 words), work plan (300 words), bibliography, one-page resume, applicant’s statement and publications list; no budget is needed.
- 2Enter only one China Studies competition this year (Long-Term, Flexible or Travel Grant); applying to both fellowships means review for Flexible only.
- 3Submit through the ACLS OFA portal by 5:00 PM ET, 5 November 2026.
Program timeline
Application deadline
5 Nov 2026, 5:00 PM ET
Fellowship must start (four to nine consecutive months)
1 Jul 2027 – 30 Sep 2028