The Visiting Scholars Program brings full-time, tenure-track faculty from Harvard-Yenching Institute partner institutions in Asia to Harvard and, where appropriate, other US universities for 11 months of study and research. Projects must be academic work in the humanities or social sciences, though they do not have to focus on Asian studies.
The Institute prioritizes future promise and particularly welcomes transnational research or work on countries other than the applicant’s own. Each scholar gives at least one public presentation in English during the residency.
Benefits & funding
- A monthly stipend is distributed beginning in August.
- Fellowship support covers individual health insurance up to US$5,500, but not insurance for family members.
- Round-trip economy airfare is reimbursed after arrival.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be full-time, tenure-track ladder faculty at a Harvard-Yenching Institute partner institution in Asia.
- The home university’s international or foreign affairs office must nominate the candidate and submit the application.
- Applicants need at least three years of teaching and research experience at their home institution.
- A scholar who earned a PhD outside Asia within five years of the August 1 program start is not eligible.
- Previous Visiting Scholar fellowship recipients cannot reapply, while former Doctoral Scholarship, Visiting Fellow, and training-program fellowship recipients may apply.
- The program states no nationality or age restriction, though it prefers mid-career scholars at formative stages of their academic careers.
- Core eligible fields span the humanities and social sciences; applicants in economics, education, geography, law, psychology, or public administration must consult the Institute before applying.
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Application process
- 1Confirm that the home institution is on the Visiting Scholars partner list and seek nomination through its international or foreign affairs office.
- 2Prepare the institutional application, including a research proposal and recommendation letters, for submission by that office.
- 3List one or two US-based faculty members with whom consultation would be useful, without contacting them directly.
- 4If invited after faculty screening, complete a 20–30 minute English interview with a three-person panel.
Program timeline
Application deadline
September 15, 2026
Initial screening status communicated
Mid-December 2026
Interviews
Late December 2026 to mid-January 2027
Decisions announced
Late February 2027
Program starts
August 1, 2027