Apply Now: The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowships in Buddhist Studies

The ten-month fellowship period may be used for fieldwork, archival research, analysis of findings, or for writing after research is complete. There are two types of support:

• Research fellowships for fieldwork or archival investigations.
• Writing fellowships for use after research is complete to write the dissertation.

Fellowship Details

• Stipend: $35,000 and an award supplement of up to $5,000 for childcare/elder care, health insurance, learned society conference attendance, or related professional training.
• Tenure: 10 consecutive months, starting by September 30, 2025, devoting full time to the dissertation. No other employment is permitted during the fellowship period.
• The total award should be used for expenses associated with the fellowship work, not for tuition or other university fees. Home universities are requested to waive fees for fellows while allowing access to university facilities during the fellowship year. If university policy or regulations prevent the university from following this procedure, the university should be willing to negotiate with ACLS some other mutually acceptable formula that will avoid the necessity for the fellow to use the fellowship stipend for university fees. This fellowship cannot be held concurrently with any other fellowship or grant.

Eligibility Criteria

• Pursuit of the PhD degree at an accredited university anywhere in the world.
• ABD (All but Dissertation) status or equivalent by April 15, 2025. ABD status indicates completion of all doctorate coursework requirements and comprehensive exams for a PhD degree. Upon reaching ABD status, PhD students become PhD candidates and focus on research and writing of a dissertation and defending a doctoral thesis. ACLS will require final round applicants to obtain official university confirmations in Spring 2025.
• The application must be written in English by the applicant.
• There are no restrictions on the location of work proposed or the citizenship/residence of applicants.
• Work proposed must be in the humanities or interpretive social sciences.

Evaluation Criteria

• Significance of the topic and its potential contribution to Buddhist Studies.
• Coherence and cogency of presentation.
• Feasibility of the plan of work.
• Potential of the applicant for a career that will make full use of Buddhist Studies expertise.

For more information, visit ACLS.