CFAs: Luce/ACLS Travel Grants in China Studies

Scholars may use these funds to travel to libraries, archives and field sites, to establish contact with scholars in Chinese-language communities, and to secure necessary permissions for fieldwork or archival research.

The Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies promotes inclusion, equity, and diversity as integral components of merit that enhance the scholarly enterprise. It is a priority that every cohort of fellows and grantees is broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In China studies they seek balance in regard to national origin, educational background, and current university affiliation, as well as in disciplinary approaches, topics, and historical periods studied.

Grant Details

• $5,000 grant for travel any time during a 12-month period. Other support may be accepted during the grant period.
• Grants cover a 12-month tenure. Travel may take place at any time during these 12 months, and multiple trips are permitted. The grant period must begin between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
• Grant funds may be used for:
  • Costs associated with travel (e.g., air and ground transportation, visas, living expenses).
  • Contacting scholars in Chinese-language communities.
  • Accessing databases, collections, and archives (e.g., permits, fees).
• Priority will be given to applicants with limited access to research funding or resources at their institution.
• Any type of project grounded in scholarly research is permissible. Possible project outcomes include, but are not limited to, contributions to the development of one or more of the following:
  • Dissertations, dissertation prospectuses, research monographs, scholarly articles, conference papers, or book chapters.
  • Pedagogical tools that make meaningful connections between a scholar’s research and post-secondary teaching.
  • Works that bridge scholarly and creative practice.
  • Community-engaged projects grounded in scholarly research but geared toward a public audience. Potential or actual community and/or student engagement with the research project is encouraged, as is the dissemination of the research to audiences across higher education.
• A final report is required on completion of the grant period.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be either: A graduate student enrolled in a PhD program at an accredited university in the United States or Canada OR contingent faculty at any career stage (e.g., adjunct faculty, postdoctoral scholars, lecturers, instructors) affiliated with a university in the United States or Canada.
• Contingent faculty must hold a PhD from an accredited institution in the United States or Canada, OR be a US or Canadian citizen/permanent resident/work authorized status holder with a PhD from any accredited institution by the application deadline.
• An applicant who is not a US or Canadian citizen/permanent resident/work authorized status holder must have an affiliation, or a long-term, regular research or teaching appointment, with a university or college in the United States or Canada.
• Tenure-track and tenured faculty are not eligible for support.
• Applicants must have a working knowledge of Chinese or knowledge of another language used in China studies (e.g., Tibetan, Uyghur) are also acceptable.
• Applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System no later than 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on November 14, 2024.

Evaluation Criteria

• The research design of the project, and its significance to the field of China studies.
• The need for travel to support the project.
• The feasibility of the plan of work for the proposed travel.
• The institutional resources available to the scholar.

For more information, visit ACLS.