With generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation to establish a Global Asia Hub at NYU Shanghai and to promote research about Asia in Asia, the Center for Global Asia invites applications for travel grants from scholars affiliated with institutions in Asia. Preference will be given to doctoral students and to those who received their doctorates after December 2021. These grants of up to US$5,000 each may be used at any time between 15 October 2026 and 30 September 2027. Funds will be disbursed only upon receipt of receipts and other documentation as stipulated in the award letters.

Grants may support field and archival research as well as attendance at conferences and workshops, within or outside Asia. These grants cannot be used for per diem, honorarium, or for salary replacements. Travel must be to sites beyond the applicant’s country of affiliation. Preference will be given to activities that promote research across national state borders in Asia, addresses more than one Asian country or region, or that examines Asia’s connections to and comparisons with other regions of the world.

Proposal should include:

1. 1. Completed application form
   2. A project narrative of no more than three pages, plus a one-page bibliography. The narrative should explain the significance of the research, or of the work to be presented at the conference or workshop. For projects involving archival or ethnographic research, the narrative must confirm whether all required permissions have been obtained.
   3. A two-page CV
   4. A detailed itinerary and budget, including any additional funds that may be available
   5. One letter of recommendation from faculty advisor (required of current doctoral students only). The letter should be submitted directly by the faculty advisor to the email below.

Proposals are due by 15 September 2026. Awards will be announced by 15 October 2026.

Please submit your application here: lucetravelgrant@gmail.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

Who may apply?
Scholars affiliated with institutions in Asia, and independent researchers based in Asia. Preference will be given to doctoral students and to those who received their doctorates after December 2021.

What counts as an Asian country?
Any country on the continent of Asia.

What counts as being “based” in an Asian country?
Residence in Asia together with affiliation or employment at an Asian institution. Independent researchers without an affiliation qualify on the basis of residence alone.

Do I need to be a citizen of an Asian country?
No. Foreign citizens affiliated or employed at an Asian institution are eligible.

Must my research be on a country other than the one in which I am based?
Yes. The grant supports research that extends beyond the applicant’s own national context, and travel must be to sites beyond the country in which you are based.

I am a doctoral student at an institution outside Asia but conducting fieldwork in Asia. Am I eligible?
No. Eligibility is determined by institutional affiliation, not by the location of research.

I hold a postdoctoral position rather than a permanent appointment. Does that affect my application?
No, provided you are affiliated with an institution in Asia. Applicants who received their doctorates after December 2021 fall within the preferred category.

May I apply if I hold a doctorate awarded before December 2021?
Yes. Applications from more senior scholars are welcome, though preference will be given to doctoral students and recent recipients of the doctorate.

I am an independent researcher without a current institutional affiliation. May I apply?
Yes. Independent researchers are eligible provided they are based in an Asian country and their research addresses another country or region.

I have an honorary, adjunct, or visiting affiliation. Should I apply as an affiliated scholar or as an independent researcher?
Apply as an affiliated scholar if the affiliation is with an institution in Asia, and state its nature in your CV. If the affiliation carries no institutional standing that would support your application, apply as an independent researcher and explain the position in your application.

Are journalists, curators, archivists, documentary filmmakers, and other non-academic researchers eligible?
No. The grants support scholarly research.

May I apply jointly with a colleague?
No. Grants are awarded to individual applicants.

Scope of the award

What may the funds be used for?
Field and archival research, and attendance at conferences and workshops, within or outside Asia.

Does the destination have to be in Asia?
No, but travel must be to sites beyond your country of affiliation.

What kinds of projects are favored?
Preference will be given to research addressing more than one Asian country or region, or examining Asia’s connections to and comparisons with other regions of the world.

Are single-country projects eligible?
They may be submitted, but they fall outside the stated preference and will be less competitive unless the narrative establishes a clear comparative or transregional dimension.

Does the grant cover expenses other than transport?
Yes. Hotel accommodation, visa fees, archival reproduction charges, and conference registration are all eligible.

May the award be used for per diem?
No.

May the award be used to cover salary or course release?
No.

Award period and disbursement

When may the funds be used?
At any time between 15 October 2026 and 30 September 2027.

How are funds disbursed?
Only upon submission of receipts after travel is completed, and any other documentation stipulated in the award letter.

Does this mean the grant operates on a reimbursement basis?
Yes.

May I request an extension beyond 30 September 2027?
No.

What happens if my travel is cancelled or my plans change substantially?
You must notify the Center for Global Asia in writing, and material changes require the Center’s approval.

Application materials

What must the application contain?
A project narrative of no more than three pages plus a one-page bibliography; a two-page CV; a detailed itinerary and budget, including any additional funds that may be available; and one letter of recommendation from current doctoral students and independent researchers.

Does the bibliography count toward the three-page limit?
No; it is additional to the narrative.

What should the narrative address?
The significance of the research, or of the work to be presented at the conference or workshop. Projects involving archival or ethnographic research must confirm whether all required permissions have been obtained.

I have not yet secured archival access or ethics clearance. Should I still apply?
Yes, but the narrative must state the current status of your permissions and the expected timeline for obtaining them.

Who must provide a letter of recommendation, and how should it be submitted?
Current doctoral students and independent researchers. Doctoral students should ask their supervisor; independent researchers may nominate any scholar familiar with their work. The referee must send the letter directly, and it must reach the Center by the deadline of 15 September 2026.

In what language and format should materials be submitted?
All materials should be in English and combined into a single PDF. Letters of recommendation are the exception and should be sent separately by the referee.

Where should applications be sent?
lucetravelgrant@gmail.com

Funding and reporting

May I hold this grant alongside other funding?
Yes, but any additional funds available to the project must be disclosed in the budget.

The budget asks about additional funds available to the project. What if I have none?
State this in the budget. The absence of matching funds will not count against an application.

Is a report required at the end of the grant period?
Yes. A report, together with expense documentation, must be submitted to the Center for Global Asia within 30 days of the completion of travel.

How should the grant be acknowledged in publications?
Acknowledgements should state that travel for the research/conference participation was supported by the Center for Global Asia’s Henry Luce Foundation grant.

Can the funds be used for per diem or salary replacement?
No.

Timeline and outcome

When are applications due?
15 September 2026.

When will decisions be announced?
By 15 October 2026.

How many grants will be awarded?
Five, during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Will feedback be provided to unsuccessful applicants?
No.

Whom may I contact with further questions?
The Travel Grant Administrator, Center for Global Asia, at lucetravelgrant@gmail.com.