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 be broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In China studies, ACLS seeks a wide range of educational backgrounds, unique personal experiences, and current university affiliations, as well as disciplinary approaches, topics, and historical periods studied. The program welcomes applications from all eligible individuals, and selection is made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, age, or any other aspect of identity.
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, 2026, and December 31, 2026.
- 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).
- Applications for projects in all disciplines of the humanities or social sciences are welcome. Research may be conducted on any topic related to cultures, histories, and societies in China, and their influence and impact on communities, countries, and cultures around the world, as required by the research plan. Research on Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang is eligible. Diaspora studies projects with no connection to communities and cultures in China are unlikely to be funded (e.g., anglophone Chinese American literature). There are no restrictions regarding time period or methodological approach.
- 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
- 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. See FAQ.
- Tenure-track and tenured faculty are not eligible for support.
- A working knowledge of Chinese or another language used in China studies (e.g., Tibetan, Uyghur) is required.
- 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 5, 2025.