Competition

Luce/ACLS Travel Grants in China Studies

In partnership with the Henry Luce Foundation, ACLS offers a travel grant competition for graduate students in a PhD program and non-tenure track faculty at any career stage. The grant supports travel for conducting basic research in China or conducting China studies-related research in databases, collections, and archives anywhere in the world.

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 we 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).
  • Applications for projects in all disciplines of the humanities or interpretive 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.
  • 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.

Application Guidelines

Applications must be submitted online and must include:

  • A completed application form.
  • An application essay (no more than two double-spaced pages in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). The essay should discuss:
    • The design and aims of the research project and how travel will advance those aims, including potential sources to be examined.
    • The significance of the topic and the project’s contribution to the field of China studies.
    • Rationale for the travel grant application. Questions you should consider: Does your institution or department offer summer travel or research funding? Does your position have a travel budget? If so, are there limitations or extenuating circumstances that would necessitate the use of ACLS funds? What kind of collections or databases are accessible through your library?
    • If you have already received funding for the proposed project (including travel funds, a postdoctoral fellowship, or other awards) please explain why additional funds are needed.
  • A work plan (no more than one double-spaced page in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). The work plan should include:
    •  A timeline of travel, including an estimate of when the requested funds will be used.
    •  Identification of the individuals (colleagues relevant to project), institutions, and/or sites to be visited, including archives, libraries, and geographical sources.
    • A brief “Plan B” – an explanation of what you will do if you encounter a major obstacle in your plan (e.g., a closed archive, travel restrictions, inaccessible research site).
  • A bibliography (no more than two pages, double-spaced between entries in Arial or Helvetica 11-pointfont).
  • Optional supporting materials (e.g., images, musical scores, or other similar supporting non-text materials, without annotation) (no more than two pages).
  • One letter of reference. This is only required for graduate students. The reference letter must come from the applicant’s dissertation advisor or a faculty member eligible to be the advisor.
  • No budget is required.

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 we seek balance in regard to national origin, educational background, and current university affiliation, as well as in disciplinary approaches, topics, and historical periods studied. Please use the application essay to note any relevant information about your personal background and/or ways in which your proposed research addresses issues related to inclusion, equity, and diversity.

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.

Contact

Please email chinastudies@acls.org with questions. Before submitting an inquiry, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Institutional administrators (e.g., Office of Sponsored Projects) should read our general guidance.

Supporting Documents