Student Prizes and Fellowships

Connie Chin Memorial Prize for Writing in East Asian Studies

The Connie Chin Memorial Writing in East Asian Studies recognizes and rewards outstanding examples of writing in an essay, term paper, or thesis produced during the current academic year, in any area of East Asian Studies, broadly defined. It is dedicated to beloved colleague Connie Chin (1946-2020), who enjoyed a 44-year career at Stanford beginning in 1976, moving several times between the Center of East Asian Studies and Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, where she spent her last 13 years as Department Manager.

Born Constance Miriam Powell in Long Beach, California in 1946, as the daughter of a US Navy supply officer she lived in several locations – California, Guam, Shawnee OK, Gulfport MI, Alexandria VA, Bainbridge MD, Isle of Palms SC – before attending Oberlin College and Conservatory where she nurtured her cultural curiosity and passion for music. After graduating from college in 1968, Connie pursued her interest in journalism and China, living briefly in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood before moving to Hong Kong, where she studied Chinese language at New Asia College, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and became the first American journalist to write for the Hong Kong desk at the then-independent British-owned newspaper South China Morning Post. Seeking to become fluent in Mandarin, she moved to Taiwan in 1971 and found a job as an English instructor at Tunghai University where she met Ernest Ching-Yi Chin, a fellow English instructor, whom she married in 1972 atop Yangminshan. Shortly after moving to the Bay Area, she began working at Stanford, and her tenure here was marked by a sincere and deep investment in the intellectual life of our community. She took a keen interest in faculty and student projects, attended talks and presentations regularly, and helped create or manage many enduring aspects of the East Asian Studies community at Stanford, including the Horizons alumni newsletter, the Silk Road Lecture Series, and the Center for Buddhist Studies. Connie’s interests were diverse and her curiosity was insatiable; she was a dedicated and long-term cellist in the Palo Alto Philharmonic; a serious practitioner of Taiji who could often be seen practicing in the department building courtyard; and an avid traveler who embraced adventure--including her 1979 trip to mainland China to meet her in-laws for the first time with their 3-year old son in tow, shortly after the Carter Administration established US-China relations. Connie was also deeply studious and, at the age of 66, completed a master’s degree in History at San Jose State University, writing on cenobitic monastic traditions in 6th-century Central Asia. This writing prize encourages graduate students in the Center for East Asian Studies and Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures to strive for excellence in all aspects of the professional and personal lives, and celebrates Connie's nearly a half-century as a cornerstone of the East Asian Studies community at Stanford. The prize will be awarded at a special ceremony in the fall and the first place winner will receive a certificate and $500.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., May 31 annually

Eligible Students: Currently-enrolled CEAS & EALC graduate students only

Application Instructions: Submit the following items by email to jgroschwitz [at] stanford.edu (subject: Connie%20Chin%20Prize) (John Groschwitz), CEAS Associate Director:

• Current CV
• One paper/essay (minimum 20 pages double-spaced, Times 12pt., 1″ margins, prefaced by abstract no longer that 300 words)
• One recommendation letter from a Stanford professor (emailed by the professor directly to CEAS)

Korea Program Prize for Writing in Korean Studies

The Korea Program Prize for Writing in Korean Studies recognizes and rewards outstanding examples of writing in an essay, term paper, or thesis produced during the current academic year in any discipline within the area of Korean Studies, broadly defined. This competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The prize will be awarded at a special ceremony in the fall and the first place winner will receive a certificate and $1,000; Honorable Mention winner(s) will receive a certificate.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., May 31 annually

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford students

Application Instructions: Submit the following items by email to jgroschwitz [at] stanford.edu (subject: Korean%20Studies%20Prize) (John Groschwitz), CEAS Associate Director:

• Current CV
• One Korean Studies paper/essay (minimum 20 pages double-spaced, Times 12pt., 1″ margins)
• One recommendation letter from a Stanford professor (emailed by the professor directly to CEAS)

Supplementary Grants for Undergraduate Fieldwork in East Asia

The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) sponsors several types of grants designed to support rigorous, independent undergraduate research in all disciplines. CEAS provides a small supplement for students who receive East Asia-related UAR grants but require additional funding. Similar funds from home departments may also qualify.  Funds available first-come, first-served until exhausted. 

Application Deadline: Rolling applications

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford undergraduate students

Application Instructions: Submit the following items by email to jgroschwitz [at] stanford.edu (subject: Supplementary%20Grants%20for%20UG%20Fieldwork%20in%20East%20Asia) (John Groschwitz), CEAS Associate Director:

• UAR-approved project proposal
• UAR grant confirmation email
• Travel budget

If your grant requires travel, you must use Stanford Travel booking channels to book your travel and accommodations. These channels can only be used for approved University-sponsored travel. Please contact CEAS staff with any questions about booking travel through the Stanford travel channels.

Stanford Global Studies Internship Program

See the Stanford Global Studies Internship Program website for complete information.

Contact email: GlobalInternships [at] stanford.edu (GlobalInternships[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Application Deadline: See website

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford undergraduate and coterm students

Application Instructions: See website

East Asia Undergraduate Summer Language Study Grants

Undergraduate Summer Language Study Grants provide partial funding to support Stanford undergraduates who study an approved language (Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, Vietnamese) in a full-time, pre-approved, accredited overseas summer language program. Applicants must have completed at least first-year language courses before the fellowship commences. Preference will be given to East Asian Studies majors and minors and to students who have taken two or more East Asian Studies content courses.

If your grant requires travel, you must use Stanford Travel booking channels to book your travel and accommodations. Only these channels may be used for approved University-sponsored travel. Please contact CEAS staff with any questions about booking travel through the Stanford travel channels.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., February 29, 2024

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford undergraduate students

Application Instructions: East Asia Undergraduate Summer Language Study Grants (redirects to solo.stanford.edu)

Conference Travel Grants

These ad hoc grants support Stanford graduate students presenting East-Asia related papers at major academic or professional conferences.  Travel grants may not be used simply to attend a conference as an audience member.  Awards are paid as reimbursement after completion of travel to offset hotel fees, conference registration, and travel costs. Both U.S. and international students are eligible to apply. Funds available first-come, first-served until exhausted. Students may apply for up to two travel grants at $500 each or one travel grant at $1,000 per academic year (9/1--8/31). Grant amounts cannot be further subdivided, and any unused portion of an awarded grant cannot be carried forward (for example, receipts for grant 1 equal $427; the balance of $73 cannot be carried over to grant 2).  Students may combine a CEAS award with additional departmental or outside support, however, total reimbursement cannot exceed actual expenses, and CEAS reserves the right to charge the external source first before  applying our funding; additional documentation may be required, and students should note any existing or anticipated outside funding at time of application.

 Along with the completed and adviser-signed travel grant application form, students should also submit a letter of invitation and/or paper acceptance, along with a conference schedule/brochure showing their name as a presenter. Papers topics should be largely East Asia related--more general or theoretical topics may be rejected. Grant applications must be submitted prior to participation--retroactive applications will be rejected.

International travel must be registered with the university.  See policy and steps at Stanford International Travel Booking. It is suggested, but no longer mandated, that air travel be booked through university-approved vendors:  Stanford Travel Program Affiliates in which case travel registration is automatic.

Application Deadline: Rolling applications

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford graduate students

Application Instructions:

       1. Complete the online application form

       2. Upload a filled in, adviser-signed Student Travel Certification Form: Student Certificate for Authorized Expense

               Choose checkbox #2 "related to presenting at a conference"

               Complete business purpose details 

               Leave "Expense Request Transaction #" blank

               Have adviser sign and date.

       3. Upload a copy of your acceptance letter/email

       4. Upload a copy of conference program (if available)

Once your travel grant is approved, you are required to use Stanford Travel booking channels to book your travel and accommodations. These channels can only be used for approved University-sponsored travel. Please contact CEAS staff with any questions about booking travel through the Stanford travel channels.

East Asia Graduate Summer Grants 

These grants provide continuing registered Stanford M.A. and Ph.D. students funding for academically related summer work such as formal language training, required coursework, field work, dissertation research, or dissertation write-up.  Both U.S. and international students are eligible to apply.  U.S. citizens and permanent residents who plan to undertake intensive advanced language study, either at Stanford or an approved overseas institution, may be awarded funding from the Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship program, which carries with it additional testing and reporting requirements.  Projects should be focused on topics related to East Asia, broadly defined.  Language study is generally undertaken in an approved language (Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, Vietnamese); other languages by petition. 

If your grant requires travel, once it is approved you are required to use Stanford Travel booking channels to book your travel and accommodations. Only these channels may be used for approved University-sponsored travel. Please contact CEAS staff with any questions about booking travel through the Stanford travel channels.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., February 29, 2024 

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford graduate students

Application Instructions: East Asia Graduate Summer Grants (redirects to solo.stanford.edu)

Study of Women in Asia Academic-Year Fellowships

This competitive fellowship is open to both U.S. and international students and provides $21,000 in stipend plus three quarters TGR tuition for one academic year, to support thesis/dissertation research or dissertation write-up on topics related to women in Asia. Stanford graduate students in any discipline conducting research on topics concerning women in Asia are eligible to apply. This fellowship may also be used to support graduate coursework, though students taking graduate coursework that will apply towards their degree will need to make up the difference between TGR tuition and full enrollment rates.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., February 29, 2024  

Eligible Students: All currently-enrolled Stanford graduate students

Application Instructions: Study of Women in Asia Academic-Year Fellowships (redirects to solo.stanford.edu)

Graduate Academic-Year East Asia FLAS Fellowships

Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide tuition and stipend for students in M.A. or Ph.D. programs who plan to undertake intensive language study in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, or Vietnamese during the academic year, either at Stanford or an approved overseas institution, in conjunction with area studies courses. Students must enroll in both language and area-studies courses during the entire period of award, as well as complete specific testing and reporting requirements. Language courses should be at the intermediate level (2nd year) or higher, but preference is given to students pursuing advanced language training (3rd year or higher); first-year language courses may be considered in rare cases where applicants have already attained advanced proficiency in one language and the second language is necessary to fulfill degree requirements.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to apply. Grants subject to final approval from the Department of Education.

Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., February 29, 2024

Eligible Students: Currently-enrolled Stanford graduate students

Application Instructions: Graduate Academic-Year East Asia FLAS Fellowships (redirects to solo.stanford.edu)

Academic-year East Asia FLAS Fellowships for Incoming CEAS Students

Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide funding to students to encourage the study of critical and less commonly taught foreign languages in combination with area studies, international studies, or international aspects of professional studies. These fellowships are funded with grants from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The purpose of the FLAS program is to promote the training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is essential. 

Stanford petitions the Department of Education for FLAS fund allocations, and CEAS administers the funds awarded for East Asia-related grants. Stanford Academic-Year East Asia FLAS fellowships support students who plan to undertake intensive language study in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, or Vietnamese at Stanford during the academic year, in combination with area studies, international studies, or internationally-focused professional studies coursework.

Stanford Academic-Year East Asia FLAS fellowships for incoming M.A. students support language and area studies coursework at Stanford only; no overseas coursework is permitted during this fellowship period. To be considered for a Stanford East Asia FLAS fellowship, incoming M.A. applicants must:

1. Be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
2. Be enrolled in an advanced degree program at Stanford University during the award period.
3. Undertake study of an approved foreign language at the second year level or higher.  Preference is given to students pursuing advanced language training (3rd year or higher); first-year language courses may be considered in rare cases where applicants have already attained advanced proficiency in one language and the second language is necessary to fulfill degree requirements
   
   Additionally, grant recipients must agree to:
4. be enrolled in language and area studies courses during the entire period of the award;
5. not accept other employment if it will prolong the period of time within which they expect to receive their degree;
6. undergo pre- and post-award language evaluations to be arranged by the Stanford Language Center;
7. submit pre- and post-award performance evaluations through the Department of Education online reporting system; 
8. provide CEAS with a valid non-Stanford email and agree to complete a FLAS recipient survey every 2 years for 8 years after completion of degree. This requirement is mandated by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, Section 601, pp257-258; 
9. complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) report during the application cycle.

Academic-year FLAS Funding Amount

Incoming M.A. FLAS recipients will receive one year (three quarters) of full tuition (Stanford 11-18 unit rate), plus a stipend of $21,000. In many cases, students may also combine outside grants and fellowships with FLAS awards, and applicants are highly encouraged to look for additional sources of funding in addition to applying for the FLAS fellowship.  Awards are allocated based on the full academic-year schedule (Autumn-Winter-Spring) only; partial awards are not allowed and fund usage may not  span two academic years.

Selection Criteria

FLAS Fellowships are awarded competitively on a merit basis through an annual fellowship competition administered by the Center for East Asian Studies. Applications are judged first by a faculty committee at the Center, and then approved by the Department of Education. All awards are subject to final Department of Education approval. Current Department of Education selection guidelines state that:

• High priority is given to applicants in a wide variety of humanities and social sciences disciplines, as well as all professional schools, who are likely to pursue government service or enter a profession.
• Priority is given to language study as opposed to dissertation research/writing.
• Lower priority is given to students who already possess language fluency equivalent to educated native speakers in the language for which the award is sought.
• Lowest priority is given to students who have taken fewer than 12 semester hours (or 18 quarter hours) or the equivalent in the target language.

Stanford selection committee priority will be to support advanced language training (3rd year or higher). Financial need may also be considered as part of the review process.

Application Deadline: December 5, 2025 (as part of the Stanford Graduate Admissions application system)

Eligible Students: Incoming CEAS M.A. applicants who meet the above criteria

Application Instructions: 

Applicants must:

1. Complete the relevant FLAS section of the Graduate Admissions online application form;
2. Upload a new Statement of Purpose relevant specifically to language study/FLAS; max. 2 pages single spaced. Explain to the review committee how language study fits into your overall academic/professional plans, previous training or experience, etc. The document should be labeled “Lastname, Firstname-FLAS Statement”.
3. Provide CEAS with a copy of your federal Student Aid Report (SAR). Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After submitting the FAFSA application, your aid report will normally be available within two weeks, though processing time currently varies. Once the FAFSA is completed, generate a Student Aid Report (SAR) and email it to CEAS Admissions <CEAS-Admissions [at] stanford.edu (CEAS-Admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu)> no later than January 31 of the application cycle. The PDF file should be labeled “Lastname, Firstname-SAR”. 

The CEAS review committee will utilize the existing transcripts and recommendation letters provided in your admission application to determine academic merit. Applicants do not need to submit any other recommendations or evaluations specific to FLAS.

Stanford Global Studies Internship Program

See the Stanford Global Studies Internship Program website for complete information.
Contact email: GlobalInternships [at] stanford.edu (GlobalInternships[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Application Deadline: See website

Eligible Students: CEAS M.A. students only

Application Instructions: See website

CEAS M.A. Continuing Student Academic-year Fellowships

CEAS allocates a small amount of funding for continuing M.A. students in the form of tuition-only fellowships, or in some cases tuition plus small stipend, for up to three quarters. These awards are designed to help students "finish up" their degree requirements, not as a means to extend time in the program.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2024

Eligible Students: CEAS M.A. students only

Application Instructions: 

1. Review the program guidelines
2. Complete the online application form, including upload of statement of purpose