Fairbank Center Graduate Student Grants

Fairbank Center Graduate Student Grants is a grant from the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University that funds graduate student research and language study in Chinese studies. Grants cover travel to greater China or other locations for dissertation or thesis research, and participation in language study programs.

Students must have a faculty recommendation from their dissertation or thesis advisor, and proposed research must be central to their academic work. Eligible applicants are Harvard GSAS students in any field whose research relates to Chinese studies. Applications are due February 13, 2026.

Graduate Student Grants – Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Tibetan ceremony for a mountain diety, June 2024. Photo: Joie Chen, 2024 Summer Research Grant recipient. Fairbank Center grants enable students to pursue language study or research in Chinese studies.

Grants can be used for travel to greater China or other locations for academic research or to participate in a language study program. Students are encouraged to plan their project, itinerary and budget in advance and then apply for a grant to help fund the proposed academic activity. Please check the specific details and application requirements for each type of grant.

Please review these FAQs about Fairbank Center grants. If your question is not answered here, email fairbankcenter@fas. harvard.

edu . Co-sponsored by the Harvard China Fund to support travel to or within mainland China for research during the semester. All Harvard graduate students whose primary research domain is related to China are welcome to a pply here through CARAT Deadlines: Ju ne 29 for travel during the Fall semester.

November 21 for travel during Spring semester. Summer Research Grants support graduate student travel for research in or about greater China during summer, June-August. Priority will be given to research that is essential for the dissertation or thesis.

Graduate students apply here through CARAT for Summer Research Grant (Opportunity Number 4023) Summer Language Grants support graduate students needing to use the summer for advanced study of a language necessary to pursue research related to Chinese studies.

Graduate students apply here through CARAT for Summer Language Grant (Opportunity Number 5011) Deadline: February 13, 2026 Winter Grants for Graduate Students In 2025-26 the Fairbank Center will offer a limited number of travel grants for GSAS students to pursue academic research in China/Chinese studies during the winter break between semesters.

The proposed research must be for a minimum of two weeks and be essential for the dissertation/thesis. A faculty recommendation is required from your dissertation/thesis advisor and should state why the proposed winter research is necessary. Please note that winter grant funding is limited to GSAS students and that recipients of Winter grants may be less likely to receive Fairbank Center summer funding.

For winter research projects focused on Taiwan, please apply instead for a Taiwan Study Grant. Graduate students apply here through CARAT Our Taiwan Studies grants enable graduate students to travel to Taiwan for thesis/dissertation research or for academic study at a host institution during term time or winter session. Graduate students apply here through CARAT Deadlines: May 5 for Taiwan study during Fall semester.

October for Taiwan Study during Winter break November for Taiwan study during Spring semester Desmond and Whitney Shum Fellowship supports selected Harvard doctoral students undertaking social science research projects in China. The proposed research should be central to the doctoral dissertation. The research period should be four months or longer.

Support for Harvard graduate students invited to participate in professional academic conferences to present their original research in Chinese studies. Funding is limited and intended to help towards conference registration fees and travel by economic means. Students may receive one Fairbank Center Conference Grant per academic year.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; please apply at least two months prior to the conference. Deadline: Rolling (apply at least two months before your conference and email harrietwong@fas. harvard.

edu to let us know you have submitted an application) Watch three Harvard graduate students share their Term-Time Travel Grant-funded research experiences. Student Organization Grants The Fairbank Center offers a small number of grants to support undergraduate or graduate student organizations engaged in projects or events relating to China Studies.

One representative of the organization can submit an application with a project proposal and itemized budget. Requests are considered on a rolling basis, but student organizations are encouraged to apply as early as possible as funding is limited. For more information see the Student Organizations Grant application form .

Note: For projects spanning multiple countries and/or regions, the Fairbank Center will coordinate with the Asia-related centers and institutes based in Harvard’s Center for Government and International Studies to determine appropriate funding, based on content. Please indicate in your proposal for which other sources of funding you are applying. Deadline: Rolling .

Requests for funding should be submitted via email at least one month in advance of the event or project start date. To apply, email fairbankcenter@fas. harvard.

edu and attach as PDFs: 1) completed Fairbank Center Student Organizations Grant application form , 2) project proposal with itemized budget, and 3) written confirmation of application approval from your student organization’s faculty advisor. Email harrietwong@fas. harvard.

edu to let us know you have applied or if you have any questions.