NBR Chinese Language Fellowships 2026–2027: Fellowships for Intensive Chinese Study ($40,000–$50,000)

If you are a U.S. graduate student serious about reading Chinese scholarship or policy sources in the original language, this fellowship is built for you. The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is sponsoring one-year, full-time Chinese language fellowships that place American graduate students in immersive programs in Taiwan or mainland China. These are not casual summer study trips — they fund rigorous, full-academic-year language training designed to move you from intermediate ability to the kind of fluency that makes primary sources and policy conversations accessible without relying on translations.

There are two tracks: a PhD Track that supports currently enrolled doctoral students and includes a concentrated summer program tied to dissertation needs, and a Prospective PhD Track aimed at master’s students who intend to start a PhD and need to raise their language capacity before they apply. Depending on the track, awards cover major living, tuition, and program costs — up to $50,000 for PhD-track fellows and up to $40,000 for prospective PhD applicants.

This fellowship is about depth, not breadth. You’ll be expected to study full-time, live in a Chinese-speaking environment, and focus on language acquisition rather than on conducting substantive doctoral research while abroad. If your goal is to strengthen the language skills that will let you read original documents, interview primary sources, or teach Chinese studies with confidence, this is one of the most targeted, high-value opportunities available.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

At its core, the CLFP funds concentrated language learning. For the PhD Track, fellows spend nine months in an intensive program followed by a summer session. That short summer is designed for individualized instruction; you can work one-on-one with an instructor to focus on dissertation sources or specialized vocabulary. Think of the PhD Track as a language residency tailored to a research agenda.

The Prospective PhD Track expects comparable intensity over nine months, but is pitched at students who are finishing or have recently finished a master’s and plan to enter doctoral programs. The goal here is practical: raise your reading and comprehension ability to a level that makes you a competitive PhD candidate and lets you handle primary materials without repeated translation.

Financially, these fellowships cover the major costs associated with living and studying abroad. Awards are intended to support tuition for an intensive language program, housing, travel, and reasonable living expenses so you can focus entirely on study. The program is explicit that it is not intended to fund sustained doctoral fieldwork — this is language training first, research second.

Beyond money, recent fellows often report career benefits you won’t find on a budget spreadsheet: better placement prospects for academic jobs, stronger applications to PhD programs, and faster, more accurate research when dealing with Chinese-language sources. If you want to teach or advise on China-related public policy, having this level of language proficiency is increasingly essential.

Who Should Apply

This is for students who already have a working knowledge of Chinese and are ready to commit a full academic year to aggressive improvement. Beginner learners need not apply — the fellowship expects applicants to demonstrate intermediate proficiency through transcripts or language assessment scores. If you’re stumbling over basic grammar, this isn’t the right program.

Ideal candidates fall into two buckets. First, current PhD students who need a compact, immersive period of language study to help them complete dissertation-related reading or to prepare for archival research. If you’re a PhD student who can’t make sense of primary sources in Chinese and that gap is slowing your progress, the PhD Track gives you a structured path to fix that problem.

Second, master’s students who plan to pursue doctoral work and need to strengthen language skills before applying. Admissions committees notice applicants who can read original texts and demonstrate language capacity; strong Chinese skills can make your application stand out and let you hit the ground running in a program.

Practical examples: a history PhD candidate who needs to read court records, a political scientist preparing to interview policy-makers in Mandarin, or an East Asian studies master’s student who wants to show admissions committees they can handle Chinese-language coursework without remedial language requirements. If you intend to use Chinese in academic or policy roles and you have at least intermediate ability, apply.

Eligibility and Fit Explained

To be considered, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The fellowship requires proof of an intermediate level of Chinese. That could be transcripts showing multiple semesters of language study, course grades, or results from recognized language tests. Applicants who only have beginner-level coursework will not meet the program’s core expectation.

You must also be able to devote yourself to full-time language study for the fellowship year. The program explicitly prioritizes language acquisition and does not fund substantive doctoral research during the award period. If your project requires extensive field research or data collection, you’ll need separate funding.

For Prospective PhD applicants who recently completed a master’s, make sure your cover letter explains your PhD plans clearly. Ask recommenders to speak to your aptitude for doctoral study. The goal is to show the selection committee that you’re not just improving language skills for personal enrichment, but building capacity that leads to advanced research and teaching on China.

Required Materials

The application expects a compact, targeted package. Unlike some grants that request lengthy CVs and dozens of supporting documents, CLFP asks for concise, relevant materials — but they must be well prepared.

• A completed application form answering questions about your academic background, Chinese classes taken, and language abilities.
• A two-page summary resume listing academic and professional honors and relevant experience. Full academic CVs will be ignored, so tailor this to two pages only.
• A two-page cover letter explaining how the proposed language program will contribute to your language ability, doctoral studies (or PhD plans for Prospective Track), and long-term goals.
• One letter of recommendation from an academic supervisor or professor; this should be sent directly by the referee.
• One letter of recommendation from a recent Chinese language teacher; this must also be sent directly.
• Electronic transcripts (PDF) from all institutions you’ve attended.

If you’re applying to the Prospective PhD Track or your transcripts don’t obviously show your intent to pursue a PhD, use your cover letter to make the case and ask your academic referee to comment on your suitability for doctoral study.

Preparation advice: draft your two-page resume and cover letter early, and give recommenders clear instructions and a brief paragraph summarizing what you want them to highlight. Provide transcripts as PDFs well before the deadline; many institutions have slow records offices.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Treat the cover letter as the application’s spine. In two pages you have to do three things: show language readiness, map how the year fits into your academic trajectory, and explain why the specific program in Taiwan or China is the right choice. Open with a crisp thesis — “I seek this fellowship because…” — and then use the rest to connect concrete needs (e.g., reading late Qing legalese) with the program features (e.g., faculty expertise or access to specific instructors).

Get your recommenders aligned. The language-teacher letter should speak to your current skills, stamina for immersive study, and potential for rapid improvement. The academic supervisor should situate your language plans within your research timeline and, for Prospective PhD applicants, explicitly vouch for your readiness and motivation to pursue a doctorate. Ask each recommender to email their letter directly and confirm it’s been sent well before the deadline.

Be specific about the program you’re targeting. Don’t name-drop a country; explain why the program’s curriculum, instructors, or resources are necessary for your goals. If the summer one-on-one instruction in the PhD Track will let you transcribe primary sources or consult specific archives, say so.

Show evidence of prior progress. Even if you don’t have high-level test scores, include brief examples of coursework or projects that show you can handle complex readings. A short list of Chinese-language texts you’ve already read — and what you learned from them — can be persuasive.

Plan logistics early. Intensive language programs often require visa paperwork, health checks, and housing arrangements. Demonstrating practical readiness — a tentative timeline for visas and travel — reassures reviewers that you’ll actually make good use of the award.

Finally, keep the application clean and tight. Two pages for the resume, two for the cover letter — stick to the limits. A well-edited, focused application reads as professional and capable.

Application Timeline (Work Backward from Feb 16, 2026)

Start at least eight weeks before the deadline. Week 1–2: Notify potential recommenders, gather transcripts, and register for any necessary language assessments. Week 3–5: Draft and refine your two-page resume and cover letter; ask a mentor to review. Week 6: Collect recommenders’ drafts and ensure they will submit letters directly. Week 7: Final proofread, convert transcripts to PDF, and complete the application form. Week 8 (last 48–72 hours): Submit early to avoid technical problems. Programs like this often lock submissions at the deadline without exception; don’t wait until the last day.

If you’re also applying to language programs directly in Taiwan or China, check their separate deadlines — some programs require enrollment confirmation or deposits months before the start date. Factor that into your planning.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Reviewers fund candidates who combine solid language background with clear academic purpose. Standout applications show a direct line from current ability to future impact: you can read and analyze Chinese-language materials, and this fellowship will make you more effective in research, teaching, or public policy.

Concrete signs of excellence include a cover letter that names specific texts, archives, or skills you will acquire; a language-teacher letter detailing measurable improvements you have made and your capacity for intensive study; and an academic letter that situates your language plans within a realistic doctoral timeline. Specificity beats general enthusiasm every time.

Demonstrate feasibility. If your plan requires a particular dialect or specialized vocabulary (legal, technical, historical), explain how you will acquire it and why the chosen program is suited for that need. Provide a short contingency plan for common risks: health issues, visa delays, or travel disruptions. Showing you’ve thought through obstacles reassures selection committees.

Finally, brevity and clarity matter. The committee reads many applications; one that is sharply written, well-organized, and free of extraneous material will attract attention.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t apply if you’re a beginner. The fellowship’s purpose is language intensification, not initial instruction. Applications that show only elementary coursework get filtered out quickly.

Avoid vague cover letters. “I want better Chinese” won’t cut it. Explain what “better” means — the specific reading ability, methodological change, or research milestone you aim to achieve.

Don’t ignore the program fit. If you choose a program in Taiwan but your research requires mainland archives (or vice versa), explain how your plan still meets your learning objectives. Selection panels notice when applicants don’t connect program features to their needs.

Submit incomplete or late materials. Two recommenders are required and must send letters directly. Missing a letter or a transcript is an easy reason for rejection. Confirm with referees and upload all transcripts early.

Finally, don’t overpromise. This fellowship supports language study, not fieldwork. Propose realistic objectives that can be achieved during intensive study rather than claiming you’ll complete major research projects while enrolled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can international students apply? A: No. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Q: Do I need perfect Mandarin to qualify? A: No, but you do need an intermediate level. The selection committee expects evidence of prior language study or assessment showing you can benefit from and commit to an intensive year.

Q: Will the award fund dissertation research? A: The CLFP is designed for language training. It does not fund extensive doctoral field research during the fellowship year, though the PhD Track’s summer component allows targeted, one-on-one instruction tied to dissertation materials.

Q: Can I apply if I’m finishing my master’s this spring? A: Yes — that’s the Prospective PhD Track’s target audience. Make sure your cover letter explains your PhD plans and your academic recommender speaks to your doctoral potential.

Q: What happens if my recommenders miss the deadline? A: Late letters can jeopardize your application. Ask recommenders to submit well in advance and send polite reminders. Provide clear instructions and the recipient email/address.

Q: Is travel or visa assistance provided? A: The fellowship covers costs, but you’re expected to manage visa processes. Include a simple plan in your application showing you understand visa timelines and requirements.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to go? First, gather your transcripts and contact two recommenders: one academic supervisor and one current or recent Chinese language instructor. Draft your two-page resume and a focused two-page cover letter that ties the program to specific academic goals. Confirm recommenders will send letters directly to the contact email and upload transcripts as PDFs early.

Submit your application before the February 16, 2026 deadline. Don’t wait until the last day; submit at least 48 hours early to avoid upload issues and to give referees time to finish their letters. For the official application and full program details, visit the application page and follow the instructions there.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page: https://ats.rippling.com/nbr/jobs/2b05e2d1-aec3-43ad-936b-d12414775fd5

Questions about eligibility or materials? Check the program page first for FAQs, and then contact the program staff listed on that page if anything remains unclear. Good luck — with focused language study and a thoughtful application, this fellowship can be a career-defining step.