Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

All summer funding is only open to continuing students (not incoming students or students graduating in May).

 

Weatherhead Training Grant

Provides support for undergraduate students for summer projects related to East or Southeast Asia that develop academic and/or professional expertise. Examples of eligible projects include research, language study, or a secured, uncompensated internship.

Provides up to $2,500 in support to undergraduate students for summer projects in East Asia that develop academic and/or professional expertise.  Examples of eligible projects include research or a secured, uncompensated internship. Projects involving a single East Asian country are eligible, and priority will be given to projects that cross traditional disciplinary, geographic, or temporal boundaries, as well as to applicants with a commitment to making East Asia a part of their long-term careers.

  • Eligibility
    • Undergraduate students matriculated in Barnard College, Columbia College, SEAS, and the School of General Studies
    • Minimum GPA of 3.5
    • Completed at least two courses in East Asian studies before applying
  • Students seeking funding for an unpaid internship may apply for the grant even if they have not yet secured an internship; however, any grant offer would be contingent upon confirmation of the internship. If arrangements with a potential organization are at an advanced stage at the time of the application deadline, students are encouraged to provide relevant documentation (email correspondence, letter from the potential host organization, etc.) with the rest of their application materials.
  • Average of six to eight awards per summer
  • Selection criteria include:
    • Academic excellence
    • Demonstrated commitment to East Asia, and to incorporating it in one’s long-term academic or professional career goals

Borg Undergraduate Fellowship

Provide support for undergraduate students for summer projects related to East or Southeast Asia that develop academic and/or professional expertise. Examples of eligible projects include research, language study, or a secured, uncompensated internship. Projects must have a focus on US-East Asia relations.

Provides up to $3,000 in support to undergraduate students for summer projects in or related to East Asia that develop academic and/or professional expertise. Examples of eligible projects include research, summer language study, or a secured, uncompensated internship. Projects must have a focus on modern and contemporary US-East Asia relations.

  • Eligibility
    • Undergraduate students matriculated in Barnard College, Columbia College, SEAS, and the School of General Studies
    • Minimum GPA of 3.5
    • Completed at least two courses in East Asian studies before applying
    • Available to current and continuing students only
  • Students seeking funding for an unpaid internship may apply for the grant even if they have not yet secured an internship; however, any grant offer would be contingent upon confirmation of the internship. If arrangements with a potential organization are at an advanced stage at the time of the application deadline, students are encouraged to provide relevant documentation (email correspondence, letter from the potential host organization, etc.) with the rest of their application materials.
  • Selection criteria include:
    • Academic excellence
    • Demonstrated commitment to East Asia, and to incorporating it in one's long-term academic or professional career goals

Theodore de Bary Undergraduate Language Study Fellowship 

Provides a maximum award of $8,500 for intensive summer study of an approved language. Recipients must be enrolled in a credible program of instruction approved by the Fellowships Committee.

  • Eligibility
    • Open to Columbia University undergraduate students
    • For intermediate and advanced (2nd-year level or above) East Asian language study, or for beginning or intermediate study for students who have already attained the advanced level in another East Asian language
  • Eligible East Asian languages: (updated on 3/1/2024)
    • Chinese
    • Japanese
    • Korean
    • Tibetan
    • Vietnamese
    • For other East and Southeast Asian languages, students can submit a petition to WEAI Coordinator Lin King: [email protected]
  • For a full-time course of summer language study in the United States or abroad
  • Selection criteria:
    • Academic excellence
    • Commitment to the language and using it as part of long-term academic or professional career goals

Application Requirements

Students may submit an online fellowship application at weai.smapply.io/. 

Required application materials: 

  • Application form 
  • Project proposal (1-2 pages for all summer grants, 3-4 pages for dissertation write-up grants)
  • CV
  • Detailed project budget
  • Official Columbia University transcript
  • letter of recommendation from a Columbia/Barnard faculty member or instructor *unless otherwise stated
  • If your project is an internship, a letter from the host organization confirming your internship (can be submitted after application)
  • If your project is language acquisition, a letter from the program confirming your acceptance (can be submitted after application)  
  • Additional fellowship-specific materials (if applicable) **

* The Weatherhead Ph.D. Training Grant and EALAC Summer Grant do not require letters of recommendation. Dissertation Write-Up Grants require two letters of recommendation. All other grants (including all Undergraduate and Master's grants) require one letter of recommendation.

** Recipients of any of the above awards must report to the Weatherhead East Asian Institute any additional funds, such as another grant, that they receive in support of the same activities. The total amount of funding received for the project must not exceed the limits dictated by the student's school. Should a student receive multiple sources of funding for the same project, the WEAI will adjust or withdraw the amount granted to the student so as to remain below the cap dictated by the student's school.