WEAI Funding Opportunities

Application Process and Recipient Requirements

Please note: the following procedures apply to ALL opportunities listed above. 

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

For Summer 2024 and Academic Year 2024-2025 fellowships and grants, applications will open on January 19, 2024 and close on March 8, 2024

All online fellowship applications require the following:

  • Application Form
  • Project Proposal
  • CV
  • Official Columbia University Transcript
  • At least one letter of recommendation *unless otherwise specified
  • Additional Fellowship Specific-Materials (If Applicable)

*Please note 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 fellowships (specifically for BA and MA students) require one letter of recommendation.

  1. Application for multiple grants and fellowships are allowed.

  2. Fellowship and grant recipients must be current Columbia University students during the term of the funded project.

  3. One set of Columbia transcripts and reference letters may be submitted for application to multiple grants and fellowships (Exception: Applications for FLAS, as they are submitted separately, must include a complete set of application materials).

  4. 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.

  5. Application materials will not be returned.

  6. Only application materials requested for each fellowship and grant will be reviewed.

  7. Application materials received after the deadline will not be considered.

  8. A committee of Weatherhead East Asian Institute faculty members makes all fellowship and grant determinations.

  9. Fellowship and grant awards will be announced as soon as possible, no later than the end of April.

  10. Students who receive an award will be required to submit a one to two page summary of their supported project activities by the end of the grant period.

  11. Grantees agree to comply with Columbia University’s policies on human subject research, if applicable. Information can be found here.

  12. Grantees must report to the Weatherhead East Asian Institute any additional funds, such as another grant 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.

** 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.