All APSI-administered scholarships and grants involving domestic or international travel are subject to Duke's Global Travel Policy.
Janet B. Chiang grants
This grant supports student projects with the goal of furthering Asian-American understanding, as well as funding need-based grants for students to study in Asia. Duke undergraduate and graduate students may apply. The award maximum is $2,500. Learn more about Janet B. Chiang, Trinity '86.
Applications for 2025 should be completed online. All materials are due by 5:00PM (Eastern time) on Friday, March 7, 2025.
- A proposal (500 words max) addressing your reasons for applying according to the award criteria.
- Applicants must include a basic budget outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs; include other potential sources of funding (including applications for funding). The budget should be uploaded with the proposal but does not count toward the word limit. Download an excel budget file >>
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty member should be submitted through the online application form. The document should (preferably) be uploaded as a .pdf file.
Special consideration will be given to projects connected with Asian-American relations, Asian American cultural or legal issues, and women's issues, but any project designed to meet a need and which encourages student leadership initiative will be considered.
Special consideration will also be given to Asian Americans who apply for grants to study in Asia, but all students with a demonstrated interest in the relation of Asian and American cultures are encouraged to apply for this grant.
If the application is associated with a research project involves human subjects, applicants should submit evidence that the project has been submitted for Duke Campus IRB review (submit verification if already approved or exempted). Funding will not be released until IRB approval* (or exemption) is obtained.
*IRB verification is not required if the application is to support language study.
A letter of recommendation from a member of the Duke faculty is required as part of the application. Students are encouraged to contact recommenders early and be mindful of the deadline; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit the online application to APSI.
Language scholarships
Limited scholarships averaging $2,000 are available to full-time Duke students who plan to pursue further language training in Chinese, Japanese or Korean either in East Asia or at a reputable domestic program.
Priority is given to students at the intermediate level or above with a major or minor in the target language as well as students who are receiving financial aid. Additional considerations include students who 1) wish to continue language study beyond university/departmental language requirements; and 2) articulate a clear understanding of how the specific program they intend to enroll in will help them meet their language proficiency and broader academic goals. Additionally, for students attending study abroad programs in Japan, we prioritize applications to Duke-approved programs (even if the applicant does not intend to apply for Duke credit).
Applications for 2025 should be completed online. All materials are due by 5:00PM (Eastern time) on Friday, March 7, 2025.
- A 500-word (max) proposal describing how the specific language program will contribute to the applicant's language proficiency and broader academic goals (include a study timeline)
- A basic budget outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs; this must include all other sources of funding applied to and/or received. The budget should be uploaded with the proposal but does not count toward the word limit. Download an excel budget file >>
Summer Research grants
Full-time Duke freshmen, sophomores and juniors may receive up to $2,500 to conduct research in China, Japan, Korea, or Southeast Asia.
Priority will be given to students who 1) will conduct research for a senior thesis; 2) whose projects have a high probability of developing into a senior thesis; and 3) who have done some preliminary work and have arranged affiliations with local institutions for the research.
Applications for 2025 should be completed online. All materials are due by 5:00PM (Eastern time) on Friday, March 7, 2025.
- A proposal (500 words max) describing the research project, including its rationale, methodology, and timeline. Explain why travel to the region is necessary and describe your connection to local contacts and how you intend to access and assess the data.
- Applicants must include a basic budget outlining realistic projections for living, travel and project-related costs; include other potential sources of funding (including applications for funding). The budget should be uploaded with the proposal but does not count toward the word limit. Download an excel budget file >>
- A letter of recommendation from the supervising faculty member should be submitted through the online application form. The document should (preferably) be uploaded as a .pdf file.
If the application is associated with a research project involves human subjects, applicants should submit evidence that the project has been submitted for Duke Campus IRB review (submit verification if already approved or exempted).
Funding will not be released until IRB approval (or exemption) is obtained.
A letter of recommendation from a member of the Duke faculty is required as part of the application. Students are encouraged to contact recommenders early and be mindful of the deadline; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit the online application to APSI.
Sirena WuDunn Memorial Scholarship
On September 1, 1983, Sirena WuDunn, en route to Hong Kong for a year of study, was aboard Korean Airlines flight 007, which was shot down by Soviet fighters. Since then, the WuDunn family has worked with Duke students and administrators to endow a scholarship in honor of her life.
The award is not need-based; however, should the recipient be on financial aid, the amount of the scholarship will be used to reduce the self-help portion of the financial aid award.
This is a grant for an academic-year tuition award and cannot be used for summer programs.
Applications for 2025-26 should be completed online. All materials are due by 5:00PM (Eastern time) on Friday, March 7, 2025.
- An essay (500 words max) explaining the significance of your involvement in Asian affairs and addressing your reasons for applying according to the scholarship preference criteria.
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty member should be submitted through the online application form. The document should (preferably) be uploaded as a .pdf file.
The award is given to the student(s) who best embody the ideals and interests that Sirena held. Preference for the award will be given to students who:
- Are of Asian ancestry, preferably Chinese American;
- Have made a valuable contribution in the area of East-West culture; and
- Have demonstrated academic excellence
A letter of recommendation from a member of the Duke faculty is required as part of the application. Students are encouraged to contact recommenders early and be mindful of the deadline; faculty will only be able to upload the recommendation once you submit the online application to APSI.
Kristina Troost Prize for an undergraduate project in East Asian Studies
This prize honors Dr. Kristina Kade Troost, who had a distinguished career spanning 30 years at Duke. A historian by training, Dr. Troost was Duke’s first Japanese Studies Librarian and headed the International and Area Studies Department in the Library for 20 years. She also served as the much-beloved Director of Graduate Studies for the MA program in East Asian Studies at Duke and continues to be actively involved in the Triangle Forum for Japanese Studies. Through her various roles, Dr. Troost made invaluable contributions to East Asian Studies at Duke and beyond.
The purpose of the Kristina Troost Prize is to recognize the best undergraduate project in East Asian Studies at Duke. The project can be in the form of a substantial paper, visual art, film, or digital production, among others. Students submitting a creative project should include a written discussion of the project's significance. The prize ($450) will be awarded annually by an APSI faculty committee and given in the spring semester.
To be considered for the prize, submit the application form, a copy of your project, and a nomination letter from a faculty member who supervised the project. Applications for projects completed during the 2024-25 academic year will be due no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 1st, 2025.
Conference Travel Grants
Undergraduate students needing assistance to cover travel expenses for presenting on East or Southeast Asian topics at conferences and professional meetings may apply for up to $700 from APSI. Awards will take into account funds received from other Duke sources.
Applications are accepted until the annual funding allocation is depleted. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as they receive notice of their paper or presentation acceptance; applications must be received at least 30 days prior to the start of the conference or meeting.
- Evidence of paper or presentation acceptance (i.e. – conference program, invitation from organizer)
- Abstract of paper to be presented
- Simple budget, including costs for registration, travel, lodging, and meals; include a list with amounts of other Duke funds received
Applications should be submitted via the online form (note: requires Duke NetID) and are accepted on a rolling basis. Travel grants take the form of reimbursement of actual expenses and require submission of receipts.
Career Services internship funding
Duke Career Services offers financial support to students participating in unpaid or low-pay summer internships.
Learn more about the Career Services Internship Funding Program.