General FAQ
Ph.D. Equivalency for Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Online Application Process
Reference Letters
The Review Process
Successful Proposals
Additional FAQ for:
ACLS Fellowships (the central fellowship program)
Ryskamp Fellowships
Burkhardt Fellowships
Digital Innovation Fellowships
ACLS Collaborative Research Awards
Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies
General FAQ
Q: Do all ACLS fellowship and grant programs use the Online Fellowship Application (OFA) system?
A: No. The following programs do not use the OFA system: Comparative Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society and the African Humanities Program. Information about these programs is available on the ACLS website through the individual program links.
Q: What kind of work gets funded? Are there some types of projects ACLS does not fund?
A: ACLS supports academic research in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences. The ultimate goal of the project should be a major piece of scholarly work by the applicant. ACLS does not fund creative work (e.g., novels, films, performance, or musical composition), textbooks, work that deals purely with translation, or pedagogical projects.
Q: I work in the creative arts and would use a fellowship to do research for a novel/artwork/film/musical composition/etc. May I apply?
A: No, ACLS fellowship programs do not support individuals who work in the creative or performing arts. Fellowship research designed for an end-product that is a creative work is not appropriate for ACLS.
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for any ACLS fellowships?
A: If you are a doctoral student, you may be eligible for one of the ACLS dissertation fellowships: The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Dissertation Fellowship in American Art, or the Dissertation Fellowship in East European Studies.
Q: May I apply for more than one ACLS fellowship in the same competition year?
A: Yes. With the exception of the New Faculty Fellows program and the Public Fellows program, an individual may apply to as many fellowship and grant programs as are suitable. However, not more than one ACLS or ACLS-joint award may normally be accepted in any one competition year.
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Ph.D. Equivalency for Postdoctoral Fellowships
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the Ph.D. degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I hold a J.D. degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A J.D. in itself would not satisfy the Ph.D. equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature (as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues). A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I am currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program, but feel that I already have the equivalent of a Ph.D. in publications. Am I eligible to apply for an ACLS postdoctoral fellowship?
A: No. Current Ph.D. students are not eligible to apply for ACLS postdoctoral fellowships. Your Ph.D. must have been conferred by the application deadline.
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The Online Application Process
Q: I applied last year. Can I edit my old application and resubmit it?
A: No, you will need to start over with a new online application.
Q: How long does it take to fill out the application?
A: This will vary, depending on how much work you have prepared before you begin the application process. Simply filling in the form will probably take at least an hour if not two, plus you will need to submit your proposal and supporting documents. You will also need to secure referees to write letters in support of your application. You should start the process several weeks before the deadline to get a sense of what is required and start preparing your materials.
Q: Do I have to complete the application all at once?
A: No, you may work on it in multiple sessions, though you will need to save your work after you finish each section of the application. Once you have submitted the application, you cannot work on it again.
Q: I think I will get sabbatical funding during the year I would be taking the postdoctoral fellowship, but I do not know for certain or exactly how much it will be. What should I fill in on the application form?
A: You may estimate the amount you expect to receive, or fill in nothing. You can enter this amount in the section asking you to list other major funding sources to which you ARE APPLYING for your present research proposal. Should you be offered a postdoctoral fellowship, you will need to provide a specific amount and tell us about any other funding you will receive.
Q: After submitting my proposal, I found out that I had an article (or book) accepted for publication (or to a conference). May I send the information to ACLS to have it added to my publications page?
A: No. Your application will be judged as it is at the time of submission.
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Reference Letters
Q: Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
A: Your main priority should be to secure letters from referees who can write strong, specific letters on your behalf, preferably those who can comment on the proposed project. For ACLS postdoctoral programs reviewers sometimes have concerns about letters from colleagues in your department or from dissertation advisors, and often prefer "arm's length" letters from scholars who can attest to the significance of your work in the field and have less personal interest vested in your success. It's good to be able to show that you have placed yourself in the field, not merely in the department or institution where you are employed or did your graduate work. Think carefully about who can write the best letters and weigh that against personal connections. Applicants at early career stages will rely more on dissertation advisors as advocates. In any case, you will want your referees to be tenured scholars.
Q: What should I do if one of my referees does not send in the letter s/he agreed to?
A: You can check online to see if your references have been submitted. If one or more of your letters has not been submitted by the deadline, you may wish to contact the letter writers. (Note that our system will continue to accept letters after the deadline.) If one of your designated referees cannot write the letter, you can ask someone else to write for you and submit the appropriate information on your reference form. However, please note that once the required number of letters has been submitted for your application (regardless of which of your referees submits them), no more will be accepted. Think carefully, then, before requesting replacement letters. You would not want to put a referee in the position of writing a letter for you and then not being able to submit it.
Q: My referee does not use email or have an email address. What should I do?
A: Contact us at references@acls.org for further instructions.
Q: Do all my reference letters have to be in the system before I submit my application?
A: No, but note that the deadline for reference letters for most programs is the same as the application deadline. The system will continue to accept letters after the deadline and will add them to your application at the earliest possible time, though we cannot guarantee that they will accompany your application in the first stage of review.
Q. What are the deadlines and submission procedures for specific ACLS fellowship programs?
A. Visit the References page for program-specific deadlines, instructions, and contact information.
The Review Process
Q: Who is reading my proposal?
A: Proposals to the central ACLS Fellowship Program, the Burkhardt Fellowship Program, The Ryskamp Fellowship Program, the Digital Innovation Fellowship Program, the ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowships, and the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship Program are read by both experts in the discipline of the proposal and by scholars from a variety of disciplines.
Q: Since my application will be read by both experts in my area and in a range of humanistic fields, how should I pitch my proposal?
A: To address experts in your field, explain why this project offers insight into the issues of your discipline, and make clear what question or problem is being addressed. In addition, though, be sure to explain any terms that might not be familiar to those outside your field or subfield, and discuss the significance of your project within your field. In a section of the application separate from the body of the proposal, you are also asked to address the significance of your proposed project for the humanities.
Q: Can I receive reviewer comments on my application?
A: Reviewer comments may be requested for the majority of programs, with the exception of ACLS New Faculty Fellows, ACLS Public Fellows, American Research in the Humanities in China, Comparative Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society, East European Studies Program Dissertation Fellowships, the African Humanities Program, and the Henry Luce Foundaton/ACLS Program in China Studies. Comments are released at the discretion of the reviewers. Hence, comments may be available from some, though not necessarily all, of the reviewers who assessed an application. Requests must be submitted in writing (to fellowships@acls.org) by August 31st of the competition year.
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Successful Proposals
Q: What kinds of projects are usually successful in ACLS fellowship competitions?
A: The projects that are ultimately selected vary widely. We post a list of the awardees and brief project descriptions in Fellows & Research each summer.
Q: I applied for an ACLS Fellowship but did not receive one. I have had several talented, credentialed academics look at my proposal, and they all say it is good. Why was I not awarded a fellowship?
A: ACLS receives many more excellent proposals than we are able to fund. The selection panels must make very difficult decisions from among exceptional applications.
Q: Do you have examples of successful proposals?
A: We do not provide examples of proposals that receive funding, and there is no one model to follow for a successful application. However, you may view abstracts of successful proposals in Fellows & Research. (These are updated each summer.) You may also benefit from asking an ACLS Fellow that you know to show you her or his proposal. You should also review Writing Proposals for ACLS Fellowship Competitions by Christina M. Gillis.
Q: How much of my proposal should be devoted to explaining my methodology? The project's significance? Theoretical framework? Work plan? etc.
A: The portion of the proposal that should be devoted to its constituent parts varies according to the proposed project. An important part of the application process is gauging the most central elements of your project and presenting those elements to your best advantage within the specified word/page limit.
Q: If I receive a fellowship from ACLS, can the fellowship monies be paid through my institution instead of my receiving the funds directly?
A: The fellowship is awarded to an individual scholar. However, we can arrange payment through the scholar’s institution upon request. In that case, the institution may not deduct funds for overhead or indirect costs from the individual's fellowship. See Information for Institutional Administrators.
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Additional FAQ for ACLS Fellowships (the central fellowship program)
Q: I have not finished my Ph.D. Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program)? What if I will have finished my Ph.D. by the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Sorry, your Ph.D. degree must have been officially conferred at least two years before the application deadline.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program)?
A: You must be either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q: In the ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) description, what is meant by a "supported research leave"? Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I have had a supported research leave in recent years? What if it was a postdoctoral appointment?
A: "Supported research leave" is defined as the equivalent of one semester or more of time free from teaching or other employment to pursue scholarly research or writing, supported by sabbatical pay or other institutional funding, major fellowships and grants, or a combination of these.
- To be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship in the 2012-13 competition, an applicant must not have held a "supported research leave" during the two years ending September 1, 2013. This means that your most recent leave before starting an ACLS Fellowship must have concluded prior to September 1, 2011. Do not take or initiate a leave in the 2012-13 academic year if you wish to remain eligible for an ACLS Fellowship in the current competition.
- If your institution uses quarters rather than semesters, a "supported research leave" is defined as two consecutive quarters free from teaching.
- A postdoctoral appointment counts as a supported research leave if you are fully released from teaching responsibilities.
- The requirement that you have not had a supported research leave during the two years ending September 1, 2013 pertains only to the central ACLS Fellowship program and its subfellowships, not to other ACLS fellowship competitions.
Q: I had a fellowship for a semester/year less than two years ago, but I did not have a job at the time, so does that count as supported leave?
A: Yes, the ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) policy regarding "supported research leave" applies equally to individuals regardless of whether or not they were employed at the time.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month ACLS Fellowship. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: Who will review my application?
A: Your application will be reviewed in two stages. At the first stage, two established scholars in your discipline (and/or regional area of study) will judge your proposal. These reviewers may or may not be specialized in the particular sub-field(s) covered in your proposal. The first stage of review determines which applications will go on to the final stage. At that point, applications are reviewed by a panel of scholars whose collective expertise covers a range of disciplines in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences.
Q: What other proposals will my application be judged against?
A: At the first stage, your application will be reviewed in the context of others at your rank in the profession (assistant, associate, or full professor or equivalents) in your discipline. In the second stage, your application will be judged against others at your rank, but in various disciplines.
Q: Can an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) be deferred to the following year? Can an ACLS Fellowship be postponed if I find out I have to teach in the fall semester? What if I find out I have to teach in the spring semester?
A: An ACLS Fellowship cannot be deferred to the following academic year. Fellowship tenure is for a period of six to twelve consecutive months, which can be initiated between July 1, 2013 and February 1, 2014. Tenure must be concluded by December 31, 2014.
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Additional FAQ for Ryskamp Fellowships
Q: I will be reviewed for tenure during the current ACLS competition year, so I may know if I am successful by spring, and I may be tenured as early as the start of the summer. May I still apply?
A: Yes, you may apply—as long as your tenure review will not be complete before February 1, 2013.
Q: I am an untenured associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. You are eligible so long as your tenure review will not be complete before February 1, 2013.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed at a degree-granting academic institution in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Ryskamp award, whichever is higher.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship.
Q: If the $64,000 Ryskamp award exceeds my normal academic-year salary, will the stipend amount be reduced?
A: No, if the Ryskamp stipend exceeds your normal academic-year salary and you have no other sources of support, the excess will be available for research and travel expenses.
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Additional FAQ for Burkhardt Fellowships
Q: I received tenure in the spring of 2007. Am I eligible to apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship this year, you must have started your first tenured contract no earlier than the fall 2008 semester or quarter.
Q: I expect to receive tenure during the current ACLS competition year. May I apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No. You must have tenure by the beginning of fall semester or quarter, 2012.
Q: I received tenure within the time-frame specified, but am a full professor rather than an associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. The salient point is time from tenure, not academic rank.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed in a tenured position at a degree-granting academic institution in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Burkardt Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Burkhardt Fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Burkhardt award, whichever is higher.
Q: If the $75,000 Burkhardt award exceeds my normal academic-year salary, will the stipend amount be reduced?
A: No, if the Burkhardt stipend exceeds your normal academic-year salary and you have no other sources of support, the excess will be available for research and relocation expenses.
Q: Which residential center should I select?
A: You should select the center or library that is most appropriate for your project. The application should explain how residency at the chosen center or library will advance the project.
Q: If I am awarded a Burkhardt Fellowship to support a year of residence at a national residential research center, is it possible to spend only part of the year in residency, or to remain at my home institution?
A: No. You must be in residence at your chosen national residential research center for the entire nine-month duration of the fellowship. Part-time and temporary residencies are not permitted.
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Additional FAQ for Digital Innovation Fellowships
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship?
A: You must be either a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q: Am I eligible for a Digital Innovation Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
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Additional FAQ for ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowships
Q: What counts as a collaboration for this fellowship?
A: While we are open to various forms of collaboration, in order to be eligible for the Collaborative Research Fellowships program, at least two scholars have to seek salary-replacement stipends for six to twelve continuous months of supported research leave to pursue full-time collaborative research during the fellowship tenure.
Q: What kind of collaborative projects does the fellowship seek to support?
A: To view abstracts of supported projects, click here.
Q: Must all participants in an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship be on leave at the same time?
A: There is no requirement that all participants take the research leave at the same time. Scheduling of leaves should be determined based on the needs of the project and the schedules of the individual participants. No awards are made if the supported research leave period is less than six continuous months.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: Can an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship be deferred?
A: No, the fellowship is for a period of up to 24 months, to be initiated during the two academic years following the date of the award and no earlier than July 1.
Q: How does ACLS define "appointment at an institution of higher education?"
A: For the Collaborative Research Fellowships program, eligible appointments are all professorial ranks, including research professorships and adjunct professorships; lectureships, and instructorships. "Visiting" ranks are eligible only if the institution being visited will agree to administer project funds.
Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship?
A: You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident. However, an academic institution located in the United States must be willing to administer costs of collaboration on behalf of the project coordinator.
Q: Does the site of the collaborative work need to be the institution administering costs of collaboration?
A: No. The site of the collaborative work can be wherever the project participants feel is appropriate.
Q: What is the purpose of the collaboration funds?
A: The majority of the fellowship award will cover salary-replacement stipends for the collaborations. Additionally, up to $20,000 is available in collaboration funds to facilitate the successful completion of the collaborative research project. Collaboration funds may be used for such purposes as travel, acquisition of materials, or research assistance. The budget should provide detailed information and justification for the requested collaboration funds. See sample budget.
Q: Can the budgets for the stipend and costs of collaboration include benefits, indirect costs, or overhead?
A: No. Please also refer to Information for Institutional Administrators.
Q: Who will review the applications?
A: Your application will be reviewed by humanities and social science scholars from a variety of fields who have had experience with collaborative research.
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Additional FAQ for Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Q: Are only U.S. citizens eligible for the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship?
A: All doctoral students who are completing Ph.D.s at degree-granting institutions in the United States are eligible to apply for the Dissertation Completion Fellowships.
Q: I have a dissertation completion fellowship this year, but I do not think I will finish my dissertation by the end of this year. May I apply to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, since I hope to finish next year?
A: As a recipient of a dissertation completion fellowship from another funding source, you cannot subsequently apply for a Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. These fellowships are intended for the final year of dissertation work, with the expectation that recipients will finish the dissertation during tenure of the fellowship.
Q: I have been offered another fellowship in addition to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. May I accept both?
A: ACLS policy prohibits Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellows from holding concurrent fellowships that provide a stipend of any amount. ACLS allows a university to provide awards subsidizing tuition and university fees, including health insurance (beyond the up-to-$5,000 provided by the fellowship). Fellows may not accept an award that requires work of any kind, for example a teaching or research assistantship.
Q: May I apply for this fellowship if I am now in the seventh year of my Ph.D. program?
A: Applicants may petition to be considered for an eight-year fellowship. To do so, they must provide a compelling reason for special consideration. This petition should be submitted in the space designated in the Education section of the application. The applicant's dissertation advisor must also explain in his or her letter of recommendation any extenuating circumstances that would merit consideration for an eighth-year fellowship.
Q: Are fellowship stipends paid directly to the fellow or are they paid through the payroll system of their home or host institution?
A: The fellowship is awarded to an individual scholar. However, we can arrange payment through the scholar’s institution upon request. In that case, the institution may not deduct funds for overhead or indirect costs from the individual’s fellowship. See Information for Institutional Administrators. Note that the fellowships include funds for university fees (up to $5,000), which must be paid directly to the institution.
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Additional FAQ for Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies: Pre-dissertation Grants for Research in China
Q: I meet all the requirements for the Pre-dissertation grant and I am a U.S. citizen; however I am enrolled in a Ph.D. program at a university in Canada. May I still apply?
A: You may not apply; an applicant must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program at a university in the United States.
Q: What is the Institutional Statement and what information should it provide?
A: The Institutional Statement is a form that ACLS automatically sends via email to the institutional representative whose name and contact information you enter in the Reference Letters section of your online application (http://ofa.acls.org/). For more information you can see the sample application form.
Additional FAQ for Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Q: My Ph.D. degree will be completed shortly after November 15, 2012. May I still apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A: You may not apply for this year’s competition. Your Ph.D. degree must be completed (including defense and revisions) by the application deadline, November 15, 2012.
Q: I am not a U.S. citizen but have an affiliation with a university in the United States. However, my Ph.D. degree is from an institution outside the U.S. Can I apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A: No. An Applicant who is not a U.S. citizen must meet BOTH eligibility criteria:
- Must hold a Ph.D. degree from an institution in the United States.
- Must have an affiliation with a university or college in the United States.
Q: I am currently a visiting scholar at a university in the United States. Am I eligible to apply for a Postdoctoral fellowship?
A: The “affiliation with a university or college in the United States” requirement for applicants who are not U.S. citizens refers to a long-term regular research or teaching appointment.
Q: Can the award be used in the U.S. for writing up research that has already been done in China or for a combination of write-up and follow-up research during the fellowship tenure?
A: If the applicant has completed research in China, funds may be used for writing only or for writing and follow-up research. The application essay should describe the research that the applicant has done in China, along with any follow-up research that is planned, and provide the rationale for time requested for fieldwork/writing.
Q: I am an Associate/Assistant Professor. Do I qualify for the Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A: You can apply as long as you meet all the program’s eligibility requirements, which include a Ph.D. conferred within 8 years of the application deadline.
Q: What can the Postdoctoral fellowship funds be used for? Can the award be used to fund a sabbatical semester?
A: Stipends may be used for travel, living expenses, and research costs. Applicants are not required to submit a budget. A Fellow may accept sabbatical leave or other grants but the total of these for the fellowship period may not exceed 125% of the academic year salary. Our policy is that ACLS fellowships provide salary-replacement stipends. The recipient must be on a full leave (i.e., not teaching at all) for the period of the fellowship (minimum of one semester and maximum of one academic year). The full amount of the stipend must go to the Fellow as salary replacement.
Additional FAQ for Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies: Collaborative-Reading Workshops
Q: Do all participants in the Collaborative-Reading workshops need to read all of the materials in the original language, or is the reading and discussion of translated texts also acceptable?
A: The Collaborative-Reading workshops are for in-depth discussion (close reading, translation) of texts in the original language/s.
Additional FAQ for Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies: General
Q: Does the new Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies support research on topics connected to ethnic minorities within China? For example, would research concerning Tibetan topics using Tibetan-language texts and materials be eligible for funding?
A: Yes. All topics and themes (in the humanities and social sciences) related to China’s history, societies, and cultures in all periods are welcome.
Q: Does the new Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies fund fieldwork research outside the borders of the People’s Republic of China?
A: Yes. All topics and themes (in the humanities and social sciences) related to China’s history, societies, cultures in all periods are welcome. This includes Tibet and Taiwan. Your application essay should give the rationale for the time and research location you propose.
Q: Can I find more information about the online application without having to actually start and log into the online application?
A: On the program’s page you can find sample applications: for the Pre-dissertation grants and for the Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Q: May I submit my reference letters through a dossier service such as Interfolio?
A: No, you may not. We do not accept letters from dossier services. Your reference letters must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship Applications system by your referees.
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