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The Berkeley China Initiative brings together UC Berkeley's exceptional resources to strengthen research and teaching about China across all disciplines and professions, forge new international partnerships, and enrich public life by communicating those results.

To accomplish this, we have undertaken a new funding initiative to strengthen several key areas of China Studies at Berkeley. Learn more about this initiative and BCI here.


The Centers for Chinese Studies (CCS), Japanese Studies (CJS) and Korean Studies (CKS) (CKS) and the Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) announce their 2008-09 fellowship competitions for continuing graduate students in East Asian studies. Students may apply to only one of the four Center/Institute competitions, so should carefully consider which one best suits their needs. Please contact Center/Institute staff with questions. In order to fund the maximum number of meritorious proposals, files may be transferred between the CCS, CJS, CKS and IEAS as appropriate.

Graduate Fellowships in Chinese Studies

Announcement

The Center for Chinese Studies offers annual competitive fellowships for continuing graduate students in Chinese studies. There are three distinct awards-types: Summer Research Grants, Liu Dissertation Research Fellowships, and the Joseph R. Levenson Chinese Studies Awards. Please read each description carefully to ensure that you qualify. Students may apply for more than one CCS award. Graduate students applying for these awards should be registered at Berkeley or on approved travel status during the award period.

CCS Summer Research Grants

For academic year 2008-2009, up to three awards of up to $3,000 each will be made to UC Berkeley graduate students to conduct preliminary Ph.D. research in China, Hong Kong, and/or Taiwan for the summer of 2008. The fellowship recipient must be a registered UC Berkeley graduate student in good standing during the spring 2008 semester.

The Joseph R. Levenson Chinese Studies Award

For academic year 2008-2009, up to three awards of up to $2,000 will be made to UC Berkeley graduate students who have not yet passed the Ph.D. qualifying examinations and who can demonstrate superior ability, a strong commitment to Chinese studies, and the need for financial assistance. The Joseph R. Levenson Chinese Studies Award is made in memory of the late Joseph R. Levenson, Sather Professor of History from 1965 to 1969, through the contributions of his colleagues, students, friends, and family.

Liu Graduate Research Fellowships in Chinese Studies

For academic year 2008-2009, up to eight awards of up to $6,000 each will be made to graduate students in good standing who have advanced to candidacy at the time of the commencement of the fellowship, and are registered or on approved travel status during the duration of award. The fellowships must be used for dissertation research and may support such activities as archival and library research and field interviews as determined by the faculty governance committee. All students are eligible for support regardless of previous fellowships from other sources. The Liu Graduate Fellowships may be used in conjunction with other grants with approval of the faculty governance committee.

The Liu Graduate Research Fellowships in Chinese Studies are supported by an endowment from Richard S. Liu, Chairman of Superior Holdings Limited, Hong Kong. The Liu Graduate Research Fellowships in Chinese Studies support research in the greater China region, including Hong Kong and/or Taiwan, etc., for advanced graduate students with doctoral projects in the social sciences and humanities on broadly defined areas of Chinese culture, history, and society. The Liu Fellowships are awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement and superior research plans. Within these parameters, the fellowships will be distributed as widely as possible across disciplines.

Required application documents:

  1. Application Cover Sheet (PDF file)
  2. A current Curriculum Vitae
  3. A detailed Research/Study Proposal for the period of requested support (max. 2 pages)
  4. A List of All Financial Assistance received during graduate study, including fellowships from ALL sources (extramural fellowships, research assistantships, teaching appointments, and grants)
  5. A complete List of All Support, including the amount of funds requested for the coming academic year, with notes on the status of the requests
  6. An Estimated Budget for your project
  7. Two Letters of Recommendation (mailed or emailed separately to CCS). Emailed recommendations go to ccs@berkeley.edu.
  8. A current Transcript (unofficial copies OK) from UCB together with a list of any courses currently in progress

Mail to:

John Groschwitz, Program Director (ccs@berkeley.edu)
Center for Chinese Studies
Attn: {Award Name Here}
2223 Fulton Street, Room 503
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2328

All documents must be received by Wednesday, April 2, 2008.