Asian Studies provides funding for graduate students to help support conference attendance, research, tuition, and language study in or about Asia. We hold competitions for summer and academic year funding each year, made possible by endowment funds, grants from private sources, and funds from the US Department of Education. Most scholarship applications, except for conference funding, are due Feb. 2, 2026, except for conference funding, which is evaluated three times a year (September 29, December 9, and April 3).
Fellowships & Tuition Remission
ASC offers several funding opportunities for graduate students, including tuition and stipends. Unless noted, these applications will be due Feb. 2, 2026. To apply for these funding opportunities, students will need to:
- Complete an application form on PittFund$Me. You can access PittFund$Me through your my.pitt.edu portal. Use the dashboard to search for the scholarship you wish to apply to.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university attended
- Submit a current CV
- Submit a statement of purpose no more than 2000 words that explains your research interests.
- Secure three letters of recommendation
Mitsubishi Graduate Fellowship in Japanese Studies:
- full tuition and stipend
The Mitsubishi Graduate Fellowship in Japanese Studies is open to full-time graduate students in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh with a focus on Japan. Preference is for students with strong Japanese language skills. Students cannot hold a Mitsubishi fellowship concurrently with any other fellowship. Students must either be or commit to becoming an Asian Studies certificate student.
Mitsubishi Graduate Tuition Remission Scholarship:
- up to $10,000 toward tuition and fees per year
Mitsubishi Graduate Tuition Remission Scholarship is open to full-time graduate students in programs outside the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (e.g. Katz Business School, School of Education, School of Law, or School of Information and Computer Science) or part-time graduate students in any program to help defray costs up to $10,000 or up to the cost of tuition. Tuition Remission will only be available up to the cost of tuition. Pitt employees are eligible to apply for funding through this program. Students must have a strong research focus in Japanese Studies. Students must either be or commit to becoming an Asian Studies certificate student.
Language Study
The Asian Studies Center has two awards that focus directly on language acquisition. All of these applications are due Feb. 2, 2026. To apply for these funding opportunities, students will need to:
- Complete an application form on PittFund$Me. You can access PittFund$Me through your my.pitt.edu portal. Use the dashboard to search for the scholarship you wish to apply to.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university attended
- Submit a current CV
- Submit a statement of purpose no more than 1500 words that explains your language background and reason for language acquisition.
- Secure two letters of recommendation
Chinese Summer Language Study:
- $5000
Funds participation in Chinese summer language programs. Students must have completed 1 year of college-level Chinese, with preference given to those who have completed 2 years. Preference is also given to students participating in an organized study abroad program.
Japanese Summer Language Study:
- $5000, plus $1000 for travel expenses if studying in Japan
Funds Japanese summer intensive language study at an approved summer language program. Preference is given to students who have completed at least one year of college-level Japanese. Students planning on attending the SEALS program at Pitt are not eligible for this award. Visit the SEALS website for more information.
Research
ASC offers several funding opportunities for graduate students, including tuition and stipends. All these applications will be due Feb. 2, 2026. To apply for these funding opportunities, students will need to:
- Complete an application form on PittFund$Me. You can access PittFund$Me through your my.pitt.edu portal. Then use the dashboard to search for the scholarship you wish to apply to.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university attended
- Submit a current CV
- Submit a statement of purpose no more than 2000 words that explains your research interests.
- Secure three letters of recommendation
- Submit a detailed budget for your research project. View the budget templates attachment.
Linda Penkower China and Chinese Studies Research Grant
- up to $3000
Funds graduate student research about China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or the Chinese diaspora. Penkower grants are meant to help students build their dissertation projects. Strong preference is given to Ph.D. students. Preference is also given to students who have not previously held China or Chinese Studies research grants.
Kathy Linduff Travel Research Grant in East Asian Studies
- up to $2000
Funds graduate student travel for research about East Asia, including Greater Chinese, Japanese, or Korean Studies. Eligible students include those enrolled in the Humanities or Social Science Divisions within the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Preference is also given to students who have not previously held research grants from the Asian Studies Center.
Japanese Studies Graduate Research Award
- $5000
Funds graduate student research about Japan and Japanese Studies. Preference is for students who have not received Japanese Studies Graduate Research awards in the past, who have at least two years of Japanese language training, and who plan to conduct research in Japan, when possible.
POSCO Academic Year Korean Studies Award
- up to $2000
Funds for research in Korean Studies at the graduate level during the academic year. Preference is given to students who plan to use their research in their Ph.D. dissertations.
POSCO Summer Korean Studies Award
- up to $1000
Funds for research in Korean Studies at the graduate level during the academic year. Preference is given to students who plan to use their research in their Ph.D. dissertations.
South Asian Studies Research Grant:
- up to $3000 (most grants will be funded at the $1000-$2000 level)
Funds graduate student research about South Asia. South Asian Studies Research Grants are meant to help students build their dissertation projects. Strong preference is given to Ph.D. students. Preference is also given to students who have not previously received South Asian Studies Research Grants and to those planning to travel to South Asia for research, when possible.
Dr. Mohinder and Saroj Bahl Grant in Indian Studies:
- up to $500
Funded through a generous donation in the name of Dr. Mohinder Bahl and Mrs. Saroj Bahl, students, faculty, and affiliated researchers may apply for up to $500 to help fund research, travel, or other educational expenses for projects and education that support India, Indian Studies, or people of Indian origin. Strong preference will be given to students, faculty, or researchers with demonstrated financial need.
Southeast Asian and the Pacific Studies Research Grant:
- up to $3000 (most grants will be funded at the $1000-$2000 level)
Funds graduate student research about Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Southeast Asian and the Pacific Studies Research Grants are meant to help students build their dissertation projects. Strong preference is given to Ph.D. students. Preference is also given to students who have not held Southeast Asian and the Pacific Studies Research Grants in the past, and to students who are planning on traveling for research to Southeast Asia or the Pacific, when possible.
Conference Funding
There are several options available for ASC certificate students to help defray the cost of presenting at conferences. Applications for conference funding have three deadlines (September 29, December 9, and April 3), and students may apply for more than one conference at each deadline. To apply for these funding opportunities, students will need to:
- Complete an application form
- Submit your conference paper abstract
- Submit proof of conference acceptance/ attendance (this can be an email from the conference)
- Advisor letter of recommendation submitted to jhs141@pitt.edu
Japanese Studies Conference Participation Grant
- $500 for domestic conferences, including Mexico and Canada
- $1000 for international conferences
This grant provides partial support to graduate students for the presentation of conference papers focused on Japan. The grant can reimburse travel expenses, conference registration, and other appropriate conference expenses.
China and Chinese Studies Conference Participation Grant
- $300 for domestic conferences, including Mexico and Canada
- $600 for international conferences
This grant provides partial support to graduate students for the presentation of conference papers focused on China or Chinese Studies. The grant can reimburse travel expenses, conference registration, and other appropriate conference expenses.
Korean Studies Conference Participation Grant
- $300 for domestic conferences including Mexico and Canada
- $600 for international conferences
This grant provides partial support to graduate students for the presentation of conference papers focused on Korean Studies. The grant can reimburse travel expenses, conference registration, and other appropriate conference expenses.
South Asia Conference Participation Grant
- $300 for domestic conferences, including Mexico and Canada
- $600 for international conferences
This grant provides partial support to graduate students for the presentation of conference papers focused on South Asian Studies. The grant can reimburse travel expenses, conference registration, and other appropriate conference expenses.
Southeast Asia and/or Pacific Conference Participation Grant
- $300 for domestic conferences, including Mexico and Canada
- $600 for international conferences
This grant provides partial support to graduate students for the presentation of conference papers focused on Southeast Asian and/or Pacific Studies. The grant can reimburse travel expenses, conference registration, and other appropriate conference expenses.