Undergraduate Research Opportunities & Resources

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures supports our students' interest in studying East Asia. Students interested in research may consider independent study or pursuing the honors program as part of their major. They may also choose to seek for funding sources outside of the department and ask EALC faculty members to serve as their advisor for their research projects. Below are some resources that we recommend for undergraduates.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Grants for East Asian Languages and Cultures through the VPUE: The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, through the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, will offer grants for undergraduates (majors, minors, and other interested undergraduates) to engage in research in the field of East Asian studies under the direction of EALC Academic Council faculty members with the goal of promoting greater integration of undergraduate students into the intellectual community, introducing students to the basic research methods and questions of the field, helping them build fundamental research skills and profiles, and encouraging them to pursue East Asian studies academically and beyond. The 2023-24 application is now open.
Heidi Chou Fund for East Asian Languages and Cultures: Thanks to the generosity of Stanford alumna Heidi Chou, the Heidi Chou Fund (HCF) for East Asian Languages and Cultures has recently been established to support Chinese language studies in the Department. The Department has decided to use it to provide summer Chinese language scholarships (up to $10,000 per student) to undergraduates considering to declare East Asian major, or minor, in Chinese studies. If you want to utilize this fund to enhance your language skills, please email a simple application with your plan, budget, two references, and an unofficial transcript. Note: your references will be contacted, but you do not need to ask them for a letter of recommendation. Your plans and budget do not need to be longer than two pages.
Supplementary Grants for Undergraduate Field Work in East Asia through the VPUE: The Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) supports rigorous, independent projects in all disciplines. Research, arts, and senior synthesis projects in any field (including engineering, fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences) can make use of this funding. All Student Grants are subject to the same policies and processes. These grants are based on a rolling deadline and available to all currently-enrolled Stanford undergraduates.
Stanford Global Studies Internship Program: Stanford Global Studies (SGS) offers Stanford students an opportunity to extend classroom learning to immersive, cultural, and professional experiences through the Global Studies Internship Program. An overall stipend base of $5,500-$6,500 is provided by the host organization, the program, or both. Preference for internship positions in East Asia is given to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in East Asian Studies. The deadline each year to apply for internships is in February. For more information, please contact globalinternships [at] stanford.edu (globalinternships[at]stanford[dot]edu).
Undergraduate Overseas Summer Language Study Fellowships: Undergraduate Overseas Summer Language Study Fellowships provide partial funding to support Stanford undergraduates who study Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (or other approved languages by petition) in a full-time, pre-approved, accredited overseas summer language program. Applicants must have completed at least first-year language courses before the fellowship commences. Preference will be given to East Asian Studies majors and minors and to students who have taken two or more East Asian Studies content courses.
Undergraduate Academic-Year East Asia FLAS Fellowships: Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide $10,000 in tuition and $5,000 stipend for undergraduate students in any discipline for intensive language study at Stanford during the academic year—at the intermediate (2nd year) or advanced (3rd year+) level—in conjunction with international or area studies courses. Students must enroll in both advanced Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (or other approved languages by petition) and area-studies courses simultaneously during the entire period of award. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and must be deemed eligible by the University for at least $15,000 in financial aid to receive the award. Grants subject to final approval from the Department of Education.

Undergraduate Academic Resources

Hume Center for Writing and Speaking: The Hume Center works with all Stanford students to help them develop rich and varied abilities in every aspect of writing and oral communication. In free individual sessions, Hume tutors help students get started on assignments; address and overcome writer's block or performance anxiety; learn strategies for revising, editing, and proofreading; and understand academic conventions in their fields.
Schwab Learning Center: The Schwab Learning Center (SLC) helps students with learner variability understand how they learn and leverage their strengths to not only succeed but also flourish at the University. The SLC offers customized strategies to maximize potential in the classroom, workplace, and beyond.
Academic Skills Resources from Student Learning Programs: Student Learning Programs, as part of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), offers programs designed to teach academic skills, create a safe space to take intellectual risks, and help all students become self-directed learners.

Studying Beyond Campus

Studying Abroad through BOSP: The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) at Stanford offers rigorous academic and experiential programming, affording students an opportunity to be more reflective about the world and their place within it.
Stanford in Washington: The Stanford in Washington Program individually places students in a substantive internship that enables them to work closely with individuals in Washington's wide range of governmental, non-governmental and cultural organizations. Students also enroll in seminars taught by Stanford faculty and national policy experts.
Stanford Center at Peking University: The Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU) offers collaborative spaces, offices, event support services, and funding for innovative research and education. The SCPKU brings together established researchers and a new generation of young scholars to create a dynamic hub of intellectual exchange and collaboration.
Overseas Resources from Bechtel: The Overseas Resource Center (ORC) at the Bechtel International Center works with undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, as well as recent alumni pursuing scholarships for study and research abroad.
SOLO from the Office of International Affairs: The Office of International Affairs maintains the Stanford Off-campus Learning Opportunities (SOLO) to list the numerous opportunities for students to complement and strengthen the learning they do on-campus and make it easy for students to find opportunities, apply, and prepare for international travel if applicable.

As we discover more funding resources and research opportunities for our undergraduates, we will post them on this website, so please check back occasionally. You may also contact Cyril Millendez, Assistant Director of Student Services, or asianlanguages [at] stanford.edu (asianlanguages[at]stanford[dot]edu) for more information.