The award provides for a year's experience in Asia in an internship arranged for each Scholar on the basis of his/her specific interest, background, qualifications, and experience. The program was designed as a cultural experience for "young leaders who have had no prior experience of Asia and who might not otherwise have an opportunity in the normal course of their careers to come to know Asia or their Asian counterparts and contemporaries...both to broaden their professional perspective and to sharpen their perceptions of Asia, of America, and of themselves."

Placements can be made in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Luce Scholars are chosen from 75 colleges and universities, including Cornell. 15-18 are named each year.