Established in 1974, the Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship that offers early-career leaders immersive, professional experiences in Asia. It aims to forge stronger relationships across geographic borders by creating opportunities for young Americans to deepen their ties and understanding of the countries, cultures, and people of Asia.  
       
Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the Luce Scholars Program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 18 Luce Scholars each year. Applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields, with a range of backgrounds and experiences, and who have had limited exposure to Asia, are welcome. 

 

A Cornell endorsement is not required for this program. Though the application does not require an endorsement, applicants are encouraged to discuss their application with the Luce Fellowships adviser, Krista Saleet, ks2334@cornell.edu. 

 

Candidates who have spent 18 weeks or more (since beginning college) in one of the countries where we place Luce Scholars are eligible to apply to be placed in a country where they do not have significant experience.

All application materials must be submitted by October 1, 2025 by 5:00PM ET. Applicants must apply directly to the program via the official website.

The Luce Scholar Program is a cultural and experiential fellowship program built around individual internships and work/study arrangements developed by representatives of the Asia Foundation and based on the participants' career interests, qualifications, and experience.  The "Luce Scholar Year" involves a commitment of thirteen months from mid-June to late-July of the following year.  The program starts with a week-long orientation in NYC followed by in-country language study in July and August.  Individual placements commence in September and last until July of the following year.  Rather than offer training for future Asia specialists, the program concentrates on providing an intensive cultural experience in Asia to young Americans from other fields who would not otherwise expect to have such an opportunity during the normal course of their careers.  The Luce Scholars Program operates throughout Northeast, Southeast and South Asia with placements in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

While some Scholars have been affiliated with Asian universities in teaching or research capacities, none of the participants is formally enrolled as a student in a college or university and no academic credit is offered.  The range of assignments is extraordinarily broad.  Although each Scholar's placement provides a professional venue and perspective, the assignments themselves should be viewed as a mechanism through which to gain a broader understanding and appreciation of the culture in which one is living.  Specific placements have included an architectural firm in Tokyo, a forestry project in Indonesia, a training facility for public administration in Malaysia, apprenticing under a master gardener in Kyoto, a community medicine project in the Philippines, and working for a banking authority in Singapore.

Luce Scholars receive from the Luce Foundation funds to cover transportation, insurance, and a monthly stipend through the period of their participation sufficient to meet all normal expenses in Asia.  Additional cost-of-living and housing allowances may be provided to participants in certain locations.  Although they may occupy professional positions in Asian institutions or agencies as part of their assignment, Luce Scholars receive no compensation from their local sponsors.