Sigur Center Grants
Check out our interactive map to see where Sigur Center grant recipients have gone in past years!
Each summer the Sigur Center awards grants to current* GW undergraduate and graduate students for intensive language study and field research in Asia. Previous grant recipients have received funding for travel to China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are two grant types: Asian Language Study in Asia and Asian Field Research.
Due to limited funding, the application process for these grants is highly competitive.
* For those students graduating in May 2018, you may only apply for the language study and field research grants if you plan to pursue/have already been accepted into further study at GW.
More information on each grant type can be found below.
Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Language Study in Asia
Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Field Research
Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Language Study in Asia
The Sigur Center is pleased to offer a grant for the study of any Asian language in a relevant country. All language study must be conducted in the relevant country of the language and applicants need to confirm acceptance into a language program before leaving. Language programs must be at least 8 weeks long. If you also intend on taking part in an internship over the summer, it must be completed either before or after the language program.
This grant is open to all GW B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. students regardless of nationality. Preference is given to applicants who must pass a language proficiency exam in order to complete their degree requirements.
* Applicants can only apply to one type of grant. Those selected for these grants must submit four blog posts (two written posts and two video blog posts) throughout the course of the program and, during the following academic year, participate in an informal discussion with Sigur Center staff and other language grant recipients about your experience abroad. Application should include current resume, statement of purpose, information about the proposed language program, budget, two letters of recommendation, and GW transcripts.
** Please note that the Sigur Center has substantial funding specifically dedicated to sending students to study Chinese in Taiwan. We strongly recommend that, if you would like to study Chinese abroad, you apply for a program in Taiwan.
Deadline: February 20, 2018
Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Field Research
The Sigur Center offers summer field research grants in Asia for George Washington University graduate students (M.A. or Ph.D.) interested in Asian affairs. These awards provide funding for travel, living, and research expenses while doing fieldwork in an Asian country.
This grant is open to all GW MA and PhD students regardless of nationality. Preference is given to PhD applicants who are in their third or fourth year of study, or whom can otherwise demonstrate the necessity of the grant towards conducting research related to their thesis.
* Applicants can only apply to one type of grant. Those selected for these grants must submit two blog posts throughout the course of the program and present their findings at a roundtable discussion during the following academic year. Applications should include current resume, project proposal, budget, two letters of recommendation, and GW transcripts.
Deadline: February 20, 2018