The Carnegie China Fellowship is accepting applications for its upcoming one-year, non-residential fellowship, with applications closing on January 4, 2027. The program is designed for U.S. citizens with a PhD or JD who want to carry out original, policy-oriented research related to China and its relationship with the United States.
Hosted through the University of Maryland’s Center for International and Security Studies (CUSP), the fellowship brings together scholars and other public-facing professionals from fields including economics, humanities, law and social sciences. Fellows are expected to produce a policy-focused research paper, engage with policy communities and present their findings at the annual Carnegie China Conference at the University of Maryland.
Carnegie China Fellowship at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Carnegie China Fellowship |
| Duration | One year |
| Format | Non-residential |
| Eligible applicants | U.S. citizens |
| Academic requirement | PhD or JD from an accredited university |
| Stipend | $20,000 |
| Institutional affiliation | Not required |
| Application deadline | January 4, 2027 |
| Application language | English |
| Proposal limit | Five single-spaced pages |
| CV/resume limit | Three pages |
| Recommendation letters | Two |
| Application method | Online |
The $20,000 stipend can be used for purposes such as buying out teaching responsibilities, research-related travel expenses or research assistant compensation. Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance and research-related travel logistics. The fellowship cannot be deferred.
What Is the Carnegie China Fellowship?
The Carnegie China Fellowship is a one-year research fellowship for rising American scholars and other professionals whose work can contribute to a broader understanding of China, its global impact and its relationship with the United States.
The program is not limited to traditional academic researchers. CUSP invites applications from scholars, practitioners, journalists, lawyers and other public intellectuals. Applicants may come from disciplines such as economics, area studies, cultural studies, history, law, anthropology, political science and sociology.
A central feature of the fellowship is the connection between research and public policy. Applicants should be prepared to explain why their proposed work matters beyond their own academic specialty and how its findings could be relevant to policymakers.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open only to U.S. citizens. Applicants must already have received a PhD or JD from an accredited university. An institutional affiliation is not required.
The program does not accept applicants who are still working toward a PhD or JD. It also excludes several types of projects, including:
- Partisan or advocacy proposals
- Rewritten doctoral dissertations
- Editing of texts, papers or documents
- Preparation of textbooks
- Preparation of anthologies
- Preparation of translations
- Preparation of memoirs
The proposed project should instead represent original research with clear relevance to public policy.
What Kind of Research Does CUSP Want?
The fellowship encourages projects that move beyond narrow disciplinary questions and can communicate their findings to a wider audience.
CUSP particularly welcomes research exploring understudied issues and projects that cross traditional academic boundaries. A proposal can be historical, sociological or otherwise non-policy in its immediate subject matter, provided the applicant clearly explains how the research findings or lessons could contribute to policymakers’ understanding of the issue.
Applicants should therefore make the broader significance of their research easy for reviewers outside their own field to understand.
What Goes Into the Project Proposal?
The project proposal is one of the most important parts of the application. It must be no longer than five single-spaced typed pages, use 12-point type, and be submitted as a PDF.
According to the fellowship guidelines, the proposal should address five main areas:
- Topic and importance — Explain the subject of the research and why it matters.
- Originality — Show what makes the proposed study distinctive.
- Ideas and hypotheses — Present the basic ideas or hypotheses behind the research.
- Methodology — Explain how the research will be conducted, including data-gathering activities and analytical techniques.
- Current research status — Describe work already completed, including relevant collections or archives, and explain what the fellowship would allow you to accomplish.
The proposal should be understandable to people outside the applicant’s specific field. CUSP also asks applicants to explain how reviewers will be able to assess the validity of their conclusions.
What Are the Selection Criteria?
Eligible applications go through a multi-stage review involving CUSP and a selection committee with experts from inside and outside the University of Maryland.
The review considers several aspects of the application, including:
- The significance and originality of the proposed research
- Its relevance to public policy
- The clarity, organization and scope of the proposal
- The strength of the proposed methodology
- The applicant’s capabilities and previous achievements
- The likelihood that the applicant can complete the proposed project
- The potential to make expert research accessible to a broader audience
This means applicants need to demonstrate not only that their topic is important, but also that they have a credible approach for investigating it.
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants must complete the application online and submit the materials in English. CUSP does not accept applications through email or other submission methods.
The application requires:
Project Proposal: A PDF of no more than five single-spaced pages using 12-point type.
Current CV/Resume: The CV or resume must not exceed three pages. A list of publications, presentations or events placed at the end does not count toward the three-page limit.
Two Reference Letters: Two letters must be provided by the deadline. The referees should know the applicant and their work and should be able to comment specifically on the proposed project, the applicant’s qualifications and the project’s contribution to connecting scholarship with public affairs.
The recommendation letters must be written in English and sent by the referees to cusp@umd.edu.
How to Apply for the Carnegie China Fellowship
Applicants should first confirm that they meet the citizenship and degree requirements and that their proposed project falls within the fellowship’s guidelines.
Next, prepare the five-page project proposal and current CV/resume in the required formats. Applicants should also contact two appropriate referees early enough for their letters to reach CUSP by the deadline.
The online application asks for contact information, U.S. citizenship confirmation, PhD or JD details, academic discipline, project title, proposal and CV/resume uploads, and confirmation that two recommenders will submit their letters.
The application deadline is January 4, 2027. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that both recommendation letters are received by that date.
For questions about the fellowship or application, CUSP lists cusp@umd.edu as the contact email.
Final Points for Applicants
The Carnegie China Fellowship is particularly suited to applicants who can connect substantial research expertise with questions that have relevance beyond a single academic discipline. The application asks candidates to demonstrate both the value of their proposed research and their ability to communicate its broader implications.
Because the fellowship is limited to U.S. citizens who already hold a PhD or JD, prospective applicants should check these requirements before investing time in the proposal. Those who meet the eligibility criteria should also pay close attention to the five-page proposal limit, three-page CV limit and recommendation-letter deadline.
The upcoming fellowship round closes on January 4, 2027.
