Deadline: 19-Nov-2025
The Graduate Fellowship Grant Program provides support for the travel and living expenses of graduate students from Asia who choose to study in the United States.
ACC’s Graduate Fellowships provide $15,000 USD for one academic year, with the possibility of renewing for one additional year. One academic year in this application cycle includes the full-time pursuit of coursework from Fall 2026 to Spring 2027 or from Spring 2027 to Fall 2027. ACC’s grant funding is intended to cover Graduate Fellows’ travel and living expenses related to the coursework portion of their graduate degree program.
The Graduate Fellowship award follows a three-part payment schedule. After accepting their award, signing ACC’s grant agreement, and submitting ACC’s Information Collection Form, the Advance Payment of $3,000 USD is processed. The Fall Semester Payment of $6,000 USD is made on October 1 after confirming student status, and the Spring Semester Payment of $6,000 USD is made on February 1 following re-confirmation of student status. Fellows whose programs begin in the spring semester receive an advance payment in the preceding fall, followed by the spring and then fall semester payments.
ACC will not provide grants to applicants who are only in the fieldwork research or thesis-writing phase of their graduate studies. ACC’s grant funding does not support tuition or direct research expenses (e.g., travel for fieldwork, equipment, etc.).
In addition to supporting their travel and living expenses, ACC welcomes Graduate Fellows into a growing global community of artists, arts professionals, scholars, and institutions that have benefited from and continue to support ACC’s mission. ACC staff may make introductions to alumni in a relevant field, where possible.
Applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents of one of ACC’s eligible countries, territories, and regions. U.S. citizens, including dual-nationals, and U.S. permanent residents are not eligible to apply for a Graduate Fellowship. Applicants’ graduate degree programs must be in one of ACC’s 16 eligible disciplines. Applicants must be enrolled in full-time, in-residence degree programs within the U.S. or able to provide proof of admission and acceptance to an accredited university by April 1, 2026.
Applicants must pursue at least two consecutive semesters of full-time coursework during the grant period (August 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027). Applicants who have already completed the coursework phase of their graduate education are not eligible. Part-time, summer-only, or online graduate programs are not eligible, nor are non-degree programs.
Graduate Fellows must have a valid student visa to attend their degree programs in the U.S., as ACC does not sponsor visas. Fellows should contact their current or prospective university for guidance regarding student visa requirements.
Fellows may apply for renewal of grant funding for one additional academic year, subject to ACC’s review of their academic record and proof of continued enrollment. Renewal decisions are made solely at ACC’s discretion.
Applications for the Graduate Fellowship program must be submitted by November 19, 2025, at 9:59 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST), with letters of recommendation due by November 26, 2025, at 9:59 AM EST.
For more information, visit Asian Cultural Council.
