CSEAS Fellowship in Southeast Asian Studies

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CSEAS Fellowship

Since 1975, CSEAS has had an established visiting scholarship program to promote research activities in and on the region by distinguished scholars. To date, over 400 – many of them leading researchers in their respective fields- have availed themselves of the Center’s considerable scholarly resources to engage in path breaking, multidisciplinary research and develop comparative, historical, and global perspectives on Southeast Asia.

CSEAS hosts scholars and researchers who work on comparative and regional issues from a multi-area perspective, and are interested in spending time in Kyoto, Japan to conduct research, write, or pursue other scholarly interests in connection with their field of study. With considerable scholarly resources, CSEAS also offers the invigorating atmosphere of scenic Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan and the main repository of the country’s cultural treasures, to enable researchers to pursue their interests in Southeast Asian area studies.

The Center’s multi-disciplinary character and the diverse research interests of our faculty offer visiting research scholars an ideal opportunity for the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and the cultivation of comparative perspectives.

Fourteen fellowships are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Fellowships are between a period of three to six-months.

Applicants are not limited to scholars: CSEAS has hosted government officials, journalists, public intellectuals, librarians, NGO workers, IT specialists, and other professionals on short-term visits.

While in Kyoto, we encourage scholars to participate in CSEAS conferences, seminars, and workshops and submit articles to the Center’s flagship journal Southeast Asian Studies, The Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, and the CSEAS Newsletter. Fellows are expected to reside in Kyoto for the duration of their fellowship and deliver a public lecture during their term. We also encourage fellows to consider submitting manuscripts to one of our book series.

Successful applicants will receive an appropriate stipend to cover international travel and living expenses in Kyoto and research funds will be provided to facilitate work. Funds will also be allocated for domestic travel, subject to government regulations. Visiting Research Scholars are considered as employees of Kyoto University and are therefore subject to some of the University’s regulations.

Fellowship Slots and Periods

Six fellowships, including one librarian position, will become available on the following dates:

  1. October 1, 2024  
  2. November 1, 2024  
  3. December 1, 2024  
  4. January 1, 2025  
  5. February 1, 2025  

*CSEAS may offer a different period from the one you propose due to slot availability. In such a case, we ask for your understanding. 
*You may begin your fellowship on days other than the 1st day of the indicated

Eligibility

Applicants must be productive scholars of high reputation under 65 years of age at the time of the fellowship appointment; those over 65 may be considered only if they are outstanding. This fellowship is not available to individuals currently pursuing graduate degrees or post-doctoral studies. Only experienced librarians are eligible to apply for the library position. Scholars who have previously held CSEAS fellowships must wait six years after the completion of their fellowships before reapplying.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit their applications via our online form.

  1. A completed online application form Online ApplicationOnline applications must have the following documents attached separately. Please send the files in PDF format by E-mail (grants@cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp)
  2. A curriculum vitae (must not exceed 5 pages and must include a list of all major publications) 
  3. A research plan for the fellowship term (Please write a concise overview of your research project for your stay at CSEAS within 2 pages. Please download and use this form. Please use double space and include paragraph descriptions.) 
  4. Two Recommendation Letters (Applicants must also contact their respective referees and request them to send their letters of recommendations to CSEAS via email. The letter should be written in their institution’s letterhead.)

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2024-2025 fellowships must reach us no later than March 31, 2024. We regret that we cannot entertain individual queries or follow-ups about the results of selection by email, fax, or telephone. Applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of June 2024.

Institution
Application date
Duration
3-6 months
Discipline
Humanities : Anthropology & Ethnology, History, Philosophy, Theology and religion
Social sciences : Demography, Law, Economy, Geography, Gender studies, Identities, gender and sexuality, International Relations, Political science, Environmental Sciences, Sociology