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Introduction

The Luce Scholars Program provides stipends and internships for eighteen young Americans to live and work in Asia each year. Dating from 1974, the program's purpose is to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society.

Luce Scholars have backgrounds in virtually any field-other than Asian studies-including medicine, the arts, business, law, science, environmental studies, and journalism. Placements can be made in the following countries in East and Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, China and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Luce Scholars Program is open to seniors, graduate students, alumni from recent classes and junior faculty.

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Quick Facts
Fulbright Scholarship Program
Field of Study Any field other than Asian Studies
Type Post undergraduate
Place of Study East and Southeast Asia
Award amount Expense stipend, travel
MIT Deadline November 3
National Deadline December 1

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Eligibility

Those who already have significant experience in Asia or Asian studies are not eligible for the Luce Scholars Program. Candidates must be American citizens who have received at least a bachelor’s degree and are no more than 29 years old on September 1 of the year they enter the program. Nominees should have a record of high achievement, outstanding leadership ability, and a clearly defined career interest with evidence of potential for professional accomplishment. Applications cannot be considered from those who already have had significant exposure to Asian culture or who have a specific career interest in Asian affairs. It should be remembered that the object of the Luce Scholars Program is to provide an intensive experience in Asia for those who would not, in the normal course of their careers, expect to have such an exposure.

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Selection Criteria

Candidates should have a record of the highest academic achievement, combined with the evidence of outstanding leadership ability. More important than any other single criterion, candidates must have a mature and clearly defined career in a specific field and must have given evidence of potential for professional accomplishment within that field. Personal characteristics that typify successful candidates include creativity, maturity, initiative, self-confidence, enthusiasm, and sensitivity.

For more details on the application program please see the Luce Scholars Program official website http://www.hluce.org/3scholfm.html

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Application

You MUST apply through the Center for International Studies by November 3, 2007. For more details on the application process please contact the MIT Representative. Informational booklets and application forms are available at CIS http://mit.edu/cis/fo2_5.html

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Timeline
MIT Process
September/October

Review the official Luce Scholars Program web site (http://www.hluce.org/3scholfm.html).

Consult with Casey Johnson-Houlihan (caseyj@mit.edu), who can give you a copy of program materials, advise you about the viability of your candidacy and the best ways to prepare an application.

Work on application material.

November 3 Completed applications (including all four reference letters) due to:  

Casey Johnson-Houlihan
Center for International Studies
MIT E38-212
617-258-8552

mid-November Applicants will be interviewed by two or more members of MIT’s Center for International Studies whose input will contribute to the institutional endorsement letter.
 
National Process
December 1 MIT's Center for International Studies submits your final application, including endorsement and references.
December and January After institutional nominations, candidates are interviewed at convenient locations around the country.
The staff of the Henry Luce Foundation refers no more than 45 finalists to three regional selection committees that make the final decisions.
late-February /
early-March

Each of the selection committees is composed of 5 or 6 distinguished Americans from a wide range of professional backgrounds. These panels meet in New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Each panel meets with 15 of the designated finalists. From that number, each panel identifies 6 Luce Scholars for the coming year.

*Finalists’ travel and hotel costs are covered by the Henry Luce Foundation

mid-March The three selection committees meet and select 18 finalists. Consultations with the new Luce Scholars about possible assignments in Asia begin immediately thereafter.

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Contact Information
MIT Representative General Information

Casey Johnson-Houlihan
Fellowship Coordinator, Center for International Studies
MIT Room E38-212
Tel: 617-258-8552
Fax: 617-253-9330

 

Henry Luce Foundation
51 Madison Avenue, 30th Floor.
New York, NY 10010
Tel: 212-489-7700
Fax: 212-581-9541

 

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