Academic programs

Funding

Funding through the Center for Southeast Asia & its Diasporas

The Center for Southeast Asia & its Diasporas’ flagship funding source is the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, which provides tuition and living support for fellows pursuing language and area studies. The Center for Southeast Asia & its Diasporas also provides general financial support for graduate students through the Christen J. Grorud Endowed Memorial Fellowship. Research and conference travel funds are available for graduate students through the Keyes Award and Gething Award. Students should also explore funding opportunities through the University of Washington, and other institutions supporting Southeast Asia Studies.

Gething Award for graduate student conference travel and Keyes Award for graduate student research travel

The application period for the Thomas & Mary Gething Award and the Charles and Jane Keyes Award is closed. Check back in January 2025.

The Thomas and Mary Gething Award provides partial travel funding for UW graduate students, with preference given to applications proposing travel for professional conferences and workshops in order to present papers related to Southeast Asia. The Charles and Jane Keyes Award provides partial funding for UW graduate student travel, with preference given to applications proposing travel to Southeast Asia for research purposes.  Both awards were established thanks to generous gifts from Professor Emeritus Thomas and Mary Gething and Professor Emeritus Charles (Biff) and Jane Keyes.

Awards typically range between $250-$500.  The applicant does not need to be a U.S. citizen but must be enrolled as a UW student. Please email mwal7@uw.edu with questions.

Application materials

To apply, students must submit the following to mwal7@uw.edu with the subject heading “Graduate student travel award application” (you do not need to specify which particular award you are applying for but please note that the application materials vary depending upon your travel purpose):

If you are requesting funding for a professional conference or workshop:

  • A brief cover letter including your name, address, email address, discipline, name of committee chair or adviser, level of graduate study and area(s) of research interest. The cover letter should also characterize your engagement with CSEAD by answering the following questions. Have you taken JSIS A 506, JSIS A 580, or JSIS A 582? What other courses with Southeast Asia content have you taken? How have you participated in CSEAD activities in the past year?
  • A budget document that includes itemized costs for travel and conference attendance, indicates the amount of funding you are requesting, and whether you have secured any other funding sources.
  • Your paper abstract, with conference date, title, location, and indication of whether your paper has been accepted for presentation.

If you are requesting funding for travel to Southeast Asia for research purposes:

  • A brief cover letter that includes your name, address, email address, discipline, name of committee chair or adviser, level of graduate study and area(s) of research interest. The cover letter should also characterize your engagement with CSEAD by answering the following questions. Have you taken JSIS A 506, JSIS A 580, or JSIS A 582? What other courses with Southeast Asia content have you taken? How have you participated in CSEAD activities in the past year?
  • The dates and location(s) of your proposed travel.
  • A budget document that includes itemized costs for travel, indicates the amount of funding you are requesting, and whether you have secured any other funding sources.
  • A one-page summary (single-spaced) of your research plans and goals for the proposed travel.

The Christen J. Grorud Endowed Memorial Fellowship

The application period for the Grorud Endowed Memorial Fellowship is now closed. Check back in spring 2025.

The Fellowship provides broad-based direct financial support to graduate students in good standing studying Southeast Asia at the University of Washington.

Eligibility

  • Current or admitted graduate students at the University of Washington; there is no citizenship requirement.
  • The award is disbursed in installments at the beginning of each quarter of the academic year. The recipient must be enrolled to receive disbursement.
  • It is the donors’ preference that the recipient have a focus on the study of Indonesia, though the award is open to students who study any area of Southeast Asia.

Application materials

  • Your resume or CV with full contact information (email, UW student number, and phone number)
  • 1-2 page statement of graduate research activities and plans for the 2025-26 school year.
  • A 2-3 paragraph summary of your engagement with CSEAD. Address the following questions. Have you taken JSIS A 506, JSIS A 580, or JSIS A 582? What other courses with Southeast Asia content have you taken? How have you participated in CSEAD activities in the past year?
  • 1 letter of recommendation from a professor or advisor familiar with your work. Your recommender should send their letter of recommendation directly to Michael Walstrom at mwal7@uw.edu
  • Unofficial transcript

Award amount up to $6,000

Send inquiries and applications to Michael Walstrom, mwal7@uw.edu. Send applications with the subject line “Grorud Memorial Fellowship Application.” 

Funding through the University of Washington

Students should carefully explore the various funding opportunities offered through the University of Washington and The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies:

Other Southeast Asia Studies funding options

Students pursuing advanced research projects, language study, and other specialized programs are eligible for numerous scholarships to fund both their study at UW and in the field. The following grants are those most commonly awarded to SEAC students; the list is not exhaustive. Students have also arranged research fellowships within their departments and schools as well as with overseas sponsorship.