Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) is inviting applications for several fellowship opportunities beginning in Fall Quarter 2027. These fellowships are designed for scholars, researchers, academics, and professionals interested in contemporary Asia and provide opportunities to conduct research, develop academic work, engage with other scholars, and contribute to research on major political, economic, social, health, and policy issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2027–2028 fellowship cycle includes opportunities covering contemporary Asia broadly, Asia health policy, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and emerging policy challenges across Asia. Several opportunities are specifically designed for recent PhD recipients, while others are available to mid-career, senior, or established scholars and professionals.

With different eligibility requirements, research areas, fellowship durations, and deadlines, applicants should carefully identify the fellowship that best matches their academic background and research interests.

About Stanford APARC

The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University is a research and education center focused on contemporary Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Through its research programs, APARC provides opportunities for scholars and researchers to investigate important developments across the region, including political and economic change, healthcare policy, international relations, social issues, technology, development, and regional policy challenges.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, APARC is offering several fellowship opportunities through its different research programs.

These include:

1. Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship on Contemporary Asia
2. Asia Health Policy Program Postdoctoral Fellowship
3. Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellowship on Southeast Asia
4. Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab Postdoctoral and Visiting Fellowships
5. Taiwan Program Kwoh-Ting Li Visiting Fellowship

Each fellowship has its own research focus and eligibility requirements.

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1. 2027–2028 Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship on Contemporary Asia

The Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship on Contemporary Asia provides an opportunity for recent PhD recipients to undertake research focused broadly on contemporary Asia.

APARC is offering two postdoctoral fellowship positions for the 2027–2028 academic year.

Research areas

The fellowship broadly focuses on research examining important developments in the Asia-Pacific region.

Research may address:

• Political change
• Economic change
• Social change
• International relations
• International political economy

The geographical scope is broad and includes:

• Northeast Asia
• Southeast Asia
• South Asia
• The wider Asia-Pacific region

This makes the fellowship potentially relevant to researchers examining contemporary political, economic, and social developments across different parts of Asia.

Fellowship duration

Appointments are for one academic year.

The fellowship is scheduled to begin in Fall Quarter 2027.

Number of positions

There are two postdoctoral fellowship positions available.

Deadline

December 1, 2026

Application

Applicants interested in the Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship should review the specific application requirements and submit their application through the Stanford APARC fellowship process.

2. 2027–2028 Asia Health Policy Program Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Asia Health Policy Program Postdoctoral Fellowship is offered through APARC’s Asia Health Policy Program.

This fellowship is specifically designed for research concerning contemporary health or healthcare policy in the Asia-Pacific region.

One fellowship position is available for a recent PhD recipient.

Research focus

The fellowship supports research on health and healthcare policy issues that have significant relevance to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Particular attention is given to issues relevant to developing countries in the region.

Potential research can therefore examine contemporary questions surrounding healthcare systems, health policy, and related challenges affecting Asian countries.

Fellowship duration

The appointment lasts for one academic year.

It begins in Fall Quarter 2027.

Number of positions

One postdoctoral fellowship position is available.

Who is this opportunity particularly relevant to?

This fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers whose academic work focuses on:

• Health policy
• Healthcare policy
• Health systems
• Contemporary Asian health issues
• Policy challenges affecting developing countries in Asia-Pacific

Deadline

December 1, 2026

Applicants should consult the fellowship’s specific application page for the complete requirements.

3. 2027–2028 Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellowship on Southeast Asia

The Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellowship on Southeast Asia supports scholarship and research concerning contemporary Southeast Asia.

Unlike the postdoctoral fellowships above, this opportunity is open to candidates at all career stages, provided they have professional backgrounds and ongoing positions in the social sciences or humanities.

Research focus

The fellowship is focused specifically on contemporary Southeast Asia.

Researchers can use the fellowship period to pursue:

• Research projects
• Scholarly writing
• Academic investigation
• Projects related to contemporary Southeast Asian issues

The fellowship is supported by APARC’s Southeast Asia Program.

Fellowship duration

Lee Kong Chian Fellows spend approximately two to three quarters at Stanford pursuing their research and writing projects.

Appointments must both begin and conclude within the period:

September 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028

Career stage

A major feature of this fellowship is that it is not restricted to recent PhD recipients.

It is open to candidates at all career stages who meet the specified professional and academic requirements.

Important change to the fellowship

The announcement notes an important change to the programme.

The fellowship is no longer offered as a joint-residency programme with the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Fellows appointed through Stanford will be hosted at Stanford’s Asia-Pacific Research Center, while fellows appointed through NUS will be hosted at NUS.

Applicants who specifically want to pursue the fellowship at NUS should apply through the NUS application portal.

Deadline

January 25, 2027

4. Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab Postdoctoral and Visiting Fellowships

The Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) is another research programme housed at APARC.

SNAPL focuses on emerging social, cultural, economic, and political challenges affecting Asia.

The lab is led by Korea Program Director Gi-Wook Shin and focuses on four major research themes:

1. Talent Flows and Development
2. Nationalism and Racism
3. U.S.-Asia Relations
4. Democratic Crisis and Reform

For the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle, SNAPL is offering three different fellowship opportunities.

I. 2027–2029 Next Asia Policy Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Next Asia Policy Postdoctoral Fellowship provides opportunities for recent PhD recipients to conduct research related to any of SNAPL’s four research tracks.

Research tracks

Applicants may develop research related to:

• Talent Flows and Development
• Nationalism and Racism
• U.S.-Asia Relations
• Democratic Crisis and Reform

Number of positions

SNAPL is offering two positions.

Fellowship duration

The appointments begin in Fall Quarter 2027 and last for two years.

An extension may be possible depending on:

• Satisfactory performance
• Available funding

Eligibility focus

This opportunity is intended for recent PhD recipients whose research aligns with one or more of SNAPL’s research themes.

Deadline

December 1, 2026

II. 2027–2028 STINT-SNAPL Postdoctoral Fellowship

The STINT-SNAPL Postdoctoral Fellowship is offered jointly with the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT).

The fellowship provides one position for a recent PhD recipient.

Research focus

The fellowship focuses on:

• Scientific policy
• Internationalization of higher education
• Internationalization of research
• The Asia-Pacific region

Preference is given to projects that directly or indirectly engage with Swedish perspectives.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to researchers examining how higher education and research systems interact internationally and how these issues relate to Asia-Pacific countries.

Fellowship duration

The appointment:

• Begins in Fall Quarter 2027
• Runs for one year
• May potentially be extended depending on satisfactory performance and available funding

Number of positions

One postdoctoral fellowship position is available.

Deadline

December 1, 2026

III. 2027–2028 Next Asia Policy Visiting Fellowship

The Next Asia Policy Visiting Fellowship is designed for researchers and professionals from the Asia-Pacific region.

Two visiting fellow positions are available.

Eligibility background

Applicants should:

• Be researchers or professionals from the Asia-Pacific region
• Hold a PhD, or
• Have a substantial record of achievement related to one of SNAPL’s four research themes

Unlike the postdoctoral opportunities, this fellowship is therefore not limited exclusively to recent PhD recipients.

Research priority

For this fellowship cycle, SNAPL will prioritize scholars working on economic security.

One of the two visiting fellow positions is specifically dedicated to research concerning the Philippines.

Fellowship duration

Appointments:

• Begin in Fall Quarter 2027
• Last for one academic year

Deadline

March 1, 2027

5. 2027–2028 Taiwan Program Kwoh-Ting Li Visiting Fellowship

The Kwoh-Ting Li Visiting Fellowship is offered through APARC’s Taiwan Program.

It provides an opportunity for experienced scholars to conduct research and participate in academic activities related to contemporary Taiwan.

Who is the fellowship designed for?

The fellowship is open to:

• Mid-career scholars in Taiwan studies
• Senior scholars in Taiwan studies

The opportunity is therefore particularly suited to established researchers with a substantial academic background in Taiwan-related research.

Research areas

The fellowship supports research on contemporary Taiwan across a broad range of subjects.

These may include:

• Taiwan’s economy
• Taiwanese society
• Demography
• Environment
• Technology
• Other areas of contemporary Taiwan studies

Activities during the fellowship

The fellowship provides scholars with an opportunity to:

• Conduct research
• Write
• Participate in seminars
• Teach a course
• Engage with academic activities at Stanford

Fellowship duration

The appointment:

• Begins in Fall Quarter 2027
• Runs for one academic year

Deadline

March 1, 2027

Fellowship Deadlines at a Glance

Applicants should pay close attention to the individual deadlines because the opportunities do not all close on the same date.

Why These Fellowships Are Significant

The Stanford APARC fellowship programme brings together opportunities covering several major areas of contemporary Asian studies.

Depending on the fellowship, scholars can focus on issues such as:

• Political transformation
• Economic development
• Social change
• International relations
• International political economy
• Health policy
• Healthcare systems
• Southeast Asian studies
• Higher education and research policy
• Talent mobility
• Nationalism
• Racism
• U.S.-Asia relations
• Democratic challenges
• Economic security
• Taiwan’s economy and society
• Technology
• Demography
• Environmental issues

The different programmes also accommodate different stages of an academic or professional career. Some opportunities specifically target recent PhD recipients, while others are available to researchers and professionals with established records of achievement.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Stanford APARC Fellowships 2027–2028

How to Choose the Appropriate Fellowship

Applicants should first identify their research topic, geographical focus, and career stage.

If your research covers contemporary Asia broadly

The Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship may be relevant for recent PhD recipients researching political, economic, or social change, international relations, or international political economy in Asia.

If your research focuses on health

The Asia Health Policy Program Postdoctoral Fellowship is specifically focused on contemporary health and healthcare policy in the Asia-Pacific region.

If you study Southeast Asia

The Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellowship is designed for scholarship concerning contemporary Southeast Asia and is open to candidates at all career stages who meet its professional requirements.

If your research fits emerging Asian policy challenges

The Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab fellowships provide opportunities across four research themes, including talent flows, nationalism and racism, U.S.-Asia relations, and democratic crisis and reform.

If your work focuses on Taiwan

The Kwoh-Ting Li Visiting Fellowship is designed for mid-career and senior scholars in Taiwan studies.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Because these are different fellowship programmes, applicants should not assume that meeting the requirements for one automatically means they qualify for all of them.

Before submitting an application, prospective applicants should:

1. Identify the fellowship that corresponds to their research area.
2. Check whether the opportunity is intended for recent PhD recipients, visiting researchers, or established scholars.
3. Review the specific application requirements.
4. Confirm the fellowship duration and expected start period.
5. Prepare the required academic and research materials.
6. Ensure that the research proposal or project aligns with the fellowship’s stated focus.
7. Submit the application before the relevant deadline.

Applicants should also pay particular attention to the distinction between the Stanford-hosted Lee Kong Chian fellowship and the NUS application route, as the announcement states that applicants wishing to pursue the fellowship at NUS should apply through the NUS portal.

Conclusion

The Stanford APARC Fellowships 2027–2028 provide a range of research opportunities for scholars and researchers working on contemporary Asia. The fellowship portfolio covers broad regional research as well as specialized areas including health policy, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, higher education and research policy, economic security, international relations, political change, and social development.

The opportunities also differ considerably in terms of career stage. Recent PhD recipients can apply for several postdoctoral positions, while the Lee Kong Chian Fellowship welcomes candidates at all career stages, the Next Asia Policy Visiting Fellowship targets researchers and professionals from the Asia-Pacific region, and the Kwoh-Ting Li Fellowship is intended for mid-career and senior Taiwan scholars.

Applicants should therefore carefully match their academic background, career stage, geographical specialization, and research interests with the specific fellowship before applying. The earliest deadline among the listed opportunities is December 1, 2026, while other fellowships have deadlines in January and March 2027.

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