Confucius Institute Offers Scholarships to UK Graduate, Undergraduate Students

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 5, 2016) — Applications are now being accepted for 2016 student scholarships presented by the University of Kentucky’s Confucius Institute (UKCI). These scholarships provide UK students with financial support toward international and domestic travel for China-related conferences, research and study.

UKCI is helping fund opportunities for UK students pursuing China-focused academic endeavors through two scholarships — Graduate Student Research Scholarships and Undergraduate Travel Scholarships. Graduate Student Research Scholarships will provide up to $1,500 per grant to support UK graduate student China-related research, including trips to conferences. Undergraduate Student Travel Scholarships will provide up to $1,000 per grant to support travel to China with UK’s Education Abroad office.

"Supporting UK student success is one of the priorities of the UKCI mission. We are pleased that we are able to help support UK students," said Huajing Maske, director of the UK Confucius Institute and executive director of the Office of China Initiatives.

Students can only be awarded one category of UKCI scholarship each academic year. Applicants must be full-time students at the University of Kentucky. Grants cannot be deferred. The scholarship funds are unrestricted, but must be used in accordance with standard UK funding policies.

Graduate Student Research Scholarship

Submission requirements for the Graduate Student Research Scholarship will include a completed application found here. Additional requirements include submission of a curriculum vitae, as well as a proposal narrative that should be no more than two pages, single-spaced, 12 pt. font. Proposals should include a description of the overall research project and the timeline for its completion as well as the following:

· an explanation of what the research project is about,

· its central research question(s), and

· the significance of the research. 

An outline of the projects’ relationship to relevant literature may also be included.

If scholarship funding is sought for conducting research, applicants must include a brief description of the specific research activity to be supported by the grant, including the methods and modes of analysis to be employed and the need, if travel funds are requested, to travel to specific locations.

If funding sought is for attendance at a conference, applicants must explain the nature of the conference and why attendance will further the applicant’s research project.

Undergraduate Travel Scholarship

Submission requirements for the Undergraduate Travel Scholarship will include a completed application found here. In addition, applicants should submit a proposal narrative that should be no more than two pages, single-spaced, 12 pt. font, with a description of the purpose of the trip and a timeline of activity, as well as the following:

· the relevance of the proposed trip to the student’s course of study,

· information on the understanding, knowledge or improvement that is expected to result from the proposed trip, and

· the relevance of the proposed trip to the applicant’s career plans.

Proposals for both the graduate and undergraduate scholarships should include information on the knowledge of, or improvement regarding, things Chinese that is expected to result from the proposed research/conference/field trip/development and academic success. All proposals must also be supported by a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s advisor or director of graduate studies explaining how the proposed activity contributes to the development of his or her research and China-related knowledge. Applicants must clearly propose how funds would be used and any other sources of funding.

Deadlines for both the graduate and undergraduate 2016 scholarship proposals is April 15. The UKCI Steering Committee’s Scholarship Sub-committee will evaluate all proposals and announce the final awards by April 30.

Any additional questions regarding the UKCI Scholarships should be directed to Huajing Maske at huajing.maske@uky.edu.  

A gateway for Chinese language, culture and art to the people of Kentucky, UK Confucius Institute provides leadership, support and coordination for Chinese language and programs in K-12 schools as well as on UK's campus; assists and facilitates establishing and maintaining faculty and student exchanges between UK colleges and Chinese universities; conducts Chinese language and cultural exchange; and promotes education about China on campus, across the Bluegrass region, and throughout the Commonwealth. To keep up with UK Confucius Institute and future events, join the institute's listerv and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat (UKConfucius).

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu