The Blakemore Foundation is looking for individuals who will make significant contributions to their field. The ideal candidate is someone with stellar grades, outstanding recommendations, and a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career related to the Asian country and language. Beyond commitment, we are looking for purpose: a career path that will benefit from professional fluency in that modern Asian language throughout the applicant's life.

Yes, candidates may reapply in a future year.

No, we do not make grants for just a summer term. 

Try using a VPN. If that doesn’t work, please contact us by email so we can assist you. Some overseas locations are blocked from access. You may need to submit a paper application.

For Japanese, we fund study at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Yokohama, Japan. We do not fund Japanese language study at any other institution. 

For Chinese, we fund study at the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing and at the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei. We do not fund Chinese language study at any other institution. 

Study at the IUP is under the Blakemore Fellowship program; study at the ICLP is under the Blakemore Freeman Fellowship program.

For Korean, we fund study at Seoul National University, Sogang University or the Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies at Sungkyunkwan University but may consider study at other language programs in South Korea on a case-by-case basis during the application review process. 

Approval of language programs for study of languages of SE Asian languages will be considered on an individual basis during the application review process.

Applicants must list only one language program on their application. However, you may change your school choice during the grant award process.

No, you do not have to been admitted to the language school in order to submit an application for a Fellowship by our December 30 deadline. But you will need to apply to the language school by its own separate application deadline. Example: the deadline for applications for the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies is usually mid-January.

For grants to be awarded in the spring of 2025, most will start in the fall term. But in all cases, study for grants awarded in spring 2025 must start between August 2025 and May 2026, as limited by the start dates of the language program involved.

For example, a 2025 grant for Japanese at the Inter-University Center in Yokohama must start in fall 2025.

A 2025 grant for the International Chinese Language Program in Taiwan may start in the fall, winter or spring terms of the 2025/2026 academic year and continue for 3 quarters.

A grant for study at the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University may run from fall 2025 through the end of their spring term, or in special situations, may start in their spring 2025 term and continue through their summer 2025 term. 

Yes, you may apply. Applicants do not need to be in graduate school.

Yes, you may apply. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with a college or university.

The majority of our applicants have completed undergraduate study and are either pursuing graduate study or are working in a profession or business. However, a senior with outstanding qualifications who will receive an undergraduate degree before the start date of the language program may apply. In recent years, we have selected several graduating seniors to receive grants.

If by the start of your grant you will not have met the minimum years of formal study of the language you will be required to provide proof that your language level is equivalent to having completed third year at the college level and submit our Language Evaluation Form. Please contact Cathy Scheibner at ContactUs@blakemorefoundation.org to discuss your situation.

Yes, you may apply. Applicants do not need to be currently enrolled in graduate school or living in the United States. However, you may encounter difficulties accessing the online application form if you are located overseas. If so, please contact us by email so we can assist you.

Applicants for Blakemore Kingfisher Fellows must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or a foreign national studying in a graduate program in the United States or Canada.

Applicants for Blakemore Freeman Fellowships or Blakemore Fellowships must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

We have awarded fellowships to individuals with degrees from a wide variety of schools. While a large number of grants have gone to graduates of institutions with extensive Asian studies programs, the qualifications of the applicant are of more importance.