The Luce Scholars Program
Forecasted
The Luce Scholars Program supports emerging leaders with professional placements, language training, and cultural immersion in Asia to deepen regional understanding and strengthen cross-border relationships.
Funder: Henry Luce Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Country-based stipend, fully funded intensive language training, and continued language-study support for a 13-month fellowship
Summary: A leadership fellowship offering emerging leaders professional placements, language training, and cultural immersion in Asia.
Key Information: This is an experiential fellowship, not support for Ph.D. research; full-term participation is required.
Description
Established by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974, the Luce Scholars Program is a competitive leadership development fellowship for emerging leaders. It combines language training, cultural immersion, and individually tailored professional placements across Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia. The program aims to deepen understanding of Asia’s countries, cultures, and people while strengthening cross-border relationships and preparing scholars to address global leadership challenges.
Scholars work in cities and villages in fields such as public health, the arts, economic development, and environmental science. Host institutions include NGOs, government agencies, private companies, universities, think tanks, and museums. Through work with local colleagues, mentors, and communities, scholars gain firsthand experience of another country and build lasting connections with their cohort and alumni.
