2026-27 Fairbank Center Visiting Scholars Program

Department/Area

Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Position Description The Harvard University Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies hosts Visiting Scholars from the faculties of other universities around the world as well as Visiting Fellows of Practice with professional expertise to contribute to an area of China studies.

Selected visiting scholars/fellows are invited to be affiliated with the Fairbank Center for one or two semesters to develop their proposed research in various disciplines of Chinese studies, broadly defined. Visiting scholars/fellows are not paid or funded by Harvard. They have a visiting academic appointment and access to Harvard libraries and other resources.

The intellectual life of the Fairbank Center is greatly enriched by the active participation of its affiliates. Visiting scholars/fellows are expected to undertake a clearly defined research project that draws upon Fairbank Center and Harvard University resources such as faculty expertise and library collections. They are also expected to be in residence during the period of affiliation and to engage actively in Fairbank Center academic events and activities on the Harvard campus.

Academic Visiting Scholar applicants must have a doctoral degree and be visiting from a ladder faculty position at another institution, to which they will return after the visit. The visiting period shall correspond with Harvard’s academic calendar, either for autumn semester, spring semester, or one year from August through July. An administrative fee of $1,000 will be charged to academic visiting scholars. Individual office space is not provided although desk space may be available in a shared office.

Visiting Fellows of Practice must be professionals with specialized knowledge and interest in pursuing a project utilizing academic resources. The visiting period shall correspond with Harvard’s academic calendar, either for autumn semester, spring semester, or one full year from August through July. Visiting Fellows of Practice will be charged an administrative fee of $10,000 per semester. Individual office space is not provided although desk space may be available in a shared office.

Apply to visit Harvard’s Fairbank Center for up to one year to pursue research in China studies.

Please indicate in your application if you are applying as an academic scholar or as a practitioner. Basic Qualifications This program opportunity is open to scholars from other institutions who are actively engaged in research in China/Taiwan studies. Academic visiting scholar applicants must have a completed doctoral degree and be visiting from a ladder faculty position at their home university.

Practitioner candidates must be professionals with specialized and extensive knowledge to contribute to our Chinese studies community.

Proficiency in English is required.

Selected visiting scholars/fellows must be able to demonstrate adequate self-funding. Visiting scholars/fellows are not paid or funded by Harvard University.

Additional Qualifications Application to the visiting scholars program is selective. The Fairbank Center receives more applications from qualified candidates than we have the capacity to invite. Submitted applications will be carefully reviewed by a committee of Harvard faculty.

Selected visiting scholars and fellows must demonstrate adequate self-funding for U.S. visa purposes. Harvard International Office recommends scholars applying for J-1 visa to show minimum self-funding of US$45,000 per year plus $6,500 per accompanying dependent. Funding may consist of a combination of third-party scholarships, home institution salary or sponsorship, or personal savings.

The United States government requires that visiting scholars/fellows have sufficient English proficiency to be able to function effectively in the U.S. The Fairbank Center is required to certify that a visitor has adequate command of English before the visa application process. English proficiency will be determined via a submitted video recording and/or a Zoom interview. Note that English proficiency is a U.S. government requirement over which neither the Fairbank Center nor Harvard University has any control.