Selection

No. In the early years of the program, young people who had majored in Asian Studies were not eligible to apply for the Luce fellowship; however, since the Luce Scholars Program supports young professionals from a wide range of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia—and who might not otherwise have an opportunity to come to know Asia intimately—we now feel that this should include candidates who have majored in the field of Asian Studies.

Luce Scholars have backgrounds in a variety of fields, including, but not limited to, the arts, journalism, law, medicine, public health, science, business, environmental studies, and international relations. However, candidates are not judged based on their professional interests. The Luce Scholars Program will try to find a placement relevant to each Scholar’s field.

No. Time spent in Asia before college is not counted.

Yes. Recognizing the enormous diversity of Asia, we have recently relaxed this restriction to allow candidates who may have had significant exposure in one of the countries where we place Scholars to pursue the Luce for placement in a different country where they have not lived, worked, or studied, and where the dominant language is new to them.

Candidates may be graduating seniors, recent graduates, or young professionals under the age of 32 when they depart for Asia. If older than 32, candidates must have received their bachelor’s degree within the past three years.

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent by the start of the Luce Scholars orientation in late June.

No. We welcome applicants of all abilities. We broadly consider candidates’ unique perspectives and experiences in our selection process.

Yes, Scholars with physical and mental health conditions are eligible. As long as you are able to travel to Asia, we will work to support your success as a Luce Scholar.

All application materials must be submitted by October 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Please note that late applications or application materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, will not be accepted, and this may result in your application being disqualified.

If you think you answered a question incorrectly on the eligibility form, please get in touch with the program administrator at lucescholars@hluce.org.

Rest assured, your application is in good hands. It will be reviewed by our dedicated program staff and teams of readers in October and November. You can expect to hear back from us in mid-to-late November regarding the status of your application.

No. In fact we require that you record your video using a nothing more than a cellphone or laptop camera as a recording device. Do not use professional equipment or editing tools. We are not interested in the video’s production quality.  Focus on the content. Be creative, honest, funny, or whatever way you think best conveys your interest and your personality. Be yourself, as let your personality shine through!

The most important consideration is that a candidate demonstrates potential for leadership and accomplishment. We look for evidence that a candidate will be a leader both within his or her profession and as a member of the broader community. Initiative, creativity, maturity, humility, sensitivity, and strength of character are characteristics that typify successful candidates. Watch our 50th anniversary video to learn more from current and former Luce Scholars.

Yes. Some of the most successful Luce Scholars entered this program immediately after receiving their bachelor’s degrees. Candidates are expected to demonstrate clear leadership potential and professional ambition, which are not always directly correlated with age or experience.

No. Only semi-final candidates will receive a one-on-one virtual interview with a Luce Scholar alumnus.

No. The program will cover all expenses associated with the selection process (travel to the finalist weekend, lodging, food, etc.).

Attendance at the finalist weekend is required for all applicants selected as finalists.

No. Awards made in January of one year are only available to the recipients for the program year commencing in the summer of the same year. Similarly, participation for less than the entire program term is not permitted. Each Scholar is expected to participate fully from the orientation program in late June to the Scholars’ Symposium in July of the following year.