Global China Fellows Program – Global China Initiative (Boston University)

The Global China Fellows Program is a competitive, fully supported research fellowship hosted by the Global Development Policy Center’s Global China Initiative (GCI) at Boston University. It’s designed to train the next generation of interdisciplinary scholars focused on China’s overseas economic engagement, global governance, sustainability, and development policy.

What’s Offered

• A one-year research fellowship based at Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center in Boston, USA.

• A competitive stipend to support living costs, research, travel, and professional development during the fellowship year.

• Mentorship and collaboration with leading researchers, faculty members, and global networks focused on policy-relevant research.

• Engagement in high-impact, policy-oriented writing and research activities, including the expectation to produce at least one working paper.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to pre-doctoral and post-doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

• Pre-doctoral applicants must have completed key research milestones (e.g., comprehensive exams and defended dissertation proposals); post-doctoral applicants should have defended their dissertation by the start of the fellowship year.

• Demonstrated research interest in China’s global economic engagement, international institutions, or related policy issues.

• Strong methodology or quantitative skills, or relevant experience in global development research, are typically preferred.

Process & Structure

• Candidates submit a single PDF application with CV, cover letter, research proposal, and references.

• Applications are reviewed rolling starting in October, with short-listing and interview stages.

• Fellows spend their fellowship year split between collaborative work and independent research under mentorship.

Fields of Focus
This program is especially relevant to those interested in:

• China’s overseas economic activities and institutional engagement

• Energy, climate and sustainability policy

• Data transparency and financial governance

• Forestry, agriculture, indigenous rights and China’s global influence

Deadline

• 19 December 2025 (11:59 PM EST) is the application deadline for the 2026–2027 fellowship year. Applications are considered as received.