Scholarship options Grants
The Heinz Götze Stiftung and the Ishibashi Foundation each support student research at IKO through a stipend program. On this page, students can find instructions on how to apply for these and other field-specific funding programs, as well as guidance on preparing recommendation letter requests.
The Heinz-Götze-Stiftung travel stipends allow our MA and PhD students to conduct fieldwork related to their research on Chinese art. The Ishibashi Foundation accepts MA and PhD nominees from the Institute of East Asian Art History for a scholarship to conduct fieldwork in Japan for up to two years.
Heinz-Götze-Stipend for Chinese Art History
The Heinz-Götze-Stiftung awards travel stipends once a term to MA and PhD students enrolled at the Institute for East Asian Art History at Heidelberg University working on topics related to Chinese Art History. Students may apply to conduct fieldwork or visit collections abroad to conduct research connected to their thesis or dissertation.
Funding
Research stays in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, or Europe that are directly related to the MA or doctoral thesis are supported. Grants may also be awarded for participation in conferences or research trips to the USA.
The stipend can partially cover travel and accommodation costs. The maximum funding amount for MA students is €1,500, and €2,500 for doctoral students. The planned trips should, if possible, take place before the end of the semester.
Requirements
To apply students must be enrolled at the Institute of East Asian Art History, hold a BA degree and have a clear research plan that explores a topic in Chinese art history.
Application
The following documents must be submitted:
- Cover letter (1 page)
- Short CV
- Project outline (maximum 2-3 pages, including a travel plan and timeline with specific information on museums, collections, universities, that will be visited)
- Budget including total sum of expected costs, amount you are applying for and supporting documents.
- Please note that meals (food and other consumables) cannot be included in the costs. Expenses for admission tickets, accommodation, and travel expenses (long-distance and local transport) are generally approved.
Applicants should use the template to format their budget and refer to the checklist before applying.
Upon completion of the project, the Heinz-Götze-Stiftung's support must be mentioned in the resulting publication (MA thesis or dissertation).
Successful applicants are also required to submit a travel report of approximately 3 pages, with photographic documentation and to give a short, 3-minute presentation of their main findings during the beginning of the following term.
Deadlines
Application deadline for travel in the Winter term: October 31
Application deadline for travel in the Summer term: May 10
Contact and Submission
For any questions, please contact Dr. Monica Klasing Chen
(E-Mail: monica.klasing-chen@zo.uni-heidelberg.de)
Applications should be submitted to:
- Prof. Dr. Sarah E. Fraser
Professur für Kunstgeschichte Chinas
E-Mail: - And CC:
Dr. Monica Klasing Chen
Wissenschaftliche Assistentin für Kunstgeschichte Chinas
E-Mail:
The JEES Ishibashi Foundation Scholarship
Students interested in conducting fieldwork in Japan through the JEES Ishibashi Foundation scholarship program must be nominated by the Institute of East Asian Art History. The scholarship allows students to conduct research in Japan while being affiliated with a Japanese university for up to two years. Information on the scholarship can be found in the Ishibashi Foundation brochure (from page 6.)
The program has two scholarship periods per year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.
Interested students should get in touch with the Assistant Professor for Japanese Art History to discuss a possible nomination. Students should start making plans for their stay abroad well in advance and contact s Japanese University first. The host university must also submit paperwork for an application to be successful.
Interested students should get in touch with the Assistant Professor for Japanese Art History to discuss a possible nomination and to be put in touch with academic advisors in Japan if desired.
Other Scholarships and Grants
Heidelberg doctoral students are also eligible to apply for the short-term funding of the Geschwister-Supp-Stiftung. The foundation's objective is to promote intercultural understanding in a globalized world, promoting research that explores encounters or dialogues between European and non-European cultures. The foundation usually publishes a call for application once yearly during the first quarter.
We also encourage our students to apply for external grants, such as the finishing grant of the CCKF or scholarships of the Japan Foundation.
Students planning to apply for post-doctoral grants through the DAAD or other European funding bodies should contact the institute well in advance to permit time for the internal processing of required documents.
Requesting recommendation letters
Please contact faculty members 4 weeks before your deadline to request a recommendation letter. Make sure to include the following information in one email with every request for a letter. This is the only way to ensure prompt processing:
- Deadline
- Method of submission (through online system or if it should be sent to a specific address)
- Call for applications
- Your letter of motivation and other relevant submission materials, such as project timeline
- Most recent version of your CV
- Courses you have taken (including those with the reviewer) with titles of your papers and grades