The Luce Scholars Program: An Immersive Experience in Asia for Emerging Leaders

The Luce Scholars Program, established in 1974, stands as a nationally competitive fellowship designed to offer early-career leaders immersive, professional experiences in Asia. This initiative aims to forge stronger relationships across geographic borders by creating opportunities for young Americans to deepen their ties and understanding of the countries, cultures, and people of Asia. The program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placements in Asia for 18 Luce Scholars each year.

Program Overview

The Luce Scholars Program represents a major effort by the Henry Luce Foundation to provide an awareness of Asia among potential leaders in American society. The program is unique among American-Asian exchanges in that it is intended for young leaders who have had limited experience of Asia and who might not otherwise have an opportunity in the normal course of their careers to come to know Asia. The Luce Scholars Program coordinates scholars' professional placements within a variety of organizations, institutions, agencies, etc. Language training takes place in July and August, while professional placements occur from September to July.

Key Objectives

The core objectives of the Luce Scholars Program include:

Fostering Cross-Cultural Understanding: Deepening the ties and understanding between young Americans and the countries, cultures, and people of Asia.
Developing Future Leaders: Equipping scholars with the knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.
Providing Immersive Experiences: Offering a yearlong opportunity for emerging leaders to live and work in Asia, gaining valuable perspective through cultural immersion.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Eligible candidates include graduating seniors, recent graduates, or young professionals under the age of 32, or, if older than 32, candidates must have received their bachelor's degree within the past three years. Applicants that have taken extensive coursework in Asian language or Asia-focused courses, majored in Asian studies, or have spent more than a total of eighteen weeks in one or more countries in Asia since starting college are now eligible for this program.

Desired Qualities

Successful candidates will have demonstrated significant leadership ability, intercultural competence, and evidence of potential for professional achievement. Reviewers will consider academic accomplishments; however, the Luce Scholars Program is experiential rather than academic in nature. Candidates are not judged on the basis of whether or not they have developed specific plans for their year in Asia.

The most important consideration is that a candidate demonstrates potential for leadership and accomplishment. Evidence that a candidate will be a leader both within their profession and as a member of the broader community is essential. Personal qualities such as initiative, creativity, maturity, humility, sensitivity, and strength of character typify successful applicants.

Application Process

As of June 15, 2022, the Luce Scholars Program competition has resumed. A Yale endorsement is no longer required. Eligibility and components of the application are different than in the past. Candidates must first complete an eligibility questionnaire. If eligible, they will be prompted to complete the application which includes the following:

Written Application: Candidates provide biographical and contact information, respond to short answer questions, and write a personal statement and 400-word-max bio.
Request Forms for Two Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Candidates complete a form for each recommender. Letters must be uploaded separately by the recommenders. LORs can be from academic, professional, or collegial references. They should come from people who know the candidate well and can speak to their skills, abilities, and potential. LORs should be signed on official letterhead whenever possible.
Academic Transcripts: Candidates upload transcripts of all college and graduate work.

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1-3 Minute Video: Candidates record and upload a 1-3-minute video based on the provided prompt. The video gives program administrators a chance to get to know the candidate beyond the page. Candidates should use a cellphone or laptop camera as a recording device. Do not use professional equipment or editing tools. Reviewers are interested in the content, not the video’s production quality.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is September 15, 2025 at 5:00PM ET. Late applications-including transcripts and letters of recommendation-will NOT be accepted. You do not have to complete your application in one sitting; you can save your work at any point as frequently as necessary, but once submitted, you will no longer have access to it.

Selection Process

Applications will first be reviewed by a national committee, with top applicants being offered two one-on-one virtual interviews with Luce Scholar alumni. Semi-finalists are invited for interviews by representatives of the Luce Foundation in November. Those selected as finalists are invited to a finalist weekend in January. From Wednesday to Saturday, 34 finalists will attend programming, workshops, and interviews at an in-person selection in San Diego, California. Attendance at Finalist Weekend is required for all applicants selected as finalists. The program will cover all expenses associated with the selection process (travel to Finalist Weekend, lodging, food, etc.).

Program Components

The Luce Scholars Program is a yearlong opportunity for emerging leaders to deepen their ties and understanding of Asia’s countries, cultures, and people. There is no more effective way to build mutual understanding and cultivate a shared purpose than through sustained, immersive, and in-person engagement with others.

Professional Placements

Luce Scholars live and work throughout Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia in any given year. They are in big cities and small villages in diverse fields such as public health, the arts, economic development, environmental science, and more. As a Luce Scholar, each day brings new adventures and opportunities. You’ll work with mentors in a field that interests you, learn a new language, and gain valuable perspective through cultural immersion.

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Language Training

Language training takes place in July and August to prepare scholars for their placements.

Cultural Immersion

The program emphasizes cultural immersion to provide scholars with a deeper understanding of Asian societies and perspectives.

Financial Support

The scholarship provides a monthly living stipend and travel expenses.

The Henry Luce Foundation

The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce. The Foundation builds upon the vision and values of four generations of the Luce family: broadening knowledge and encouraging the highest standards of service and leadership. A not-for-profit corporation, the Luce Foundation operates under the laws of the State of New York and aims to exemplify the best practices of responsible, effective philanthropy. The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to bring important ideas to the center of American life, strengthen international understanding, and foster innovation and leadership in academic, policy, religious and art communities. The Luce Foundation pursues its mission today through the following grant-making programs: American Art; East Asia; Luce Scholars; Theology; Higher Education and the Henry R. Luce Professorships; the Henry R.

Impact and Opportunities

Through this yearlong immersion, the Program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world. The Luce Scholars Program is committed to engaging young professionals who might not otherwise have an opportunity to get to know and build professional networks in Asia.

Dispelling Common Misconceptions

Asian Studies Background: Applicants are not required to have an extensive background in Asian studies or languages. The program is designed for those with limited prior experience in Asia.
Specific Plans for the Year in Asia: Candidates are not judged on the basis of whether or not they have developed specific plans for their Asian experience, although they may have general ideas about the kind of placement preferred.
Professional Interests: Candidates are not judged based on their professional interests.
Financial Need: Financial need is not a criterion for selection.

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