Blakemore Foundation Asian Language Fellowships

The Blakemore Foundation was founded in 1990 by Tom and Frances Blakemore for the purpose of providing fellowships for the advanced study of Asian languages and grants to facilitate the introduction of Asian art to communities in the United States.

The Blakemore Foundation is looking for individuals who will make significant contributions to their field. The ideal candidate is someone with stellar grades, outstanding recommendations, and a demonstrated commitment to the Asian country and language.

Superior candidates committed to careers in fields such as academia, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), international business, accounting, law, medicine, journalism, architecture, teaching, social or NGO work, and government service that will require professional fluency in that modern Asian language throughout that individual’s life are encouraged to apply.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters) of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia. Eligible languages are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese. The Blakemore Foundation makes grants for study only at specific language programs.

Blakemore Fellowships

Blakemore Fellowships are awarded for one academic year (two semesters) of advanced level level language study at the the IUP-Chinese Center at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States.
• Be pursuing a professional, business, or academic career that involves the regular use of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Khmer.
• By the start of the grant, have at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Be at or near an advanced level in the language. By the start of the grant, applicants must have completed (at minimum) the third year of language classes at the college level, through formal classroom study at a college or university and/or in rigorous college-level language programs.

Deadline

Applications for grants for study starting in the 2026/2027 academic year open on July 1, 2025 with an application deadline of December 30, 2025. Grants will be awarded in February and March 2026.