Visiting Scholars Program

The application period for 2025-2026 visiting scholars is now open.

Program Overview

The U.S.-Asia Law Institute hosts a small number of visiting scholars each year to work on individual, self-directed research projects related to law in East Asia, including in the broad areas of domestic law, comparative law, and international law. The goals of the visiting scholar program are to support research and writing about these topics, enrich the conversation at NYU Law, and strengthen the ties between legal scholars and practitioners in the US and East Asia. Past visiting scholars have included academics, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, civil society organizers, legal journalists, and legislators. Their time at NYU affords them an opportunity to access new knowledge resources, engage with fresh perspectives, and network with peers from around the world.

Program Components

What’s included?

As a visiting scholar at the NYU School of Law, the U.S.-Asia Law Institute is pleased to provide the following opportunities:

  • Title of “visiting scholar” at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute.

  • Ability to audit NYU Law courses (on a non-credit basis), with the permission of the instructor.

  • Access to NYU Law Library & Bobst Library.

  • Shared research/study space.

  • Entry to academic and intellectual life at NYU.

What’s not included?

  • USALI cannot provide or arrange housing. All visiting scholars are required to obtain their own housing for the duration of their visit.

  • Visiting scholars are not NYU employees and do not receive a salary or stipend.

  • Visiting scholars are not NYU Law students and do not receive course credits or formal academic supervision.

Expectations for visiting scholars

  • Full-time residence at NYU during the agreed visiting scholar term. Visiting scholars may not hold concurrent appointments such as teaching, legal practice, or other fellowships without explicit disclosure and agreement.

  • Contribution to the intellectual life at USALI. Examples include: scholarly writing, collaborating, translation, presentations, articles, essays, or (upon invitation) guest lecturing at law school classes.

  • Mandatory participation in workshops specifically arranged for the visiting scholars, and frequent participation in other USALI programs such as conferences and speaker events.

  • Presentation of research in English at an USALI workshop.

USALI 2024-2025 visiting scholars with institute faculty.

Qualifications for the Visiting Scholar Program

1. A minimum of an LLM, JD, or other advanced degree, prior to arrival.

2. Submit competitive research proposal (see details in application instructions).

3. Demonstrate appropriate English language proficiency.

4. (For those who are not US citizens or green card holders) Satisfy US government requirements for a J-1 (Exchange Visitor) visa, including maintaining health insurance that meets the minimum federal requirements during the entire length of stay.

5. Show proof of adequate financial resources. Per US government requirement, applicants for J-1 visas must show proof of income or assets amounting to a minimum of $3,000 per month, as well as additional financial support for any accompanying family members ($1,000 per month for spouses and $500 per month for each child).

* Unfortunately, the U.S.-Asia Law Institute is unable to provide fellowships to fund visiting scholars.

6. Payment of Visiting Scholar Program administrative fees (details below).

Program Fees

The U.S.-Asia Law Institute Visiting Scholars Program charges an administrative fee of $6,500 for one year, reduced to $5,500 for current full-time PhD students or those who have completed an advanced degree as a full-time scholar in the past twelve months. Visiting scholars who stay for six months or less must pay $3,250. Fees may be waived only in very exceptional circumstances.

Process Timeline

  • Late November: application period opens

  • January 31: application period closes

  • February-March: application review and live (online) interviews

  • March-April: acceptances go out

  • April-August: intake paperwork including support for US visa applications

  • Late August: visiting scholars arrive

  • Final week of August: NYU Law fall semester begins; arrival after the start of the semester is discouraged

  • Late August or early September: USALI orientation and research plan workshops

Our visiting scholar openings are typically filled in accordance with this calendar. Should space remain available in mid-April, we may at our sole discretion consider late-arriving applications.

The maximum visiting scholar term is 12 months, but many visiting scholars end their residency in May, after the end of the spring academic term.

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

Online application consisting of questionnaire and supporting documents to be uploaded:

  • Proof of necessary funds

  • Research proposal 

  • Personal statement

  • University transcripts 

  • CV/Resume

  • Two letters of recommendation

  • One published or unpublished article

  • Signed fee waiver affidavit, if applicable

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If you have questions, please email: usali.nyu@gmail.com