Visiting Scholars Program
USALI 2026-2027 visiting scholars with institute faculty.
Program Overview
The U.S.-Asia Law Institute (USALI) at New York University School of Law (NYU Law) hosts a small number of outstanding scholars each year. Our visiting scholars include judges, prosecutors, lawyers, legal journalists, and legislators as well as academics. We welcome applicants from all areas of law. We are expanding our work in international law and encourage applicants in that field who focus on Asia.
Visiting scholars are guests of NYU. They may stay for up to one year to conduct research and to engage in scholarly and cultural exchange with NYU Law faculty and students. Visiting scholars are not NYU employees, have no teaching responsibilities, and are not entitled to a salary or housing. They may not perform the role of an NYU employee in any way. They do, however, contribute actively to the intellectual life of USALI by taking part in workshops, speaker events, and other scholarly activities organized by USALI and others at the law school.
We accept visiting scholar applications from November to January.
“My fellowship at USALI has been one of the most professionally meaningful periods in my career so far. One of the main reasons is the openness and inclusive spirit with which USALI welcomes visiting scholars. From the very beginning, I felt truly supported—both personally and academically.”
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:
Courtesy 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 (the main university library).
Shared research/study space in Wilf Hall.
Entry to academic and intellectual life at NYU.
What’s not included?
USALI cannot provide or arrange housing. All visiting scholars must find their own housing for their entire stay.
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.
Visiting scholars are welcome to organize their own reading groups, workshops, and similar activities. USALI staff may be able to help with logistics, including reserving a conference room or arranging guest access to the law school building. USALI cannot cover any costs, including food or drink.
Visiting scholars agree to
Be in full-time residence at NYU during the agreed visiting scholar term. Visiting scholars may not hold concurrent appointments, including teaching, legal practice, or other fellowships, unless they disclose them to USALI and USALI agrees.
Participate in all workshops arranged for visiting scholars. These include fall workshops that help new visiting scholars make the most of their stay and spring workshops at which visiting scholars present their research to the law school.
Frequently participate in other USALI programs such as conferences and speaker events.
Contribute to the intellectual life of USALI. Examples include scholarly writing, research collaboration, translation, presentations, articles, essays, and (upon invitation) guest lectures in law school classes.
“Scholars, students, and books with diverse backgrounds have ignited my ideas.”
“I visited various off-campus facilities such as courts and law firms, where I conducted quite a few interviews with legal practitioners.””
USALI 2026-2027 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 a 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 federal minimum requirements for the entire stay.
5. Show proof of adequate financial resources. US government regulations require NYU, as the J-1 visa sponsor, to verify that J-1 applicants have sufficient funding. NYU currently requires proof of income or assets of at least $3,200 per month, plus $1,000 per month for an accompanying spouse and $500 per month for each accompanying child. NYU may adjust these amounts each year.
* Unfortunately, USALI is unable to provide fellowships to fund visiting scholars.
6. Pay the visiting scholar program administrative fee (details below).
“During my research at USALI, I expanded my understanding of the development of legal societies in various countries through interactions with researchers from different countries and regions. Of course, New York’s rich culture provided important experience and social observation in life in addition to academic research.””
Program Fees
The U.S.-Asia Law Institute Visiting Scholars Program charges an administrative fee of $7,250 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 a single semester must pay $4,000. 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
The online application consists of a questionnaire and one PDF file (10 MB limit) containing the following materials, in this order:
CV/resume
Research proposal (1,500 words maximum)
Personal statement (1,000 words maximum)
Proof of necessary funds
Two letters of recommendation
University transcripts
Published or unpublished articles in English (no more than thirty pages in total)
If requesting a fee waiver: documentation of your financial situation and a signed fee waiver affidavit
Please see the application instructions for details. If you are unable to access Google services from your location, please download the PDF version of the application form and submit it by email, following the instructions on its first page.
“I gained insights into the realities of federal court litigation that are hard to grasp from literature alone, thanks to interactions with faculty members who are sitting judges.””
If you have questions, please email: usali@nyu.edu