Global China Fellows Program 2026-27 at Boston University, USA

Introduction

The Global China Fellows Program 2026-27 at Boston University (BU) is a prestigious, fully funded opportunity for early-career researchers who aim to explore China’s expanding influence in global economic, environmental, and financial systems. Organized by BU’s Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) under its Global China Initiative (GCI), this program invites both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows from around the world to contribute to policy-relevant research and engage with leading scholars.

Launched in 2017, the Global China Initiative Fellowship supports over 40 international scholars and provides a platform for innovative research on China’s overseas engagement, global finance, energy transitions, and sustainability. Fellows collaborate closely with GDP Center faculty and global partners, producing impactful research that bridges the gap between academia and real-world policymaking.

Fellowship Structure and Research Themes

The Global China Fellowship offers scholars the chance to work within one of four core research streams:

• Data Analysis for Transparency & Accountability (D.A.T.A.) – promoting transparency in Chinese overseas finance and development projects.
• Forestry, Agriculture, and Indigenous Rights (FAIR) – studying China’s global environmental footprint and biodiversity issues.
• Energy & Climate – examining China’s role in renewable energy and carbon reduction.
• China & the International Financial Architecture (CHIFA) – analyzing China’s integration into global financial systems.
• Each fellow dedicates 20 hours per week to collaborative GDP research and another 20 hours to their independent project. By the end of the program, participants are expected to publish at least one working paper.

 Eligibility Criteria & Benefits

The program welcomes:

• Pre-doctoral applicants who have completed their qualifying exams and defended their dissertation proposal.
• Post-doctoral applicants who have successfully defended their PhD before August 2026.
• Preferred candidates will demonstrate research experience related to China’s overseas economic engagement, sustainable development, or international financial systems. Applicants with language proficiency (Chinese or regional languages) and experience in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia are encouraged to apply.

Fellowship Benefits:

• Fully funded research stipend and living allowance.
• In-person residency at Boston University with access to mentorship and academic resources.
• Opportunities for global collaboration, fieldwork, and conference participation.
• Professional networking with scholars, policymakers, and institutions worldwide.

Global China Fellowship

The Global China Fellows Program is more than a research opportunity—it’s a global platform for emerging scholars to influence international policy and sustainability debates. Fellows gain access to an international research network, mentorship from leading experts, and the chance to produce high-impact studies on one of the most critical issues of our time: China’s evolving role in the global order.

For motivated researchers passionate about global development, finance, and environmental policy, this fellowship at Boston University offers an exceptional pathway toward academic and professional excellence.

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