The 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant is now accepting applications from eligible postgraduate researchers in ASEAN Member States and the Republic of Korea. Selected researchers can receive round-trip international airfare, a USD 1,400 monthly fieldwork stipend for up to three months, advisor honoraria and participation in an online research workshop. The application deadline is September 5, 2026.
ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant 2026
The 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant (YSRG) offers a research funding opportunity for postgraduate students undertaking field-based research related to Southeast Asia, ASEAN, or ASEAN-Korea relations.
The programme forms part of the ASEAN-Korea Platform for Great Minds (AKPGM), a project supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and implemented by the Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies (KASEAS).
The grant is designed to support the next generation of Southeast Asianists by helping postgraduate researchers conduct locally grounded fieldwork while developing academic networks and regional perspectives.
Applications for the 2026 grant close on September 5, 2026.
What Does the Grant Offer?
Selected Young Scholar Research Grant recipients can receive several forms of financial and academic support.
According to the 2026 call, the benefits include:
- Round-trip international airfare for approved fieldwork
- USD 1,400 monthly fieldwork stipend for up to three months
- USD 200 honorarium for local research advisors
- Participation in the Young Scholar Research Workshop, held online
The programme’s support is therefore focused primarily on enabling researchers to undertake fieldwork and strengthen their academic research capacity.
The programme website also describes the wider YSRG as an annual initiative supporting graduate research through field-based inquiry and regional academic exchange.
Who Is Eligible?
The 2026 call states that applicants must meet several requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be nationals of an ASEAN Member State or the Republic of Korea
- Be currently enrolled in a Master’s or doctoral programme
- Study at a recognized institution in ASEAN or the Republic of Korea
- Conduct research relevant to Southeast Asian Studies, ASEAN Studies or ASEAN-Korea Studies
- Develop research addressing Southeast Asian societies, regional issues or ASEAN-Korea relations
Applicants should carefully review the official call before applying because eligibility and research-scope requirements are specific to the 2026 programme.
What Research Areas Are Supported?
The grant is intended primarily for research connected with Southeast Asian and ASEAN-related studies.
Eligible research can address topics such as:
- Southeast Asian Studies
- ASEAN Studies
- ASEAN-Korea relations
- Comparative research
- Southeast Asian societies
- Regional development
- Gender
- Climate change
- Sustainable development
- Cybersecurity
- Peacebuilding
- ASEAN’s Post-2025 Vision
- Regional integration and connectivity
- Institutional development
- Regional geopolitics
- Interdisciplinary research involving science, technology and engineering with clear Southeast Asian relevance
The programme emphasizes research that contributes to understanding Southeast Asia beyond a narrowly national perspective.
Important Research Scope Requirement
One of the most important points for prospective applicants concerns the geographic scope of the research.
The 2026 call states that research can focus on countries or regions across Southeast Asia, but priority is given to proposals supporting Southeast Asian Studies beyond the applicant’s own national context.
The programme therefore indicates that proposals focusing exclusively on an applicant’s home country or the country where they are currently enrolled may receive lower priority.
This makes comparative, cross-country or broader regional research particularly relevant to the objectives of the grant.
Are STEM Research Projects Eligible?
The programme is primarily intended for Southeast Asian Studies and related area studies.
According to the 2026 call, proposals that are primarily technical, laboratory-based or exclusively focused on STEM are not eligible.
An exception may be possible where a STEM-related project demonstrates strong interdisciplinary engagement with the social sciences or humanities and makes a clear contribution to understanding Southeast Asia and ASEAN-Korea relations.
Researchers should therefore explain the Southeast Asian relevance of interdisciplinary projects clearly.
How Will Applications Be Evaluated?
The selection process considers both the academic strength of the proposed research and the applicant’s ability to undertake the fieldwork successfully.
The 2026 call identifies the following evaluation criteria:
- Academic quality, originality and significance
- Relevance to Southeast Asian, ASEAN or ASEAN-Korea studies
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed fieldwork
- Applicant’s research capacity and preparedness
The wider programme information also highlights the importance of research questions, understanding of existing literature, research design and methodology, the necessity of fieldwork, language proficiency and relevant academic experience.
Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposal clearly explains what they want to research, why the research matters and why fieldwork is necessary.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to prepare and upload several documents as part of the application.
The 2026 call lists:
- Research Proposal
- Host Institution Introduction for the proposed fieldwork site
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Certificate of Enrollment from the current or most recent academic institution
- Academic Transcript, including records up to the most recent semester
Candidates should make sure their documents are complete and consistent with the information entered in the online application.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant is September 5, 2026.
The programme’s published timeline states:
- Application deadline: September 5, 2026
- Results announcement: Fourth week of October 2026
- Orientation: Second week of November 2026
- Fieldwork period: Late November 2026 to April 2027
Applicants should submit their materials before the stated deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
What Happens After Selection?
Successful researchers will undertake approved fieldwork during the programme period.
The grant also provides an academic exchange component through participation in the Young Scholar Research Workshop.
The broader AKPGM programme describes the workshop as a platform where grant recipients can present their research progress and outcomes while receiving feedback and guidance from senior scholars.
This combination of fieldwork funding and academic exchange makes the opportunity particularly relevant to postgraduate researchers whose research depends on collecting information directly from communities, institutions, organisations or other field-based sources.
Why This Grant Is Valuable for Postgraduate Researchers
Conducting international fieldwork can be challenging because researchers may need to cover travel, accommodation and research-related expenses.
The YSRG addresses part of this challenge through its fieldwork stipend and international airfare support.
Beyond financial assistance, the programme can help researchers develop regional academic connections and gain experience presenting their findings to other scholars.
The AKPGM project itself aims to expand knowledge about Southeast Asia, strengthen regional academic connectivity and foster sustained exchanges between ASEAN and Korean Southeast Asianists.
How to Apply
Interested postgraduate researchers should review the official 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant call and complete the online application before the September 5 deadline.
The official programme information provides the application form, eligibility requirements, required documents and detailed guidance for prospective applicants.
View the official 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant application page
Applicants should rely on the official programme guidance for the latest requirements and application instructions.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 ASEAN-Korea Young Scholar Research Grant provides an important opportunity for eligible Master’s and doctoral researchers interested in Southeast Asian Studies, ASEAN Studies and ASEAN-Korea relations.
Selected researchers can receive USD 1,400 per month for up to three months, international airfare, support for a local research advisor and participation in an online Young Scholar Research Workshop.
With applications closing on September 5, 2026, eligible postgraduate researchers should begin preparing their research proposal and supporting documents early.
The strongest applications are likely to be those that demonstrate a clear research question, strong academic foundation, feasible fieldwork methodology and a convincing contribution to understanding Southeast Asia or ASEAN-Korea relations.
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