The Madam Hui Shek-Chun Discover China is an award for summer internship program in China, and is unique in that no prior China experience, nor East-Asian specialization or language, is required. The goal of this award is to provide students the opportunity to work in a Chinese business. Also to help students not specializing in China or East Asia to discover firsthand the country and region most critical to world politics in the 21st century.

Successful applicants will intern in a Chinese (or Chinese-American) business in the capacity of an intern junior analyst or researcher. Students are responsible for securing an internship in China.

The “Discover China” scholarship awards up to $5000, which may be used towards travel, housing, and living expenses. Students who would like to arrange for the IR 391 field study course relating to their internship will be responsible for those tuition costs. Please speak with an IR academic advisor for guidelines on setting up a directed study course.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • Must be either an IR, IRGB, IRGE, or INCO major
  • Must have completed IR 210 and at least one other IR 200-level methods course
  • Recipients must be registered for the Spring 2026 term.
  • The internship or research must be completed before the student graduates from USC Dornsife.

Application Materials:

Applications open: October 24, 2025
Deadline: November 7, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

Submit a completed Application Form and the following materials as a single PDF document to Akeya Harmon-Collins at akeyahar@usc.edu:

  1. An updated CV or resumé tailored to the award.
  2. A research or internship proposal, including if you have applied to other funding resources.
    • Internship Proposal: Identify the sponsoring organization, its mission, its address, the name and contact information for the intern’s supervisor, the nature of the intern’s work, the number of weeks and hours per week, and why it would be valuable to hold this internship.
    • Research Proposal: Identify the research question and methods used to answer the question. Detail how you will use funding to complete your research. Please include the number of number of weeks and hours per week, and why it would be value to fund your research.
  3. A budget showing living expenses for the internship period and travel to and from the site.
  4. A STARS Report.
  5. Contact information for a USC Faculty member who you’ve asked to provide a recommendation.

For students applying for internship support

In order to disburse the award, POIR will require a letter from the organization offering the internship to the student for the specified period. This letter should also agree to provide POIR with a simple report on the student’s work at the end of the internship.

You may submit an application that contains all of the materials except this letter and provide the letter if the grant is approved and you decide to accept it.