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 SIR undergraduate academic advisor for guidelines on setting up a directed study course.

Eligibility Requirements:

GPA of 3.2 or higher

The internship or research must be completed before the student graduates from USC Dornsife.

Recipients must be registered for the Fall 2024 term.

Must be either a IR, IRGB, or IRGE major

Must have completed IR 210, and at least one other IR 200 level methods course

Application Materials:

Deadline – 3/18/2024

Submit a completed application form to Akeya Harmon at akeyahar@usc.edu giving the student’s major, current GPA, and expected graduation date. Components include:

Provide a research or internship proposal, please note 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

Provide a simple budget showing living expenses for the internship period and travel to and from the site.

Submit your STARS Report.

2. Ask a USC faculty member to submit a Recommendation Document, found here.

In order to disburse the award the School will need a letter from the organization offering the internship to the student for the specified period, and agreeing to provide the School with a simple report on the student’s work at the end of the internship. You may submit an application that contains all elements except this letter, and provide the letter if the grant is approved and you decide to accept it.