Center for the Art of East Asia

The CAEA encourages the sharing of specialized knowledge and the examination of different methodologies between scholars from abroad with faculty and students in related areas of study. Visiting scholars may be nominated by a University faculty member to be invited to conduct research in our libraries, often in collaboration with faculty. In the past visiting scholars  have contributed to the projects and publications of the Center and have been an important contact and resource for students and scholars for their research in Asia.

The procedure for selection is determined by the guidelines of the University of Chicago and depends upon the review of candidates by the Steering Committee of the Center for the Art of East Asia and final approval by the Department of Art History and the Division of the Humanities. A faculty member in residence will sponsor the Visiting Scholar during the period of the appointment. Visiting Scholars are not employees of the University and must provide their own funding for living and travel expenses, as well as the required health insurance. A letter of interest and CV with publications and proof of funding should be addressed to the Center for the Art of East Asia. These must be received by November 15th of the year prior to the beginning of the appointment. (The academic year is from September to June.) 

Center for the Art of East Asia

Department of Art History
University of Chicago
5540 South Greenwood Ave.
Chicago IL 60637

Center Administrator, caea@uchicago.edu

The CAEA accepts a limited number of non-degree visiting graduate students who are pursuing their Ph.D. degrees in areas of East Asian art history and visual culture.  The student's research should be related to the research interests of faculty and graduate students in the University of Chicago Department of Art History. The students must have full-time student status at their home institution. These applications require an invitation from the CAEA.  

To apply, please send: 

1. 1-2 page statement of intent, describing the research project 
2. letter of recommendation from the dissertation supervisor at the student's home institution which discusses the project in detail 
3. CV
4. 1-2 writing samples (preferable in English but acceptable in the applicant’s native language) 

We accept applications on a rolling basis, but please note the application processing time. The Center's Steering Committee can take 3-5 weeks to review and issue an invitation letter. The typical turnaround time for the University’s Office of International Affairs to issue Form DS-2019 will be 2-3 months.   

 

Funding 

Prospective students are responsible for securing funding for the entire duration of the proposed visit before submitting the application. CAEA does not provide any tuition waiver. With an invitation from CAEA, a prospective student will qualify to apply through the Division for Humanities, including providing proofs for English proficiency. For more details about other requirements, please refer to the following: 

• Division of Humanities guideline 
• Office of international Affairs guideline 

 

Language requirement  

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the proof of English proficiency before submitting the application. Please refer to the University of Chicago’s English Proficiency Policy for Non-Degree Visiting Students for details. 

Applicants must meet the requirement in one of the following ways: 

• • TOEFL spoken score of 18 or better 
• • IELTS spoken score of 6 or better (academic test) 
• • PTE spoken score of 50 or better 
• • AEPA of "Basic" or better* 
• • Having attended a U.S. higher education institution full-time for at least one academic year within the past 5 years (only applies to school in the U.S. Employment in the U.S. does NOT count towards the English language requirement)

*Proficiency levels of the AEPA exam are 

• • Excellent 
• • Proficient 
• • Functional 
• • Basic 
• • Limited 

The English language requirement may be waived if the applicant is a native of or studied in full-time status for at least one academic year within the last five years in only the following countries: 

• • The U.S. 
• • The United Kingdom 
• • Ireland 
• • Australia 
• • New Zealand 
• • Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago 
• • Guyana, or  
• • English medium universities in Canada or South Africa. 

Students who studied in English in other countries, for example, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., are not exempt from the English language requirement. 

 

Contact 

Center for the Art of East Asia 
Department of Art History 
University of Chicago 
5540 South Greenwood Ave. 
Chicago IL 60637 
caea@uchicago.edu