Robert van Gulik Fellowship
The Robert van Gulik Fund has established a Robert van Gulik Fellowship at the Scaliger Institute with effect from 2025. The fund thus supports the promotion of research on the sinological collections of the Leiden University Libraries.
About Robert van Gulik
The Robert van Gulik Fellowship keeps alive the memory of sinologist and diplomat Robert van Gulik (1910-1967). Robert van Gulik studied Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese at Leiden University and Utrecht University. His diplomatic career began in 1935, during which Van Gulik held several posts, including in China, Japan, Korea and India. Van Gulik was fascinated by the tradition of Chinese scholarship. Throughout his life, he tried to put this tradition into practice by performing seal-cutting, calligraphy and poetry, playing the classical Chinese musical instrument Qin, and collecting works of art, books, pieces of music and other objects. Robert van Gulik's publications are also diverse and multifaceted. His pioneering work has had a great impact on the study of China.
The Fellowship
The Robert van Gulik Fellow conducts research into the life or work of Van Gulik, or into subjects such as Chinese art, literature, music, seal-cutting, etc., using source material from the Van Gulik Collection and the Van Gulik Archive of the Leiden University Libraries, supplemented by material from the vast Special Collections of the University Library.
The fellow(s) will be attached to the Scaliger Institute for a minimum of one month and a maximum of two months to conduct research on the sinological collections in the Special Collections of the Leiden University Libraries.
The fellow is preferably a researcher with an excellent track-record or a researcher of repute in the field. If the Robert van Gulik Fellow's stay is during a semester, he or she will give a public lecture. In addition, the researcher can also be asked, for example, to give master classes to students and PhD students. The research in Leiden will be carried out for the purpose of a publication; a short report will be written for the benefit of the Van Gulik Estate. The grant amounts to € 1,000 per month, with a maximum of two months.
The deadline for submitting research proposals is 1 April 2025.
Requirements
Applications for a Robert van Gulik Fellowship must meet a number of conditions:
• The fellow must carry out the research during the stay in the Leiden University Library.
• The fellow must make his/her own arrangements to apply for a valid visa for the period of stay in the Netherlands.
• Applicants must clearly state the proposed dates of their stay on the form.
• The fellowship must be fulfilled in the year of application; unless approval is given by the assessment committee to deviate from this period.
• The fellow is responsible for finding accommodation in the Netherlands (through the Housing Department of Leiden University) and paying for it from the fellowship promised.
• The fellow provides the Scaliger Institute with a research report upon completion of the fellowship.
• The fellow donates a copy of the publications resulting from the fellowship to the Leiden University Library.
The application for a Robert van Gulik Fellowship must further meet the following requirements:
• A fully completed application form, including personal details, the name of the fellowship, the title of the research proposal, the preferred dates of stay and the names and addresses of two academic referees;
• A research proposal (maximum 1200 words) that should specifically indicate the relationship between the proposed research and the primary sources that will be researched and consulted within the Special Collections Department;
• A list of manuscripts, prints or other material that will be consulted in the library, including signature/place code;
• A start and end date of the proposed research. The research must be carried out in the year of application;
• A curriculum vitae;
• A list of relevant publications;
• Two letters of recommendation from two academic referees. The referees send the letters directly to the coordinator of the Scaliger Institute by e-mail or by post to: K. van Ommen, Scaliger Institute, PO Box 9501, 2300 RA Leiden;
• Researchers who have not yet been awarded a PhD should enclose a letter of recommendation from their supervisor(s).
Assessment committee
Applications for a Robert van Gulik Fellowship can be submitted to an assessment committee consisting of: M. Gilbert MA (Curator of Chinese collections UBL), Drs Anne Sytske Keijser (Program coordinator China Studies UL), Prof Dr W. van Gulik (representative of the Van Gulik heirs) and Dr K. van Ommen (Coordinator Scaliger Institute, secretary).
Applications
Applications for the Robert van Gulik Fellowship can be sent by means of an application form (see right) to the coordinator of the Scaliger Institute, Dr K. van Ommen, Leiden University Library, P.O. Box 9501, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands.