The Asia-Europe Foundation, usually shortened to ASEF, does not run a single scholarship with one deadline. It funds people to attend short, in-person training programmes, seminars and workshops that it organises with partner institutions across Asia and Europe. If you picture a two-year master's degree with a monthly stipend, this is the wrong thing. If you are a working professional in policy, education, media, public health or a similar field and you want a short, paid-for trip to learn alongside peers from other countries, it may suit you well.
This guide explains how the grants work, who they are aimed at, and where applicants usually trip up. For the condensed version, see the full scholarship details.
What ASEF is and why it funds training trips
ASEF is an intergovernmental not-for-profit organisation set up in 1997 by the partner countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). It is ASEM's only permanent institution, and the ASEM network has over 50 partner countries. ASEF is headquartered in Singapore, but its programmes take place in different partner nations, so a grant could take you to China, Europe or somewhere else entirely depending on the project.
Its work is grouped into seven thematic areas: culture, education, governance, media, public health, sustainable development and economy. Each training programme sits under one of these themes. One example is the Capacity-Building Training Programme on Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Gender Equality and Women's Participation, held in Kunming, China. Programmes like this bring together a small group of participants from ASEM member countries for professional development, policy dialogue and exchange between the two regions.
ASEF co-organises its projects with institutions from ASEM partner countries: government agencies, parliaments, think tanks, educational institutions, youth organisations and NGOs. It shares the project costs with these co-organisers, and that is where the participant funding comes from.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) |
| Funding | Listed as fully funded; typically covers economy airfare (up to a ceiling) and accommodation |
| Level | Professional, capacity building, short course |
| Headquarters | Singapore (programmes run in various partner countries) |
| Deadline | Varies by project call (one example closed on 3 July 2026) |
| Official site | asef.org |
How the funding actually works
ASEF lists these grants as fully funded, but read that carefully. In practice, selected participants typically receive point-to-point economy class airfare and local accommodation for the duration of the programme. The airfare is reimbursed up to a maximum ceiling. That means you may book and pay for your ticket first and get the money back afterwards, and anything above the ceiling is likely to be your problem.
For one specific programme, accommodation covered 4 nights at the training venue, with check-in on 6 September and check-out on 10 September 2026. The training itself ran on 7-9 September 2026. Other projects will have their own dates and arrangements, so check the call you are applying to.
Training session materials and participation fees are also covered. Beyond the money, the real value is the room you are in: international experts, government officials, policymakers and civil society leaders, plus peers working on the same problems in other countries.
What the source does not mention is any stipend, daily allowance, visa fee coverage or insurance. Do not assume any of these are included. If you need them, ask the organisers before you commit.
Is a Pakistani applicant eligible?
Participation is open to citizens of ASEM partner countries who meet the criteria of the specific project. The full list of ASEM partner countries is not given here, so check on the official ASEF website whether Pakistan is an eligible partner country for the call you are interested in before you spend time on an application. Some calls may also target only certain countries within the network.
Beyond nationality, each project asks for roughly the same profile:
- Working proficiency in English.
- A position that lets you influence policy, programme design, institutional practice, advocacy, research or public dialogue on the project's theme.
- Commitment to attend the full three-day in-person training and any associated activities.
- A complete application submitted through the official ASEF project portal before the deadline.
The second point is the one that filters people out. ASEF is not looking for students who are interested in a topic. It wants people who will take what they learn back to an organisation and change something. A junior researcher at a think tank, a programme officer at an NGO, a government officer, a journalist covering public health: these are the kinds of profiles that fit. A final-year undergraduate with no work experience will struggle.
The application file is short, so each part counts
Most calls ask for three things:
- The completed online application form.
- An updated CV.
- A statement of motivation or supporting essay, if the specific project call asks for one.
With so few documents, your CV and motivation statement carry the whole case. Your CV should show your current role and what you are responsible for, not just job titles. Make your English ability visible too, for example through publications, reports or work in English-language settings, because ASEF expects working proficiency and you want the reviewer to see it without guessing.
Your motivation statement should connect three things: the project theme, your current work, and what you will do differently after the training. Be concrete. "I want to learn about gender equality" is weak. Explaining which programme you run, who it reaches, and which part of it you want to redesign is far stronger. If you are collecting other paperwork for future applications, our international scholarship documents checklist is a useful reference.
Applying for an ASEF project call
- Check the official ASEF website for open calls, under the projects and thematic areas section.
- Read the eligibility criteria, target participant profile and required documents for the programme you have chosen. These differ between projects.
- Complete and submit the online application form before the deadline. Deadlines are stated in Singapore time, for example 23:59 Singapore time on the closing date.
- Wait for the selection result, which is usually sent by email to all applicants.
- If selected, book economy class travel and confirm the reimbursement ceiling and accommodation details with the ASEF organisers.
On step 5: do not book a flight above the ceiling and hope for the best. Confirm the amount first.
Timing: calls open all year, not on one date
There is no single annual intake. ASEF runs a continuous schedule of seminars, youth leadership training and educational workshops, and each project has its own deadline and portal. One example cycle looked like this:
| Stage | Example timing |
|---|---|
| Applications close | 3 July 2026 |
| Selection results by email | By the end of July 2026 |
| In-person training | 7-9 September 2026 |
Treat this as an illustration only. Confirm the exact deadline and notification timing for your project on the official portal. Note the gap between results and the training: roughly a month or so in this example. For Pakistani passport holders who need a visa for the host country, that window can be tight. Start gathering visa paperwork as soon as you apply, not when you are selected. Our guide to common visa rejection reasons covers mistakes that apply to short trips as well.
Who should apply and who should skip it
Apply if you already work in one of the seven themes, you can show influence over policy or practice, and you can leave work for a few days in person. These grants are short and focused, and they suit mid-career professionals who want an international network more than a qualification.
Skip it if you are looking for degree funding, tuition coverage or a living allowance. ASEF does not offer any of that through these grants. You would be better served by our all Singapore scholarships roundup or a degree-level programme.
Mistakes applicants make with ASEF calls
- Applying without checking whether their nationality is eligible for that particular call.
- Getting the time zone wrong. A deadline at 23:59 Singapore time closes several hours before midnight in Pakistan.
- Writing a generic motivation statement that could fit any project. Each call has a target participant profile, so write to it.
- Treating "fully funded" as "everything paid". Airfare has a ceiling and is reimbursed, and other costs are not listed as covered.
- Missing calls entirely. Check the ASEF projects page regularly and subscribe to the monthly ASEF eNewsletter for alerts on new calls.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ASEF grant a degree scholarship?
No. It funds participation in short professional training programmes, seminars and capacity-building workshops. Eligible levels are listed as professional, capacity building and short course.
Can Pakistani citizens apply?
Participation is open to citizens of ASEM partner countries who meet each project's criteria. Check on the official ASEF website whether Pakistan is eligible for the specific call before applying.
Does ASEF pay for my flight in advance?
Economy class airfare is reimbursed up to a maximum ceiling. Coordinate with the organisers after selection to confirm the ceiling and the reimbursement process before you book.
Do I need an English test score?
The requirement is working proficiency in English. No specific test or score is listed, so show your English ability through your CV and application materials, and check the project call for any extra requirement.
When is the next deadline?
Deadlines vary by project. One programme closed on 3 July 2026. Calls open throughout the year, so check the ASEF projects page and the eNewsletter for current openings.
Before you apply, read the current call on the official ASEF website and review the full scholarship page for a quick summary.