Q. If I'm not a student, staff, faculty, or alumnus (maximum seven years since graduation) of one of the nine colleges, can I still apply?
A. No.

Q. What if I don’t speak Chinese?
A. Many participants use translators to pursue their projects. Translators are not hard to find in large Chinese cities where many people are studying English. Some of them will even work for free, for a chance to practice. If you expect to use a translator, then you should include those costs in your budget. If you speak Chinese, or if you plan to study it before your trip, then mention this in your proposal.

Q. Can I bring a companion?
A. Yes, but only if the project is one that really needs or can benefit from another person. We do much prefer to see solo travel, because pairs of travelers often spend more time relating to each other than to the Chinese, and we’d rather see you interact with Chinese. If you want to bring a companion, then you need to say who the person is and why they are necessary. In general, the companion must be independently eligible for an Avery China grant, and they should submit a separate proposal. In your proposals, both of you should mention your intention to travel together. It occasionally happens that one proposal is funded and the other is not, if one is much stronger than the other. If your companion is not eligible separately, they should plan on paying their own expenses.

Q. Can I go to Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macao on an Avery grant?
A. Only as a stopover on the way into the mainland. Your project should not be pursued in these places, but entirely within the Chinese mainland. If your trip is longer than six months, you may need to visit Hong Kong to procure a new visa, and this is okay.

Q. I have a friend in Tokyo I’d like to visit on the way back from China. Is that allowed?
A. Any expenses resulting from unnecessary stopovers or sightseeing on the way to or from China should be borne by the traveler. Grant monies cannot be used.

Q. Can I go to Tibet on an Avery grant?
A. Yes, but such proposals receive a little more scrutiny than others. You should explain why you need to do your project in Tibet as opposed to somewhere else in China.

Q. Can I enroll in a course or training program as part of my China adventure?
A. No. Such projects are not eligible.

Q. I need to purchase equipment such as a video camera for my project. Is that allowed?
A. In the past, the selection committee has tended to decline requests for expensive equipment. Even if the project is approved, your budget may be adjusted to eliminate these items. If the equipment is truly necessary, it would be wise to think of another way to get it in case the grant does not include sufficient funding. If Avery does agree to purchase equipment, then it will revert back to your university after your trip is over.

Q. How do I prepare a budget? I have never been to China and I don’t know what things cost.
A. Consult travel guides such as the Lonely Planet guide to China for information.

Q. Should my budget include the cost of a visa, travel immunizations, and insurance?
A. Yes, include these things if you have no way to get them without using grant monies. You should include emergency medical insurance only if you do not already have health coverage from your school or employer.

Q. I have more questions. Whom can I ask?
A. Contact the program representative at your school. He or she can help you develop your idea and polish your proposal so that it has the best chance of success.