Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards

Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards are for promising graduate students to undertake postgraduate study or research at a US institution in any field of study.

Approximately eight highly prestigious and competitive awards are offered each year to graduate students who show academic excellence, leadership potential and the ability to be cultural ambassadors for New Zealand. Awards are granted for advanced academic study or independent research in the US.

Studying in the US is an opportunity to explore America, share your culture and make friends with students from around the world. The quality of teaching, facilities and resources is renowned worldwide.

Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards are for graduate students from any field of study, however priority will be given to candidates from fields of study not covered by other graduate awards.

Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Awards Fulbright offers a range of graduate awards for New Zealanders, in different fields of study: Fulbright-Platinum Triangle Scholarship in Entrepreneurship in a knowledge economy-related field Fulbright-Ministry of Research, Science & Technology Graduate Awards in fields targeted to support growth and innovation in New Zealand Fulbright-EQC Graduate Award in Natural Disaster Research in the field of natural disaster research Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards in any field of study You may only apply for one award, and should apply for the award most relevant to your proposed field of study. Your application may, at the discretion of Fulbright New Zealand, also be considered for another of our graduate awards providing you meet the criteria of that award.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• have at least a four-year degree (or a three-year degree with honours), but not hold a doctoral degree at the time you take up your award
  
• plan to undertake postgraduate study or research at a US institution for a period of at least six months
• meet the citizenship requirements for this award:

Citizenship requirements

• are a New Zealand citizen
• AND are not a permanent resident or citizen of the US
• AND are not currently living in the US*
  

* Applicants outside New Zealand who are unable to attend an interview in person may be disadvantaged.

Preference for Fulbright awards is given to candidates who have not had extensive recent experience in the US.

Fulbright awards will not be granted for medical programmes which include any clinical activities involving direct patient care.

Entitlement

• return airfare to the US
• a one-off payment of US$25,000. The award will be reduced to US $15,000 if the recipient enrols in an academic programme of less than nine months duration
• basic health and accident insurance up to US$100,000
• support and enrichment seminars run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) throughout your stay in the US

The value of the Fulbright award is not intended to fully fund your entire course of study. For this reason, you should be investigating additional funding from universities and private and government sources whilst you await the outcome of your Fulbright application. Fulbright students can often source additional funding through the US institution they attend.

We can assist you with identifying the right US university, your application and applying for financial support.

Successful applicants may also be eligible for further supplementary awards.

Award conditions

• you must plan to be in the US for a minimum of six months
• your award must be approved by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington, DC
• your award must be taken up in the American academic year following official confirmation of the award, and no earlier than July of that year
• if selected for an award, you will be required to undertake a full medical examination
• you must travel on a New Zealand passport, and US immigration documentation must be completed from within New Zealand
• international travel will only be funded between New Zealand and the US
• you may apply for academic training in the US for up to 18 months upon completion of your degree
• in keeping with US immigration requirements and the philosophy of the Fulbright Programme, you will be required to return to New Zealand for a minimum of two years before becoming eligible for permanent residency in the US

Fulbright orientation

It was Senator J William Fulbright's mission to build peace through the mutual understanding of cultures. Fulbright applicants and grantees are expected to understand and support this mission. To support this understanding, New Zealand grantees are required to attend a Fulbright orientation held each June in Wellington.

Application process

• you must complete and submit an online application by the deadline
• submit all support documents to us by the deadline
• interviews will be held in Wellington on 18 & 19 September 2009. Fulbright New Zealand will pay the costs of travel to Wellington only for applicants residing in New Zealand
• we will advise you of the outcome of your application by the end of October

Application form and support documents

Applications for 2010 Fulbright New Zealand graduate awards have closed. Applications for 2011 awards will open in February 2010. Please check back then to apply.

Further information

FAQs

The Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Award FAQs document answers many common questions about our awards:

Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Award FAQs:

graduateaward-faqs.pdf (55kB)

For further information, contact our Programme Manager and Educational Adviser.

Fulbright New Zealand has Campus Advisers stationed on all major New Zealand campuses. Our Advisers are all Fulbright alumni who are available to discuss their exchange experiences with students and staff, as well as to give basic information about our awards.

Supplementary Awards

Recipients of Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards who study in the field of humanities and/or social sciences are eligible to apply for the supplementary Robin W. and Avril Flockton Winks Award, which provides an additional US $1,500 towards research costs and book purchases.

Recipients of Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards who study in the field of political science, international relations, journalism or international law are eligible to apply for the supplementary Sir Wallace Rowling Memorial Award, which provides an additional US $2,500 towards the cost of taking up an internship in Washington DC during the grantee's exchange to the US.

Eligible grantees will be invited to apply once their Graduate Award has been confirmed.

More on Study in the US

Study in the US	Education Services
The Study in the US section of our website gives you all the fundamental information you need to know about studying in the US.	Find out what services Fulbright New Zealand offers for students and scholars in the Education Services section of our website.