The Fulbright-Harkness New Zealand Fellowship is for an emerging New Zealand leader in any field of study or vocation (excluding health care policy and practice*) to study or research in the US. One award valued at NZ$15,000 is granted each year, towards a minimum of six weeks of study or research.
Closing date: 1 May 2013
*Candidates in the field of health care should apply for the Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice provided by The Commonwealth Fund.
This award is offered in partnership with The New Zealand Harkness Fellowships Trust, a group of alumni of the Commonwealth Fund’s Harkness Fellowships.
The award is for a short fellowship programme which best suits the grantee’s professional and personal objectives. This award is not intended for a long programme of formal graduate study, nor is it intended for faculty/academics to conduct academic research.
The purposes of the Fellowship are to:
- Reinforce New Zealand-United States links by enabling actual or potential leaders and opinion formers in New Zealand to benefit from new ideas, practices and new contacts in the US;
- Increase the Fellow’s ability to bring about change and improvements in New Zealand;
- Help improve the cross-fertilisation of ideas and experience between New Zealand and the United States; and
- Build a leadership network on both sides of the Pacific, encourage ongoing exchange between New Zealand and the United States and establish enduring relationships offering reciprocal benefits to both countries.
Previous New Zealand Harkness Fellows have included managers in the public and private sectors, lawyers, policy analysts, economists, academics, journalists, social scientists, educators, artists, and central and local government officers. Many Harkness Fellows have gone on to reach the top of their chosen professions. Well-known Fellows include: Roger Blakeley, Jo Brosnahan, Sharon Crosbie, Whaimutu Dewes, Richard Faull, Hugh Fletcher, Ron Paterson, Karen Poutasi, Kara Puketapu, Sir John Robertson, Ross Tanner, Brian Tyler, Sir Wilson Whineray, Bridget Wickham and Bryce Wilkinson.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- have a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification conferred by a professional body, and an outstanding record of achievement in their own professional career; and
- meet the citizenship requirements for this award.
Citizenship requirements
You are eligible to apply for this award if you:
- are a New Zealand citizen;
- and are not a permanent resident or citizen of the US;
- and are not currently living in the US.
There is no fixed age limit but preference is given to applicants in the 25-45 year age range.
Preference for Fulbright scholar awards is given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar award, or had extensive recent experience in the US. (ie. have not studied, taught, researched or worked in the US for a period aggregating more than nine months/one academic year during the past five years)
Fulbright awards will not be granted for medical programmes which include any clinical activities involving direct patient care.
Entitlement
- NZ$15,000 to assist with travel (international and domestic), accommodation and per diem expenses associated with the visit to the US;
- The opportunity to participate in various programmes and activities available to Fulbright scholars in the US, and to apply for supplementary awards where applicable;
- A basic health benefit plan covering a maximum of US$50,000 per sickness or injury.
Fellows are expected to contribute to the costs of the fellowship and are encouraged to secure additional sources of funding wherever possible.
Award conditions
- Your award must be approved by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington, DC;
- You will be required to provide Fulbright New Zealand with evidence of financial support (or not) from your home institution/employer before the value of your award can be confirmed;
- The period of your award is six weeks (42 days) to six months;
- Your award must be taken up between 1 August-31 December of the calendar year in which it is granted. Note that you will be eligible to arrive and depart from the US 30 days either side of your award dates;
- You will be required to undertake a full medical examination before applying for your visa;
- You must travel on a New Zealand passport, and US immigration documentation must be completed from within New Zealand. Grantees must use the DS-2019 form provided by Fulbright New Zealand to obtain an Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa to enter the United States. You will be required to attend a visa interview at the US Consulate in Auckland in order to obtain your visa;
- International travel will only be funded between New Zealand and the US, and must be on either an American or New Zealand carrier;
- You may be required to fulfil some Fulbright New Zealand/New Zealand Harkness Fellowships Trust media requirements before your departure for the US, during your exchange and/or on return to New Zealand;
- You must provide Fulbright New Zealand with copies of any articles, research papers or theses resulting from your award. A final report must also be completed before you depart from the US;
- Fulbright grantees must travel to the US on an Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa. A requirement of this visa is that you must return to your home country for a cumulative total of two years at the end of your exchange visitor programme before becoming eligible to apply to live in the US. This home-country foreign residency requirement is in keeping with the philosophy of the Fulbright exchange programme, that you return to New Zealand to share your experiences. Note that you will not be prohibited from travelling to the US for short-term visits on the visa waiver program or a non-immigrant visa.
Fulbright mission
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 and be effective ambassadors for New Zealand. In addition to the monetary, educational and cultural exchange benefits made possible by the award, Fulbright grantees carry the prestige of the Fulbright programme along with them throughout their careers. Alumni are expected to succeed and be ‘thought leaders’ in their respective fields/careers, and to support and remain engaged with the Fulbright programme for the rest of their lives.
Application process and forms
- You must complete and submit the application form below by the application deadline*;
- You must also submit all required support documents to us by the application deadline;
- Interviews will be held in Wellington in early June 2013. Fulbright New Zealand will pay the costs of travel to Wellington only for applicants residing in New Zealand. Applicants outside New Zealand who are unable to attend an interview in person may be disadvantaged;
- We will advise you of the outcome of your application by late June.
* Note that if the application deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is extended to 5:00pm on the next business day.
Application form and support documents
Further information
For further information, contact our Programme Manager for this award, Stefanie Joe - stefanie@fulbright.org.nz / (04) 494 1507
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.