Fulbright NZ has upcoming information session at NZ universities. Check the dates here. An online session is on 7 July 2026, 5:30pm, online here.
Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards are for New Zealand academics, artists or professionals to lecture and/or conduct research at US institutions. Awards valued at up to US$37,500 are granted each year, towards three to five months of lecturing and/or research.
These awards are available for lecturing and/or research in any field, and allow Fulbright Scholars to be hosted at any eligible US institute.
These awards are not intended for the main purpose of studying for American degrees, completing doctoral dissertations, or attending conferences.
You can also read about Dr Rangi Matamua’s rich and rewarding Scholar experience, undertaking research and making global connections with fellow indigenous researchers – all while enjoying the cultural exchange experience with his family.
Closing date: 1 October annually
NZ Scholar Awards aren’t just for academics – we encourage professionals, artists and other leaders to apply. There are a large variety of US institutions who host Scholar Award recipients – universities or colleges, museums, non-profits, think-tanks or any organisation with a research or lecturing component.
Fulbright New Zealand offers two categories of NZ Scholar Award:
- Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards – awards for New Zealanders to lecture and/or research in any field – read more and apply (above).
- Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award – one award annually, for a New Zealander with a focus on Indigenous development whose proposed research aligns with the research themes of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga – see the Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award.
Pip Thomas
Pip Thomas will research the career transition experiences of New Zealand student-athletes navigating US collegiate programmes, focusing on transitional demands, institutional responsibility, and individual agency at Illinois State University.
Pip is a researcher, practitioner, and consultant specialising in emerging athlete career transitions, and Founder of Continuum Performance Hubs. She is based in Auckland.
Sophie van Hamelsveld
Sophie van Hamelsveld will research the relationships between harmful algal blooms and antibiotic resistance at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Sophie is a Senior Scientist at the New Zealand Institute of Public Health and Forensic Science in Christchurch.
Lefaoali’i Dion Enari (Lepa, Malaela, Vaiala, Nofoali’i, Vaiusu, Safune, Saleaaumua-Samoa)
Lefaoali’i Dion Enari will research Indigenous Dance as Physical Activity and Educational learning at Brigham Young University Hawai’i in Hawai’i. Dion is an Associate Professor at Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Maori, an Indigenous Research Centre at MIT Unitec, Auckland. He is also Honorary Associate Professor at University of Queensland.
Riz Firestone
Riz Firestone will conduct research and co-design a youth-focused type 2 diabetes prevention programme at the Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles.
Riz is a Professor of Pacific and Public Health at the Centre for Public Health Research at Massey University, Wellington. She currently lives in Wellington.
Hamish McDougall
Hamish McDougall will research a history of Nuclear-Free New Zealand at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Hamish is an international historian of the Cold War, decolonisation and international trade.
Until recently he was Executive Director at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and is currently Non-Resident Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington; and Research Associate at the Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland. Hamish is based in Auckland.
Albert Refiti (Sā Aiono i Fasito’outa, Aiga o Leali’ifano i Vaovai, Samoa)
Albert Refiti will research and write a book title Cosmogonic Artefacts: Spatial Exposition of Pacific Architecture, while being based at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City.
Albert is a Professor of Art, Design and Material Culture at Auckland University of Technology in Aotearoa NZ.