Fulbright US Scholar Awards

You are eligible to apply for this award if you:

• are a US citizen;
• and are not a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand;
• and are not currently living in New Zealand.

Preference for Fulbright scholar awards is given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar award, or had extensive recent experience in New Zealand (ie. have not studied, taught, researched or worked in New Zealand for a period aggregating more than nine months/one academic year during the past five years).

• International travel of NZ$4,000 for the grantee and NZ$3,000 for one dependent;
• Stipend of NZ$3,000 per month for the scholar and up to one dependent, for 3-5 months;
• A family allowance of NZ$500 per month for two or more dependents;
• Participation in an orientation programme run by Fulbright New Zealand during your stay in New Zealand;
• A basic health benefit plan covering a maximum of US$100,000 per sickness or injury.

These entitlements are set on the basis that scholars will receive financial assistance in the form of paid leave and/or research grants during their award. Higher stipend entitlements will be provided to scholars not receiving financial assistance in the form of paid leave and/or research grants during their award. Exact entitlements will depend on individual circumstances. The maximum possible stipend is NZ$6,000 per month. The scholar is also entitled to the family allowance (if applicable) and travel entitlements as stated above.

• 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 before the value of your award can be confirmed;
• The period of your award is three to five months;
• You must be in New Zealand in time to attend the Fulbright Orientation Programme, which runs in early February of the year following confirmation of the award;
• You will be required to undertake a full medical examination before applying for your visa;
• You must travel on a US passport, and New Zealand immigration documentation must be completed from within the US;
• International travel will only be funded between the US and New Zealand, and must be on either an American or New Zealand carrier;
• You may be required to fulfil some Fulbright New Zealand media requirements before your departure for New Zealand, during your exchange and/or on return to the US;
• 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 New Zealand.

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 the United States of America. 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. To support their understanding of the Fulbright mission, American grantees are required to attend a Fulbright orientation programme held each February in Wellington.

• You must complete and submit an online application by the application deadline: 16 September;
• Please note: for the 2020 application cycle an extended deadline of 15 October is in place for the submission of invitation letters. The extended deadline applies to submission of invitation letters only. All other required materials and the application must be submitted by 16 September.
• You must also submit all required support documents to CIES by the application deadline.
• You will be advised the outcome of your application between January and June of the year following application.

For further information, see the CIES website or contact our Programme Manager for this award, Pip Climo – pip@fulbright.org.nz / (04) 494 1500

More detailed information about the application process and a link to the online application form can be found on the CIES website.