Earlyface

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is offering Postgraduate Awards for field research in developing countries. Awards are granted to masters and doctoral New Zealand students who are undertaking the research in a developing country. Award cost includes airfare, travel and health insurance, domestic travel, daily allowance of $40 (to contribute towards food and accommodation costs). Submit your application to the scholarships office of the University at which you are enrolled.

Study Subject (s):The research award is available in Investing in economic development, Promoting human development, Building safe and secure communities, Improving resilience and responding to disaster, Cross-cutting issues, Approaches to development in the Pacific.

Course Level: This postgraduate award is awarded for field research.

Scholarship Provider: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

Scholarship can be taken at: Developing countries-Pacific, Asia, Latin America, Southern Africa.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for an award, applicants must:

•be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; and

•be undertaking the research as part of a New Zealand based Master’s degree or Doctorate; and

•be undertaking the research in a developing country (or multiple countries) listed in the Eligible Research Locations and Themes document.

•be undertaking the research for a minimum period of four weeks in the year following the year of application.

•have received (or will receive prior to commencement) university ethics approval to conduct the research.

•have received (or will receive prior to commencement) approval to conduct research from the appropriate government authorities of the country in which research will be conducted.

Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: New Zealand citizen or permanent resident are eligible for this postgraduate award.

Scholarship Description: The goal of the Awards is to support research by New Zealand students on development issues of relevance to the New Zealand Aid Programme and to foster capacity (development field knowledge and research skills) of future New Zealand development professionals. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), is making available Postgraduate Field Research Awards to assist Master’s and Doctoral students meet a proportion of their travel expenses and associated costs in carrying out field research in developing countries.

Number of award(s): The number of awards available in any year will be determined by MFAT.

Duration of award (s): The field research supported by an award must be carried out in the year following the year of application. The award must support research taking place over a minimum period of four weeks.

What does it cover? The value of an award is:

- up to NZ$4,000 for research as part of a Master’s programme

- up to NZ$6,000 for research as part of a Doctoral programme.

Costs covered by an award: – international and national flights (cheapest available economy fares).

- Travel and health insurance.

- Domestic travel such as bus, ferry, taxi and train (cheapest available, safe and practical means).

- Daily allowance of $40 (to contribute towards food and accommodation costs).

Selection Criteria: The criteria used to select the most suitable applications will be:

1. Quality of the Research Proposal.

2. Relevance of the proposed research in the priority and focus areas of the New Zealand Aid Programme as listed in the Eligible Research Locations and Themes document. Applicants should note that while research is allowed within Latin America and Southern Africa the focus of MFAT remains on the Pacific. The selection committee is requested, where possible, to ensure that more than 70% of the selected research is within the Pacific region.

3. The extent to which the Research Proposal has appropriately considered and addressed relevant cross-cutting issues (gender, environment, and human rights).

4. Potential of the proposed research to contribute to development knowledge (particularly for doctoral candidates).

5. Potential of the proposed research to contribute to development policy and practice (can the research be applied, does it link research questions through to development practice?).

6. Capacity of the applicant to carry out the proposed research and demonstrated commitment to development (eg through previous employment, active membership of relevant NGOs, and/or previous study and study visits).

7. Other awards that the applicant may have received or be seeking.

8. Applications are complete, with all required documents.

Notification: Applicants will be notified by November/December 2013.

How to Apply: Submit your application to the Scholarships Office of the University at which you are enrolled.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is 1 November 2013.

Further Official Scholarship Information and Application