The University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS) focuses on generating evidence-based and high-impact research to support persons forcibly displaced by climate or conflict.

To further this mission, CAPRS offers the Non-Residential Fellowship (NRF), an opportunity focused on supporting the conversion of existing research to impact-oriented policy papers across the Asia Pacific. More specifically, the program is to create a supportive platform for scholars who have already completed a masters or doctoral thesis related to forced displacement in the Asia Pacific region – with a focus on converting their research into action-oriented impact.

NRF fellows receive a NZ $12,500 award over a six-month period to support them to convert their masters/PhD thesis into an action-oriented policy paper / product.

Each fellow will be assigned a mentor to work with them during the fellowship. Professional development seminars will be held during the fellowship to support fellows in their work. These seminars will provide guidance on research impact, working with the media, communicating findings across different audiences, and fostering the mentor/mentee relationship.

Fellows will be required to have completed their policy paper conversion by the end of the fellowship period. In addition, Fellows will be expected to present their findings and recommendations to key stakeholders through a virtual forum at the end of the Programme.

Fellows will also attend a special workshop on academic publishing, which will be organised by Routledge, a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences.

This fellowship programme has been sponsored by CAPRS' partner institution, Potato Productions Singapore and Boyd Clarke Foundation.

Further information can be found here.

Applications for 2023 have closed. The next round of applications will be advertised in mid-2024.

• Must have recently completed and received qualifications in either masters or PhD studies.
• Must conduct their work in the Asia Pacific and be pertinent to the wider region.
• Must convert research that is explicitly related to displacement. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
  • Education in emergencies
    • May include access at the primary, secondary, or tertiary level
  • Inclusive education for forcibly displaced communities
    • May include factors based on race, disability, neurodivergent, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.
  • Climate change induced displacement
  • Role of gender and sexuality in displaced and refugee communities
  • Effects of COVID-19 on displaced and refugee communities
  • Mental health of displaced people in host communities
  • Work opportunities post displacement
  • Government responses and attitudes towards newly arrived refugees and its impact on opinions of the general population
  • Cultural Heritage “on the move” – Intangible cultural heritage of displaced communities
• Preference will be given to applicants who have lived experience of forced displacement.

• 1 page CV: format with selected articles, current status, education background, work experience (where applicable)
• Thesis Synopsis: Summary of your thesis including contribution to existing scholarship, justification, methodology, results, discussion.
• Policy paper proposal: anticipated outcome, details of anticipated action-oriented project.
• University support: Letter from a university advisor that supports your project.
  • This letter will speak to the applicant’s research and work in their field of interest. The applicant may select who is best suited to provide this letter.

2022/2023 Fellows can be found here.

2021/2022 Fellows can be found here.