The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program (NCS) is open to scholars who have attained a level of national or international recognition and professional accomplishment in the area of higher education and its role in national and global economic development. The New Century Scholars Program plays a vital role in forging new links among scholars and professionals from around the world who will work together to seek solutions to issues and concerns that affect humankind.
Each year approximately 30 outstanding scholars and practitioners from around the world are selected as New Century Scholars and invited to participate in the program through an open competition. Approximately one-third will be U.S. citizens, while the remaining two thirds will be visiting scholars from countries with an operational Fulbright Scholar Program (including Canada).
The NCS program will provide a platform for scholars from around the world to engage in debate and dialogue based on multidisciplinary research and to develop new global models for understanding the social context within which nations and communities shape their responses to the many challenges of the 21st century.
Under the guidance of an appointed Distinguished Scholar Leader, NCS scholars will be challenged to move beyond their individual research and to engage in a collaborative, multidisciplinary examination of the announced topic. Prospective applicants should note that the NCS program is not the best vehicle for supporting a traditional individual research project.
The NCS program is designed specifically to combine the traditional Fulbright research exchange experience with a collective program of research and action. The latter includes a series of three seminar meetings, along with ongoing virtual communication among the multinational and multidisciplinary participants. At the end of the program year, NCS scholars will convene to share the results of their individual research and collaborative engagement and to develop a set of recommendations for initiatives that will translate the results of their collaborative thinking into tangible action plans at the local, regional or global level.
Award Provisions
Individuals selected as Fulbright New Century Scholars will conduct research related to the NCS program objectives, undertake an international research visit of two to three months in duration, participate in all activities of the program (including the pre-program orientation session, the mid-term meeting, and the final plenary seminar), and engage in ongoing discussion and debate with fellow NCS Scholars. New Century Scholars receive a grant (in line with their proposed budget) to finance the above activities. All expenditures must be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the program. The grant is paid in two separate instalments. Payments are contingent on the submission of required reports throughout the duration of the grant.
Accommodation and some related local costs connected with the NCS participant's participation in the three program seminars will be covered separately. NCS participants will use NCS grant funds to cover the cost of travel to attend the three program seminars, as well as any miscellaneous costs. Dependents may not accompany NCS participants during the orientation program. It is also understood that no substantial variances will be made from the budget without the prior written approval of the Foundation. Any grant funds not expended or committed for the purposes of the grant, or within the stated period, or within the period of an unfunded extension, will be returned to the Foundation. Unfunded extensions must be approved by CIES.
Grant funds may not be used for the payment of university overhead or other indirect costs. They may, however, be used to provide individual allowances, stipends, or other payments, if required by the approved NCS Project Proposal.
Eligibility
This competition is open to leading scholars and professionals in any discipline relevant to the designated theme as outlined in the section on the NCS Theme in the Program Description. Successful candidates will be established senior scholars or more junior but especially promising younger scholars, they will be active in the academic, public or private sector, and will demonstrate outstanding qualifications and a distinguished record of achievement in an area clearly related to the NCS theme. Applicants must be conducting current research relevant to the program's theme and objectives, be open to exploring and incorporating comparative, interdisciplinary approaches in their investigations, and interested in developing collaborative activities with other NCS Scholars.
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For academic applicants, a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.
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For applicants in the professional fields, the appropriate terminal degree in a relevant field.
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Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and residing in Canada at the time of application. Applicants holding permanent residency "green cards", whether or not they reside in the U.S., are not eligible.
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Must be fluent in English.
How to Apply
The competition is currently closed, and there is presently no timetable to renew the program. If you are interested in a collaborative international project, you may also be interested in the Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research (NEXUS) Program.