Foundation Research Grants

The Asia New Zealand Foundation offers Research Grants of up to $5,000 to support New Zealand researchers travelling to Asia for fieldwork and research. There are two application rounds per year, with the mid-year round closing 30 June.

This grant is aimed at emerging and early career researchers undertaking contemporary, forward-looking projects that help grow New Zealand's understanding of Asia — particularly in policy-relevant areas such as regional and international trade, defence and security, cyber and technology, politics and urban development, environment and climate change, and international relations and diplomacy.

Funding can be used to cover international travel, accommodation, meals, and research-related fieldwork expenses while in Asia. It cannot be used for tuition fees, conference fees, capital equipment (such as laptops), or personal expenses.

Research does not need to be tied to a degree or qualification — one-off projects and programmes are also welcome.

Your proposal should include

• Clear research objectives and questions
• A case for why the research is timely and important
• Anticipated outcomes and key outputs
• A detailed budget
• An explanation of which parts of Asia you'll visit and who or what you'll engage with

Fieldwork must be completed within one year of the application being accepted. Applications for retrospective funding will not be considered.

On completing their research, successful applicants are asked to submit a financial report and a 700–1,000-word article (with photos) for potential publication on the Foundation's website. You'll also be expected to share your experiences on returning to New Zealand and stay engaged with the Foundation.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. For more information, contact Dr James To at jto@asianz.org.nz.