Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships at Harvard University

Frank Knox was a highly-regarded American politician and businessman with a rich and varied career as a newspaper publisher, a soldier, a vice-presidential candidate, and as US Secretary of the Navy in the 1940s. He championed the concept of democracy as government of the people and believed strongly that cross-cultural exchange was vital for international peace. 

Annie Reid Knox set up these scholarships to honour her late husband and asked that future scholars be selected on the basis of "future promise of leadership, strength of character, keen mind, a balanced judgement and a devotion to the democratic ideal."

The Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship program provides funding for students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to conduct graduate study at Harvard University.

Eligibility:

Knox Fellowships are open to men and women who:

  1. are New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents at the time of application; and
  2. have completed or will complete a first or higher degree at a New Zealand university; and
  3. are studying for a first or higher degree and will be eligible to graduate the year of application; or have completed a first or higher degree and graduated no earlier than four years prior to year of application.

Please note that persons who graduated more than four years prior to year of application will not be eligible to apply.

Applications through country of citizenship:

Citizens of New Zealand who are currently studying at or have recently graduated from a university in another Knox-eligible country (Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom) may be eligible to submit a Knox Fellowship application. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis and candidates should contact Rebecca Lock at the Committee on General Scholarships at Harvard University to discuss their particular circumstances.

Value of the Fellowship:

A Knox Fellowship pays Harvard tuition and health insurance fees and provides a stipend sufficient to cover a student's living expenses for the 10-month academic year. Knox Fellowship funding is guaranteed for up to two years of study at Harvard for students in degree programmes requiring more than one year of study.

Number of Fellowships awarded:

The number of fellowships awarded each year varies.

Opening date

1 July

Closing Date:

1 December

How to apply:

Check your eligibility.

Read the Regulations for the Fellowship.

Apply on-line - the link to the website for on-line applications is here.

Decisions made:

New Zealand nominations to the Harvard Committee on General Scholarships are made in December.

Final decisions are made by Harvard in March/April of the following year.