Japan Fellowship

The National Library of Australia offers an annual fellowship to researchers in Japanese studies.

The Japan Fellowship aims to promote the National Library’s collections as a national resource for the study of Asia. The Fellowship is intended to encourage research based on the Japanese collections and the production of publications based on them.

Established by the Library in 2006, the Japan Fellowship is supported by the H.S. Williams Trust Fund. Harold Stannett Williams (1898-1987) donated his personal collection on Japan and the West to the Library in 1978. 

Who can apply?

The Fellowship is open to established Australian and international researchers in Japanese studies. Fellowships are not intended for post-doctoral or early career researchers. Fellowships are not provided to assist with the completion of degree studies and applications from currently enrolled students will not be considered. Fellowships are awarded once only to each individual; subsequent applications from previous recipients will not be considered.

Applicants for Japan Fellowships apply for a Harold White Fellowship using the Harold White Fellowship application form. There is no need for applicants to specify that they are applying for a Japan Fellowship – the Fellowship is awarded to a successful Harold White Fellowship applicant whose research topic is in Japanese studies. 

What are the benefits of a Fellowship?

The Library’s Fellowships give scholars and writers the means and the uninterrupted time to work with the Library’s significant Japanese collections, consisting of books, journals, newspapers, maps and electronic resources in Japanese and Western languages.

What assistance is offered?

Fellows are provided with a return economy airfare to Canberra, an honorarium of $850 per week for the period of the Fellowship in Canberra, use of a fully equipped office, 24 hour access to the Library, and free photocopying and interlibrary loans. Reference support is provided by Japanese speaking staff.

The Library also awards Honorary Fellowships to scholars and writers who do not require financial assistance (i.e. airfare and honorarium) but who would benefit from the other privileges of the Fellowships.

Applicants based in Canberra are eligible for Fellowships but normally would be offered an Honorary Fellowship as the stipend is designed to support travel and accommodation. Exceptional circumstances may be considered by the Fellowships Advisory Committee. 

Expected outcomes

All fellows are required to take up their Fellowships during the calendar year for which the Fellowship is awarded and to stay in Canberra for a continuous block of at least three months, spending the majority of their Fellowship time at the Library.  Fellows give a public lecture and a staff talk towards the end of their tenure, and provide the Library with a brief report on their research outcomes and their experience of the Library’s services.  The Library also asks Fellows – where appropriate – to give the Library the first opportunity to publish the results of their research.

Selection criteria

Fellowships are awarded by the National Library Council, on the advice of an independent committee of representatives from Australia’s learned Academies, the Independent Scholars Association of Australia, the Australian Society of Authors and the Australian Library and Information Association. 
The Committee assesses applications against specified criteria, including:

  • the capacity of the Library’s collections to support the proposed research, especially the extent to which the research might be uniquely supported by the collections
  • the scholarly or creative record of the applicant as shown by publication record and – for academic applicants – positions held; and
  • referee reports. 

The Committee is not bound by national research priorities, and does not consider current topicality of the proposed research.  The Committee does not take into account place of residence, employment status or other support available to the applicant, with the exception that Fellowships are not awarded to applicants with a current Australian Research Council grant for the same research project.

How can I apply?

Applications for 2014 Fellowships are now closed. Applicants will be notified of results by the end of August 2013.

Contact

Fellowships and scholarships

Phone: + 61 (0)2 6262 1258
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6273 5081
Email: fellowships@nla.gov.au