Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Feb 1, 2027

Fellowship•Australia · Melbourne · Hybrid

Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity

The University of Melbourne (in partnership with Waipapa Taumata Rau — University of Auckland)

Application Deadline

Closed · July 27, 2026

Reopens ~Jul 2027

Official Page

The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a leadership fellowship hosted by the University of Melbourne, in partnership with Waipapa Taumata Rau — University of Auckland. It is one of seven global Atlantic Fellows programs seeded by the philanthropy of Charles “Chuck” Feeney. Each year up to 20 emerging and established Indigenous and Pacific leaders join a Foundation Year built around Indigenous and Pacific knowledge systems. Fellows advance a Social Change Initiative rooted in their own communities and, on completion, become lifelong Senior Fellows in a global network.

Benefits & funding

  • Fee-free University of Melbourne Master’s degree (or Graduate Certificate) in social change leadership.
  • A Foundation Year of five in-person modules plus online tutorials every second week — roughly 40 days away across the year.
  • All travel expenses for the in-person modules are covered by the program.
  • Modules are held across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific, with select experiences hosted in Indigenous and Pacific communities.
  • Lifelong membership of the Atlantic Fellows Senior Fellowship and global network.

Eligibility

  • Citizen or permanent resident of Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, or an eligible Pacific Island nation.
  • An undergraduate degree, or 5–8 years of social change work experience; the program targets mid-career leaders.
  • Not enrolled in another educational program and no thesis under examination as of January 2027.
  • English proficiency meeting University of Melbourne entry requirements; a valid passport (or the ability to obtain one); availability for around 40 days of travel across the year.
  • Not currently participating in another Atlantic Fellows program.

Can you apply?

Worth a closer look

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  • Eligible nationalities

    Australia · New Zealand · American Samoa · Cook Islands · Micronesia · Fiji · French Polynesia · Guam · Kiribati · Nauru · New Caledonia · Niue

    + 10 more

    Palau · Papua New Guinea · Marshall Islands · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Wallis and Futuna

    Not in your profile yet

  • Education required

    Bachelor

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  • Appears to have an age limit “up to 20”

    confirm in the requirements

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Application process

  1. 1
    Review the eligibility criteria on the official site.
  2. 2
    Prepare your responses on your social change work, community connection, and a proposed Social Change Initiative.
  3. 3
    Submit the online application before the deadline.
  4. 4
    Shortlisted candidates are assessed; results are announced in November 2026.

Program timeline

  1. Applications close (11:59 pm AEST)

    Jul 27, 2026

  2. Results announced

    Nov 2, 2026

  3. Induction

    2026-11 to 2027-01

  4. Foundation Year begins

    2027-02