About Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships

General Information

Nuffield Australia awards Scholarships each year to farmers in Australia. The objective is to increase practical farming knowledge and management skills and techniques generally. These scholarships give Australian citizens the opportunity to study farming practices in New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the Americas and those countries best suited to the Scholar. They will also promote a closer understanding between farmers in the countries visited.

Upon returning to Australia it is expected that Scholars will be able to actively spread the knowledge and understanding they have gained among their fellow farmers and others.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships give a unique opportunity to stand back from your day-to-day occupation, and to study a subject of interest to you. You do not need academic qualifications, but you will need to persuade the Selectors that you have the qualities to make the best use of an opportunity that is only given to a few.

DOWNLOAD a copy of the 2011 Nuffield Farming Scholarships brochure (2.7 MB pdf file)

Access to the world's best - a message from the Chairman

It is without a doubt that Global agriculture has entered a new era of volatility in 2009. To tackle this Australian agriculture requires farmers with knowledge and vision, and the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances.

Never has it been more important to understand these issues first-hand. Nuffield Australia gives young practicing farmers the opportunity to explore these issues as they are occurring, bringing back the latest ideas from their international travels and helping Australian Agriculture develop strategies to meet its challenges.

This year we are offering 20 scholarships to practising farmers or farm managers. A Nuffield Scholarship offers successful applicants a six week global focus program visiting the powerhouses of world agriculture including the US, the European Union , China and Brazil, after which scholars will pursue their individual study topic for a further 10 weeks.

I encourage you to apply to join a worldwide agricultural network that will enhance your knowledge and develop the personal skills needed to face what will be some of the most exciting and volatile times agriculture has seen in the past 50 years.

David Brownhill
Nuffield Scholar 1998
Chairman, Nuffield Australia
Farming Scholars.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship program

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship Program 2011:

Pre-tour briefing to meet other Scholars and be updated on domestic and international agricultural issues.
Global Focus Program – six weeks spent in various countries possibly including New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America, China, Canada, Brazil, Ireland and France, investigating agricultural marketing, trade and environmental issues, and experiencing the social and cultural aspects of each region.
Meet with Nuffield Scholars from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and France at the annual Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference.
Individual study program in the Scholar’s nominated country or countries of choice.
Submit a written report on the individual study program.
Make a verbal presentation about the individual study program.
Financial assistance to the value of $28,000 (subject to conditions) to cover costs associated with the pre-tour briefing, overseas study and living expenses during the study period. Costs exceeding the value of assistance must be met by the Scholar.
Assistance from the Nuffield network to develop itineraries for individual study programs and gain access to the institutions and people central to the Scholar’s area of study.

Benefits of winning a scholarship

Opportunity to research a topic that the scholar believes will add value to the Australian agricultural industry.
Become a member of Nuffield Australia to promote agriculture and agriculturally related issues.
Become a member of a worldwide network of more than 1,200 Nuffield Farming Scholars, who have enjoyed the unique Nuffield experience.

The rewards of Nuffield

Nuffield Scholars both in Australia and around the world have achieved distinction in many fields over the years. Positive proof of both the calibre of the Scholars selected, and the effect and value of the Scholarships are such that a high percentage of Scholars have gone on to an extraordinary range of senior positions.

Former Scholars, in other countries as well as Australia have become Federal and State Ministers and Politicians, and Chairmen and members of national and regional commodity marketing boards. Dozens of Scholars have made a significant impact at regional and local level, both in community affairs and in farm management techniques. Others have made spectacular careers as advisers and managers both in their own countries and in a number of cases as consultants in third world countries.

In every case Nuffield Scholars attribute a proportion of the responsibility for their later career success to the Scholarship and the continuing friendship and associations that followed.

The learning process continues for life, being reinforced by annual State tours, the Australian Innovative Farming Conference and an International Conference every third year.

Life as a Nuffield Scholar

As a Nuffield Scholar you will become part of a select group of innovative, free thinking people.

After your study tour you are expected to produce a written report and communicate your new knowledge and experience to others in the industry in which you work.

Your association with the Nuffield program won’t end just because you have finished your scholarship. The program offers on-going communication with other Scholars, seminars, and an international triennial conference.