UNSW Global Student Fellowship 2026 in Australia (Funded Human Rights Fellowship)

Applications are open for the Global Student Fellowship Program 2026 offered by the Australian Human Rights Institute at the University of New South Wales. This prestigious fellowship provides students with financial support to undertake placements with leading human rights and international development organizations across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The program is designed to help students gain practical experience while building careers in human rights, international development, policy, advocacy, and social justice.

Fellowship Overview

• Host Institution: Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW
• Program: Global Student Fellowship
• Location: Australia and Asia-Pacific Region
• Duration: Minimum 6 Weeks (30 days full-time equivalent)
• Funding: Up to AUD 8,500
• Eligibility: UNSW Students
• Field: Human Rights, International Development, Policy, Advocacy, Research, Social Justice

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows receive:

• Fellowship award of up to AUD 8,500
• Placement with leading human rights or development organizations
• Practical professional experience
• Mentorship and networking opportunities
• Exposure to international human rights and development work
• Access to a growing alumni network of human rights professionals
• Career development opportunities in international organizations, NGOs, and public policy sectors.

Fellowship Placements

Past fellows have worked with organizations such as:

• Human Rights Watch
• Engineers Without Borders
• World Food Programme
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• ActionAid
• Australian Human Rights Commission
• CARE Australia
• Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
• Human Rights Law Centre
• Jubilee Australia
• Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a UNSW coursework degree (full-time or part-time).
• Have at least one subject remaining after completing the fellowship.
• Have a minimum WAM of 70.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in human rights and/or international development.
• Be able to complete the fellowship without compromising academic commitments.
• Be willing to participate in fellowship activities and program events.

Required Documents

Applicants typically need to submit:

• Updated CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover Letter (maximum 500 words)
• Academic Transcript
• Additional supporting information as requested during the application process.

Fellowship Format

Depending on the host organization, placements may be:

• In-person
• Hybrid
• Remote (with required in-person engagement)

For overseas fellowships, students are generally expected to spend part of the placement in-country.

Career Impact

Former fellows have gone on to secure positions with organizations including:

• The World Bank
• United Nations Missions
• International NGOs
• Human rights advocacy organizations
• Development agencies and policy institutions.

Why Apply?

The Global Student Fellowship is one of Australia’s leading human rights experiential learning programs. It provides students with hands-on professional experience, international exposure, financial support, and access to organizations working on some of the world’s most pressing human rights and development challenges. The program is highly competitive and attracts applicants from across all academic disciplines.