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Important background information for applicants YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING YOUR APPLICATION. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS SHOULD NOTE THAT SOME CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES HAVE CHANGED FOR 2012 NUFFIELD AWARDS. BackgroundEstablished as travelling awards for farmers in 1947 by the Nuffield Foundation, the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust is now an independent, industry funded charitable organisation. About 20 awards are made each year to people for their self development and the wider benefit to their industry. EligibilityEach year the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust awards a number of scholarships to applicants who work within agriculture, horticulture, forestry, aquaculture and associated industries or are in a position to influence those industries. Applicants are aged between 25 and 45 years (the upper age limit is 45), although a special award is available for young people between 22 and 28 years old, the Young Nuffield (Bob Matson) Award. Successful candidates are those whom the Selection Committee feel will contribute and innovate within their field and in the wider community after their return from study. The Trust seeks people with very special qualities. There is no requirement for academic qualifications, but applicants will already be well established in their career and demonstrate a passion for the industry they work in. The rewards of a Nuffield Scholarship are tremendous, not only for the individual but for their industry. Candidates must normally be resident in the UK. Residents of Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe may apply to the Nuffield Associations in those countries for awards. Scholarships are not awarded to anybody in full-time education or to further research projects. Many industry organisations, individuals, companies or charitable bodies sponsor the awards. Some awards are restricted by topic or geographical area. However, candidates are entered for all awards for which they are considered eligible. The ScholarshipOn the application form you are required to outline your proposal for study. Should your application be successful, you will be awarded funds to travel for a period of no less than eight weeks to wherever you and the Trust agree is appropriate for your study. If you are selected for a Nuffield award you will receive a bursary of £6,500 towards your travel and subsistence expenses. In addition, the Trust and individual award sponsors will meet your travel and expenses in relation to the pre study briefing Contemporary Scholars Conference. Award sponsors also support the publication of Scholar reports and direct expenses relating to each award. Nuffield Farming Scholarships are recognised worldwide and in many countries there is a network of Scholars who will be pleased to assist you. On return from your travels, you will be expected to write a report and make a presentation at the annual conference of the Trust describing your findings, the conclusions you have reached and your recommendations to the industry. You are also expected to use all other means at your disposal to spread the knowledge you have gained within your industry and beyond. TimetableApplication forms must be completed and returned by 15th November each year. Candidates are responsible for approaching their referees and ensuring that the pro forma reference form, which follows the application form, is completed in confidence by each referee and returned to the Director of the Trust by 15th November. Short-listing for interview will take place in December; successful candidates will be invited to attend an interview at the Nuffield Foundation, Bedford Square, London, on the 16th-18th January 2012. For successful scholars in 2012, a pre-study briefing will commence on the afternoon of Tuesday, 21st February. UK Scholars then join Scholars from the international Nuffield countries on 25th February for a one week Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) in the Netherlands and UK, concluding in London on Saturday, 3rd March. Scholars then have 15 months until the end of June 2013 to plan and undertake at least eight weeks of individual study, travelling at anytime to suit their convenience and their topic. A written report on the study, including findings, lessons and conclusions must be submitted to the Trust by July 31st 2013. Scholars receiving awards in January 2012 will present their reports to the Nuffield Conference in late October 2013. Contacting usA brochure "Nuffield - Start a new life journey" and recent copies of our popular newsletter "Nuffield News" are available from the Director's office on request. Before making an application, you may wish to make contact with the Director who will be happy to discuss your application and introduce you to Nuffield alumni who may be local to you or share an interest in the topic you wish to study. Contact details are given below.
Application formsApplication forms must be signed and posted to the Director of the Trust by 15th November each year. Faxed or e-mailed applications received by that date will be accepted ONLY if a signed hard copy is subsequently received. If you experience difficulty in making your application, please contact us by telephone or e-mail. Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring their referees submit references in confidence to the Director of the Trust by 15th November. Applications are made in confidence. Your application form will, however, be copied to members of the Selection Committee and representatives of the Sponsors of Awards for the purposes of selection. Your name, but no details of your application, will be passed to the Chairman of your area's Nuffield Regional Group who will probably contact you and offer assistance and support in preparing for interview. BriefingsThe Trust places a very high value on the pre-study briefing. It is a condition of application that if successful you will be available to participate in the full briefing programme and Contemporary Scholars' Conference, which in 2012, will be held in UK and The Netherlands, commencing on the afternoon of Tuesday 21st February in London and returning to London on Saturday, 3rd March. To assist in planning travel for successful candidates, we are asking for your passport number at the time of application. If you do not hold a passport valid until at least June 2012 it is strongly recommended that you apply for a passport or renew your existing document by December 2011. Scholars from other participating Nuffield countries enjoy additional briefings in Australasia and USA/Canada, including Washington DC in addition to the Contemporary Scholars' Conference. Nuffield Scholars from the UK have an opportunity to include one these group tours in their itinerary, although no additional bursary will be offered by the Trust. Further details will be available at the briefing. A popular option in recent years has been participation in a short tour in China.
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