Current Competition Schedule:
Application deadline:
November 1
Decisions announced:
April 15
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) is a publicly supported, nonprofit, organization that promotes international understanding through educational and cultural exchange between the U.S. and the Nordic countries.
Fellowships for Americans in the Nordic Countries
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers year-long fellowships of up to $23,000 and short term (1-3 months) fellowships of up to $5,000 to graduate students (preferably conducting dissertation research) and academic professionals interested in pursuing research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sápmi, and Sweden).
Priority is given to candidates at the graduate level for dissertation-related research. The number of awards varies each year according to total funds available. Awards are made in all fields.
To see a list of current ASF Fellows and their projects, please see here.
Eligibility
Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents.
Team projects are eligible, but each member must apply as an individual, submitting a separate, fully-documented application.
Applicants must have completed their undergraduate education by the start of their project in the Nordic region.
First priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received an ASF award. Applicants are eligible to receive only two awards within a ten year period. Only in exceptional cases will a third award be considered.
Please note that ASF does not ordinarily support art residency programs. To be considered for funding, you must explain why this residency is crucial to your work.
Language Proficiency
ASF considers it desirable that all candidates have at least some ability in the language of the host country, unless your project does not require the use of a Nordic language. For projects that require a command of one or more Nordic (or other) languages, candidates should defer application until they have the necessary proficiency.
If interviews are part of the project, the applicant is expected to be able to conduct the interviews in the appropriate local language/s. If language proficiency is required for your project then one of your three letters of recommendation must address the level of Nordic language proficiency, as necessary for the project, and must be written by a qualified instructor or professional in that Nordic language.
Terms of Award
Projects should not begin before April 15th.
The awards support project-related costs, including roundtrip airfare, room and board in the Nordic region, in-country travel, tuition and fees (where applicable), and materials (e.g., books, photocopying, art supplies).
ASF awards may require supplementation from other sources, but they should not duplicate the benefits of additional awards (and vice versa). Candidates must notify ASF if they have received other award offers. ASF will not provide funds if, in its judgment, a proposal can be carried out without its assistance.
Guidelines
Applicants must complete an ASF application form, including a well-defined project description and project statement that outlines their research, study, or creative arts project and describes why a a stay in the Nordic region is essential.
*All applications are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary panel and thus should be accessible to non-experts*
Applicants are expected to devote full time to their proposed study or research, and must justify the length of time needed to complete their project.
Awards are based on the application submitted; subsequent changes in the proposal are discouraged and may not be considered.
If your research involves human beings, you must provide evidence that you comply with research ethics and seek informed consent (e.g., an IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval letter from your institution; a professional code of ethics and related sample release forms).
Applicants are urged to arrange their academic or professional affiliations as far in advance as possible.
Applicants must secure these placements or affiliations on their own; ASF cannot assist in establishing contacts.
ASF requires confirmation of invitation or affiliation from the institution or individuals detailed in the proposal.
Three letters of recommendation are required. If you are an MA or doctoral candidate, on letter should be by the supervisory chair of your MA or PhD committee. If language proficiency is required for your project one letter must address the level of Nordic language proficiency and must be written by a qualified instructor or professional in that Nordic language.
Since July and August are traditionally holiday months in Nordic countries, many people may not be available for consultation. Applicants are cautioned to plan their projects accordingly.
Limitations
PLEASE NOTE:
Incomplete applications cannot be processed. Unsuccessful applications will be discarded.
ASF does not fund the following:
- Study in programs especially designed for English-speaking students, or at English-language institutions
- Beginning studies in any subject
- Fees for classes related to the acquisition of language skills
- Travel for attendance at professional meetings, conferences, seminars or conventions
- Performances or exhibitions
- Research assistants
- Institutional overhead costs
- Tuition fees from U.S. home institution
- Foregone salary
- Retroactive program support
- Supplementation of substantial sabbatical support
- Equipment purchases, including personal computers, bikes, cell phones and software
- Personal Obligations including repayment of loans, home housing costs, and taxes
- Support for dependents
- Publication costs
ASF Endowment Funds
Supporting Fellowships & Grants
The Mathilde Aas Fund
The Carl G. and Rikke Fredriksen Barth Fund
The John G. Bergquist Fund in Chemistry
The Bernadotte Fund
The Sven & Ingrid Bernhard Fund
The Crown Princess Märtha Fellowship Fund
The Edith Coulter Fund
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Fund
The Finnish Fund
The Former Fellows Fund
The Icelandic Crafts Fund
The Carl Olaf, Marie and Katherine Elizabeth Johnson Fellowship Fund
The Henrik Kauffmann Fund
The King Haakon VII Fund
The King Olav V Fund
The Helen Lee and Emil Lassen Fund
The Hans K. Lorentzen Fund
The Martha and Jack McFall Fund
The Peter and Birgit Faber Morse Fund
The Dr. Mary Jane Oestmann Fellowship Fund
The Philip W. Pfeifer III Fellowship Fund
The Amanda E. Roleson Fund
The Sather Fund
The Thor and Saimi Soderholm Fund
The Carol and Hans Christian Sonne Fund
The Håkon Björnstrom Steffanson Funds:
Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen and Uppsala University
The Stolt-Nielsen Fund for Education
The Alice and Corrin Strong Fund
The Haakon Styri Fund
The Selma C. Swanson Fund
The Thord-Gray Memorial Fund
The Thor Thors Memorial Fund
The Saara and Björn Wahlroos Finnish Fellowship Fund
The Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Fund
The Andrew E. and G. Norman Wigeland Fund
The Charles K. Willey Fund