The Australian Human Rights Institute’s Global Student Fellowship offers students the opportunity and funding to join a leading human rights or development organisation.
A record 24 UNSW students have received a 2025 Global Student Fellowship to support them during a six-week placement with a leading human rights or international development organisation.
More than 200 students applied for the Australian Human Rights Institute program, which is open to students from all faculties.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer so many students this important opportunity. The fellowship gives our students valuable, paid experience and a network of contacts working in human rights, both within Australia and around the world,” said Professor Justine Nolan, Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute.
The fellowship offers each recipient $6500 to take up the placement. This year, the institute partnered with the Disability Innovation Institute UNSW and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, Engineering, Law & Justice, and Medicine & Health to support an increase in fellowship places. The program is also supported by philanthropic donations.
The successful applicants will now join one of 12 host organisations for at least six weeks over the summer break.
Advaita Nitturkar is a 2025 Global Student Fellow. She is one of four female Engineering students selected to join Engineers Without Borders in locations including Cambodia and Timor-Leste this year.
“I feel incredibly grateful to be part of the Australian Human Rights Institute’s fellowship with Engineers Without Borders in Cambodia,” she said.
“Throughout my degree, I’ve shaped my studies around my passion for humanitarian engineering and development work, and all of it has led me to this opportunity. It’s the perfect chance to put these learnings into practice through purpose-driven engineering, working alongside local communities, which I am very excited for.”
Fellowships lead to careers with impact
For past fellowship recipients, the program has been the start of a career in advocacy, policy work and research in human rights and development organisations, including the UN Mission in Kosovo and the World Bank in New York.
Alina Malyk was a Global Student Fellow in 2023.
"The fellowship was instrumental in my successful recruitment to the World Bank’s Young Professionals Program," she said.
"I was selected to join the Social Development global unit, and my role will be focusing on integrating human rights principles within the World Bank’s operations. I have no doubt that the fellowship gave me a distinctive edge, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity that opened doors to this exciting chapter of my career.”
Applications for next year’s program will open in mid-2026.
Learn more about the program.
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