SWEDEN
THE FULBRIGHT HILDEMAN FELLOWSHIP
Promoting Scandinavian Studies in the U.S.
Mr. Nils-Gustav Hildeman was a former Fulbright Board member, a Swedish
diplomat, and an impressive contributor to Swedish society in language and
culture. He was the author of numerous Swedish language books and taught
Swedish language courses at the Institute for English Speaking Students (IES).
In 1986, the Swedish Fulbright Commission established the Hildeman Fellowship
in commemoration of Mr. Nils-Gustav Hildeman who passed away that year.
Through the Hildeman Fellowship, the Commission promotes Scandinavian language and area studies in
the United States by awarding this grant to outstanding Swedish scholars to lecture at American
universities for one semester. The primary objectives of the Hildeman grant are to encourage students
and faculty in Scandinavian studies, to strengthen contacts between Swedish and American academics,
and to increase the interest in Sweden and Swedish area studies on the part of American students and
scholars in a variety of fields.
THE FELLOWSHIP
The Fulbright Commission in Sweden invites American universities to participate in the
Fulbright-Hildeman Fellowship, a unique Scandinavian exchange opportunity that provides
American universities the occasion to host a Fulbright scholar specializing in a broad range of
subjects related to Scandinavian area studies, such as Swedish language, literature, politics, etc
for one semester during the 2016-17 academic year. This opportunity for cultural and academic
exchange was established in 1986, in commemoration of Nils-Gustav Hildeman, a Fulbright
Board member and Swedish diplomat. The primary objective of the Fellowship is to promote
Swedish language and Scandinavian area studies in the United States.
Note: all interested universities are encouraged to apply, regardless of field or
previous hosting of a Hildeman Fellow.
TO APPLY
If your department/university is interested in applying to host a Hildeman Fellow, the
Commission requests that proposals be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than
November 16, 2015.
Proposals should not exceed two pages and include the following:
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preferred lecture topics;
number of courses or seminars the grantee will be expected to teach;
level of the courses (upper-division or graduate);
other duties or activities in which the grantee will be involved (including research);
preferred time period (i.e., indicate which semester or quarter of the 2016-17 academic year);
general information about the department (number and level of students, number of faculty,
and any special circumstances which would make academic year 2016-17 an opportune
time for a visit by a Hildeman Fellow to your department/city);
additional benefits, if any, to be provided by the university
(Please note: this will not be taken into consideration in the selection process by the Commission. However,
additional benefits may make the grant more attractive to a wider pool of Swedish applicants.)
SELECTION
The selection process takes place in two phases:
(1) American colleges and universities are encouraged to apply to the Commission by November
16, 2015 with a proposed program of upper-division and/or graduate courses and seminars. By
the end of November 2015, the Commission selection committee will select one project proposal.
Once a proposal is chosen, the Fulbright Commission will work closely with that department to
prepare the grant announcement for the recruitment of a suitable Swedish candidate.
(2) In December 2015, the announcement will be distributed to universities, relevant research
centers and institutions in Sweden to find the best applicants. The deadline for applications from
Swedish scholars will be March 4, 2016. The basic eligibility criteria for the scholar are Swedish
citizenship and a doctoral degree, but the U.S. host department may specify other requirements.
The candidates' dossiers will be sent to the host department in March 2016 for review and
selection.
The Commission will award the Swedish scholar a grant of SEK 125 000, round-trip travel
between the United States and Sweden, a baggage allowance, as well as accident and sickness
insurance provided by the U.S. Department of State. Several universities in the past have been
able to provide additional financial support or subsidized housing or funding for the grantee’s
attendance at the annual meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies
(SASS).
If you feel there are other ways in which the Swedish Fulbright Commission can support
Scandinavian studies in the United States, please bring your ideas to our attention. When you are
in Sweden, you are welcome to visit the office to discuss areas in which you feel the Commission
can increase or improve the exchange of scholars in this field.
Further information concerning other programs offered through the Swedish Fulbright
Commission can be found at: www.fulbright.se. If you have other questions regarding the
above, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at: [email protected].
We look forward to receiving your application for the Hildeman grant before the deadline date of
November 16, 2015.