Scholarship overview
Key facts
Application dates
Background
The NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award is established to assist an eligible candidate with research funding support for specific fieldwork, travel, and/or laboratory analyses, and/or publication of the archaeology and/or coinage of the ancient Near East.
Jon Hosking
The NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award is made possible by the generous bequest to NEAF of Jon Hosking, following his early death due to illness in 1989.
While his main career was with Qantas, Jon had a passion and energy for archaeology which he devoted to practical contributions to fieldwork, research, photography, and research publication. Jon’s research interests focused particularly on classical archaeology, Egypt and numismatics of the ancient Near East.
Jon was a keen supporter of Middle Eastern archaeology at The University of Sydney. He was an integral part of the Pella in Jordan Australian archaeological excavation team during the 1980s and also gave tremendous support to further the efforts of NEAF.1
Jon’s commitment to archaeological excavation, research and publication in the ancient Near East continues through the kind generosity of his bequest.2
Benefits of this Award
The NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award will have a maximum value of up to A$15,000. The exact value of the grant will be outlined in the recipient’s Award Offer Letter.
Eligibility criteria
Applicant must be:
- at a postgraduate level or higher
- affiliated with an Australian or New Zealand University as a PhD candidate, or in a post-doctoral role (researcher, tutor, research assistant or affiliate), or have held such a position within the last ten years
- undertaking research into and/or publication of the archaeology and/or coinage of the ancient Near East
- applying for funding for a specified research project
- applying for funding for expenses and support which are specified in the proposed budget
Selection considerations
The NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award will be determined based on the applicants:
- Academic merit
- Research proposal and other application documents stated in the “How to Apply”.
Preference will be given to applicants experiencing financial disadvantage.
The Award will be determined by the Director of NEAF, or their nominated delegate(s), in consultation with the NEAF council.
Value and expenditure
- The NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award will have a maximum value of A$15,000. The exact value of the Award will be detailed within the conditions provided in the recipient’s Award Offer Letter
- The Award value will be paid as a lump sum payment on receipt of the Award Acceptance Form
- Award funds must be expended within 12 months of the Award being granted
- The Award may be deferred and/or suspended for up to one year with prior written approval from the Director of NEAF
- The Award will be offered subject to the availability of funds
- No other amount is payable
Reporting
- Recipients of the NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award are required to provide a written report to NEAF on the progress of their project within 12 months of accepting the Award.
- Award recipients are required to provide a lecture to NEAF on their specific research into and/or publication of the archaeology and/or coinage of the ancient Near East. This is to be provided within 12 months of expenditure of the Award.
- Award recipients are expected to acknowledge the NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award in reporting and publications relating to this Award. NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award 2026 4
- Reporting on the NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award (including recipient names, affiliation, and a summary of their work made possible through the Award) will be shared publicly via NEAF and The University of Sydney, as applicable.
Termination
- The Scholarship will be terminated if the Award recipient:
− is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Award application; or,
− does not undertake the specified research fieldwork, travel, and/or laboratory analyses and/or publication for which the funds have been approved within the required time frame.
- Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
- Where a recipient is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.
How to Apply
Applications for the NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award 2026 should be emailed to the NEAF email address below by the closing date of Friday 30th October 2026 and must include the following:
- Project proposal, including 200 words on how being a recipient of the NEAF Jon Hosking Research Award would enhance the applicant’s career (2 x A4 pages)
- Detailed budget and itinerary, including travel plans where relevant (1 x A4 page budget summary + 1 x A4 page budget justification)
- Current resume (maximum 2 pages)
- Two references provided in support of the applicant’s submission (note: for PhD candidates, one of these must be from the applicant’s PhD supervisor)
Contacts
Email address for applications: neaf.archaeology@sydney.edu.au
For any queries about this award please contact Professor Alison Betts at alison.betts@sydney.edu.au or Dr Joseph Lehner at joseph.lehner@sydney.edu.au