Established in 1958 to coincide with bicentennial celebrations of the birth of Robert Burns, it is often claimed to be New Zealand's premier literary residency.
The list of past fellows includes many of New Zealand's most notable 20th and 21st century writers.
[1] The fellowship was established in 1958 by an anonymous group of citizens of Dunedin, including notably Charles Brasch and his cousins Esmond, Dora and Mary de Beer.
It provides a stipend to recipients for between six months to a year, as well as an office on campus.
[5] To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fellowship, a collection titled Nurse to the Imagination: Fifty years of the Robert Burns Fellowship was launched in October 2008, along with commemorations to coincide with Dunedin's 2008 Arts Festival.