Prestigious Scholarships at UC

Discover prestigious scholarship programmes that offer a range of awards and scholarships for New Zealand graduate students, academics, researchers and professionals who wish to pursue their postgraduate studies.



These scholarship programmes enable promising students to undertake postgraduate study or research in any field in either NZ, the UK or the US.

Freemasons University Scholarships

BACKGROUND

The Freemasons Scholarships are to assist able students who are active in their involvement in the community, to complete their university education in their chosen field. This year eight Postgraduate Scholarships of $10,000 each and 20 University Scholarships of $6,000 each will be offered to students attending these universities: Auckland, AUT, Waikato, Massey, Victoria, Canterbury, Lincoln, and Otago.

Successful scholars are expected to use their scholarship to defray expenses related to their attendance at University.

CRITERIA

Applicants for the scholarships must:

a) Have a good academic record; and
b) Be a New Zealand citizen or hold Permanent New Zealand residency; and
c) Demonstrate good citizenship; and
d) Show leadership potential; and
e) Have proven community commitment.

The Scholarships will be awarded without regard to gender, ethnic background, creed or age. Family association with Freemasonry is not a criterion for the award of a scholarship. However, Freemasons have a tradition of caring for their community and will assist those who contribute back to the community.

SELECTION

A Selection Committee is appointed in each university district. The Committee invites short-listed candidates for an interview in February or March. If selected you must attend. All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by 31 March 2021. The Committee will have regard not only to the academic ability of the candidates and to referees’ reports, but also to their character and citizenship, and will look for evidence of involvement in the cultural and/or sporting life of the community or campus.

APPLICATIONS

Application forms are available only on the Freemasons website.

Applications must be submitted by 1 October 2020.

Rhodes Scholarship

BACKGROUND

The Rhodes Scholarship programme is the oldest (established 1903) international scholarship programme in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers 100 fully-funded Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom – one of the world’s leading universities. Rhodes Scholarships are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders for the world’s future.

CRITERIA

Applicants for the scholarships must:

  • Nationality/citizenship: On 1 August in the year of application you must hold New Zealand citizenship or hold a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa.
  • Education/residency: By 1 August in the year of application you must have spent at least five of the previous ten years in New Zealand.
  • Age: Upon 1 October in the year in which you are applying, you must meet either of the below criteria:
    • You must be at least 18 and have not reached your 24th birthday (i.e. you must have been born after 1 October 1996 and on or before 1 October 2002).
  • OR (for older candidates who completed their first undergraduate degree later than usual)
    • You must have not reached your 27th birthday (i.e. have been born after 1 October 1993) and
    • You met the requirements for completion of your first degree on or after 1 October 2019.

SELECTION

You must complete and submit an online application AND all required supporting documents by the application deadline. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a social engagement (a drinks reception the evening before the interviews) and a final interview. You must be available to attend both, in person, as no accommodations can be made on date and time, or mode, of these events. Interviews will be held in Wellington, in early November. No candidate will be selected without an interview. Reasonable travel expenses incurred within New Zealand will be reimbursed by Universities NZ. If you are overseas, travel to New Zealand for the interview in person will be at your own expense.



APPLICATIONS

Application forms are available only on the Rhodes Trust website. The online application process requires written statements and supplemental documents to be uploaded, and the names and email addresses of six referees to be registered. Please read the Information for Candidates document provided as it details information about referees and what other documents you will need to provide.

Applications must be submitted by 23:50 NZST 1 August 2020.

Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards

BACKGROUND

Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards are for promising New Zealand graduate students to undertake postgraduate study or research at US institutions in any field.

Approximately eight awards are granted annually, valued at up to US$40,000 (plus NZ$4,000 travel funding) for up to one year of study or research in the US. Students undertaking multi-year Masters or PhD degrees have the opportunity to apply for additional funding of up to US$30,000 towards their second year of study.

CRITERIA

Applicants for the scholarships must:

  • have achieved 480 points, which must include a completed undergraduate degree.
  • have the strong support of their tertiary institution (from a Dean or member of senior management); and
  • have a conditional offer from a US institution;
  • not yet hold a doctoral degree;
  • plan to undertake full-time postgraduate study or research at a US institution for a period of at least six months; and
  • meet the citizenship requirements for this award:
    • must be a New Zealand citizen;
    • and are not a permanent resident or citizen of the US;
    • and are not currently living in the US.

Fulbright New Zealand will also accept applications from candidates who were granted direct entry into the second year of a degree programme, therefore completing a 480-point degree with 360 points.

In exceptional circumstances, Fulbright New Zealand may consider the application of a student with a 360-point degree provided they have both:

  • the strong support of their tertiary institution (from a Dean or member of senior management);
  • a conditional offer from a US institution;

Preference for Fulbright graduate awards is given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright graduate award, or had extensive recent experience in the US (ie. have not studied, taught, researched or worked in the US for a period aggregating more than nine months/one academic year during the past five years).

Candidates may not pursue study or research activities that involve direct clinical patient contact. This can extend to the fields of Medical Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Psychological Counselling or any other field that requires direct clinical patient contact and/or prescribing or administering medication. Candidates with medical degrees may receive awards for advanced academic study, but not for internships or residencies. Awards shall not authorise activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required.

SELECTION

You must complete and submit an online application AND all required supporting documents by the application deadline. Interviews will be held in Wellington. Fulbright New Zealand will pay the costs of travel to Wellington only for applicants residing in New Zealand. All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by early October.

APPLICATIONS

Application forms are available only on the Fulbright New Zealand website. The online application process requires written statements and supplemental documents to be uploaded, and the names and email addresses of three referees to be registered. Candidates are also required to arrange for verified official transcripts to be sent to Fulbright NZ either in hard copy or via the e-Qual system.

Applications must be submitted by 1 August 2020.



Fulbright Scholarship Information 2020 (PDF, 1MB, 13 pages)