The New Zealand Pacific Scholarship scheme is funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government’s international aid and development programme. It has the mandate of supporting sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.
The New Zealand Pacific Scholarship scheme recognises the very close personal, cultural and economic ties that New Zealand enjoys with Pacific countries. A particular focus of the scheme is to increase the number of young students and high academic achievers studying in New Zealand and to build a new generation of Pacific leadership with strong links to New Zealand.
Eligible countries
Applications for New Zealand Pacific Scholarships are welcome from the following countries:
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Kiribati - read the Kiribati Scholarships page
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa - read the Samoa Scholarships page
- Solomon Islands - read the Solomon Islands Scholarships page
- Tonga - read the Tonga Scholarships page
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu - read the Vanuatu Scholarships page
For more information please contact your local representative.
General eligibility criteria
New Zealand Pacific Scholarships are open to candidates from government, civil society, private business organisations and qualified secondary school leavers to support both undergraduate and postgraduate study. Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria stated below before their applications will be considered further against the generic selection criteria and any country or region-specific criteria.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be a citizen of one of the eligible countries and have resided in that country for at least two years at the time of application
- not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country; or be married or engaged to be married to a person who holds or is eligible to hold New Zealand, Australian or another developed country citizenship or permanent residence status (applicants who are New Zealand citizens from the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and dual citizens of Samoa are exempt from this requirement)
- be aged 17 years or over before the scholarship start date
- not hold or have held a New Zealand Government or Australia Government scholarship in the preceding 24 months at the time of application
- be commencing a new study or training programme, and not be seeking support for a training or degree programme already commenced in New Zealand or another country
- not have completed, or nearly completed, a qualification or training programme at a similar academic level unless strong developmental relevance is demonstrated
- be able to take up the scholarship in the academic year for which it is offered
- satisfy the admission requirements of the education institution at which the study programme is to be undertaken (including that institution’s English language proficiency criteria)
- (for those applying directly from secondary school) have completed their senior schooling in their country of citizenship
- (for in-service applicants) have been working in their country of citizenship, preferably for at least two years prior to application
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to their home country’s public, private or civil society sector (as relevant), and to the development of their home country in general.
Applications are particularly welcomed from young people 24 years and under, strong academic performers and those with leadership potential.
If offered a scholarship, awardees must:
- be able to satisfy the immigration requirements for international student entry to New Zealand (except New Zealand citizen awardees)
- not hold another scholarship during the period of the New Zealand Pacific Scholarship
- agree in writing that they will return to their home country for a minimum of two years following completion of the scholarship.
Scholarship benefits
The following benefits generally apply:
- international air travel at the start and end of the scholarship
- medical and travel insurance
- travel to the home country during the scholarship for work attachments or practical training, home located research, reunion travel, home leave, and compassionate travel
- introductory programmes prior to commencement of formal academic studies
- a contribution towards research and thesis costs
- additional tutorial assistance if required
- incentives for academic excellence that include an extra cash grant for top performers and additional study opportunities
- leadership development opportunities
- inclusion in a student alumni
- pastoral and academic support through educational institutions.
Arrangements for fees and living allowances will differ depending on whether New Zealand Pacific Scholarship awardees hold New Zealand citizenship (Niue, Cook Islands, and dual citizens of Samoa) or do not hold New Zealand citizenship (all other Pacific countries and Samoan citizens).
Awardees who do not hold New Zealand citizenship will also receive:
- full payment of tuition fees
- an establishment allowance of $3000 for the first year, and $1000 for each subsequent study year to contribute to set up costs, visa-related costs and textbooks
- a contribution to living expenses paid fortnightly as a contribution to basic living expenses. From 2012, NZ$17,430 will be paid to undergraduate awardees over 42 weeks and NZ$21,550 to postgraduate awardees over 52 weeks. Undergraduates who are required to study over the full year will continue to receive the living allowance over this time. The expectation is that over the long study break, most undergraduates will return home on paid home leave/reunion airfares or they will find work in New Zealand
- a visa that entitles each student to work in New Zealand for up to 20 hours per week during their study period and full-time over the long summer break, and a full-time work permit for a dependant partner over the scholarship period.
Awardees who hold New Zealand citizenship (from the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa) will also receive:
- tuition fees through a student loan under the New Zealand Student Loan Scheme
- course-related costs of up to $1000 per year through a student loan under the New Zealand Student Loan Scheme
- contributions to living costs met through the New Zealand Student Loan Scheme as a loan or allowance, dependent on individual student circumstances. An allowance does not need to be paid back. Visit Study Link for more information
- a supplementary fortnightly living allowance of $240 met by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade paid over the period of study (42 weeks for undergraduates and 52 weeks for postgraduates as above).
New Zealand citizens will be personally liable to the New Zealand Government for all outstanding loans taken out over the period of their study. Student loans will be paid back by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for years of employment in the home country following completion of the study.
The repayment period will be two years for the first three years of study, three years for four years of study, with a maximum repayment period of four years. If students do not return to their home country they will be personally liable for the full amount of their loan. If students leave their home country before their repayment period is completed, they will be personally liable for the remaining loan repayment.
Making an application
For more information please contact your local representative.
Download the New Zealand Pacific Scholarship application form (PDF 160kb).
Contact detailMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
195 Lambton Quay
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 439 8200
Fax: +64 4 439 8515
scholarships@mfat.govt.nz
http://www.aid.govt.nz/scholarships/nzps/pacific-scholars.html
Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship
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