Many scholarships are designed especially for people who:
-are a specific gender, age, or ethnicity
-belong to a particular indigenous or other group
-have achieved academic or sporting excellence
-are the first member of their family to attend a tertiary institution
-intend to study in a certain field
-are from a particular place (e.g. a rural community)
-show outstanding attitude and commitment to their field.
Mostly, though, scholarships are given to those who prove their commitment to their field by attaining top marks.
All universities and institutes of technology in New Zealand offer scholarships to high school leavers. There are hundreds of scholarships on their websites. New Zealand students are eligible for a variety of scholarships through the government, educational institutions, foreign governments and private funding sources.
Your school should also be up to date with scholarship opportunities -- this may be your easiest source of information. There is also a wealth of information on the websites of the tertiary institution you plan to attend. It's worth having a look through their lists because scholarships can be quite obscure, and hence, open to all types of people.
There are many scholarships, grants, and awards available for Maori. Talk to your iwi or look on the scholarship page of the institution you plan to attend.
When applying, read the scholarship information carefully to make sure you meet the criteria. Apply for as many scholarships are you are able to, which will increase your chance of getting one.
Scoring a scholarshipMassey University student CALVIN BALL discusses how going hard to get scholarships can translate into a much-reduced student loan and a fair whack of money on the side for living costs.
Calvin is 22. He's just completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and is now studying toward Honours, focusing on Pastoral Science.
What are the scholarships you received, and how much are they worth?
I have received the New Zealand Dairy Industry scholarship for the last three years. It pays $5000 annually towards my tertiary fees. I have also received the Ballance Agri-nutrients study scholarship, worth $4000 annually, which has helped me immensely with my living costs. This year, I also received some post-graduate study scholarships, namely the John Hodgson Pastoral Science, the Horizons Sustainable Land Use Initiative, and CV Fife scholarships, cumulatively worth $3750. These have gone towards tertiary fees and living costs.
Did the prospect of attaining scholarships influence you in taking up your field of study?
Definitely. At high school, I was not entirely sure whether to study agriculture at university or not, but when I was made aware of the scholarship opportunities in this field of study, my decision was made very easy.
Apart from marks, what do you think the scholarship committees look for in candidates?
Your extra-curricular activities are something scholarship committees look at. It's the things you do in your free time that make you stand out compared to other candidates. They may also look for your passion toward your desired industry. With passion usually comes leadership. If someone's going to give you money, they want to be confident their investment is going to be worth it -- to themselves and the industry.
Do you have any tips for people attempting to get scholarships?
Study hard! Good grades are fundamental to getting scholarships. Also, get out there! Make use of your free time because it's usually what you do outside of school/university that the scholarship committees look at. And get someone to look at your scholarship application and CV for advice and improvements. You'll be surprised how insightful another person's perspective might be.
How did you decide what you were going to study? Should students think about which industries are facing skills shortages before they decide on what to study?
I grew up on a farm and always had a passion for agriculture. The scholarship opportunities and demand for agricultural graduates helped make me certain my choice was the right one. Students should assess where there are skills shortages before deciding what to study. But this shouldn't ultimately determine what you should study. If you're passionate about something, go for it! Your enthusiasm will be recognised, making you cream of the crop when it comes to jobs.
-JET MAGAZINE
