NZAID

New Zealand Development Scholarships


Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility to apply for a New Zealand Development Scholarship (NZDS) is restricted to citizens of countries where NZAID offers the NZDS.

Applicants must meet the following NZDS eligibility criteria before their application will be further considered against the selection criteria, and any criteria specific to their home country or region (see the relevant country information sheet).

To be eligible for a NZDS, applicants must:

  1. be a citizen of a NZDS participating country (i.e. permanent residents of a participating country are not eligible to apply)
  2. be residing in their country of citizenship, preferably for at least
    two years prior to application
  3. not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country1, except where:
    a) their country does not issue passports and they hold a New Zealand passport, i.e. NZDS-Public applicants from the Cook Islands or Tokelau), or
    b) they are dual citizens of Samoa and New Zealand, and the applicant has been schooled, and their parents are living, in Samoa;
  4. not be married or engaged to be married to a person who holds, or who is eligible to hold, citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country, except where their country does not issue passports and they hold a New Zealand passports (i.e. the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau), or dual citizens of Samoa and New Zealand;
  5. be aged 17 or over before the scholarship start date (Note: some countries have upper age limits. Please check the relevant country information sheet.)
  6. be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for one already commenced in New Zealand or another country2
  7. not have completed, or nearly completed, a qualification at a similar level (i.e. applicants must apply for a higher level qualification than any previously attained), unless strong developmental relevance is demonstrated
  8. satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand education institution at which the qualification is to be undertaken, including English language proficiency criteria
  9. (for those applying directly from secondary school) have completed their senior schooling in their country of citizenship
  10. (for in-service applicants) have been working in their home country, preferably for at least two years prior to application
  11. have worked for two years in their home country since completing their highest qualification gained to date
  12. be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to their home countryï's public, private or civil society sector (as relevant), and to the development of their home country in general
  13. be able to take up the scholarship in the academic year for which it is offered.

Applicants cannot:
* be studying full-time at post-secondary level be transferring from another tertiary scholarship (either in New Zealand or in another country) to a NZDS
* hold, or have held, a New Zealand Government or Australian Government scholarship in the 24 months preceding the scholarship start date (excluding previous NZAID English Language Training for Officials scholarship recipients)
* have been terminated from a New Zealand or Australian Government scholarship previously.

Applicants are expected to continue residing in their home country during the NZDS application and selection process. If offered a NZDS, candidates must:

  1. be able to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements for international student entry to New Zealand (i.e. medical checks and police clearance/character checks, etc)
  2. not hold another scholarship during the period of the NZDS
  3. agree in writing that they will return to their home country for a minimum period of two years following completion of their scholarship in order to contribute to their country's social or economic development.

NZDS Selection Criteria

New Zealand Development Scholarships are awarded in priority study fields according to the human resource development training needs of the country or region and/or NZAID's development focus in that country or region.

New Zealand Development Scholarship applicants must meet the NZDS eligibility criteria. Applications are also considered against NZDS selection criteria, including:

  1. the proposed study programme links to an identified human resource development training priority of their home country (see the relevant country information sheet); or
  2. the proposed study programme links to NZAID's development priorities in that country or region
  3. the applicant clearly demonstrates the developmental relevance and applicability of their proposed study programme to the human resource development training needs of their country
  4. consideration of gender equity, including efforts to ensure the scholarships are offered equitably between male and female candidates
  5. the applicant has a strong academic background (i.e. they hold a recognised Bachelors degree (for Masters applications) or recognised Masters degree (for PhD applications), of strong academic merit), in general relevant to the proposed postgraduate qualification (Note: NZAID gives preference to candidates who do not already hold a degree from an industrialised country)
  6. the applicant clearly demonstrates their links and commitment to their home country (e.g. services to their community, ability to influence change in a key development sector etc), supported by references. The proposed study programme must be relevant to:
    a) recent paid and/or unpaid (volunteer) work experiences3
    b) the training needs of the employing organisation
    c) identified employment opportunities on completion of their study.
  7. consideration of target groups, e.g. those from targeted provinces or regions); and
  8. consideration of other factors which will contribute to the success of their studies (e.g. good character, positive study attitude and motivation to succeed).

 

  1. A developed country is defined as a country not included on the OECD's Development Assistance Committee's list of aid recipients. ↩

  2. NZAID will not fund any students to continue a qualification they have commenced outside their home country. For NZDS-Public applications and with the prior agreement of the partner government, NZAID may consider funding qualifications being studied in the home country by self-sponsored, part-time students on a case-by-case basis. ↩

  3. In general, NZAID will not support individuals whose professional experience has mostly been obtained overseas. ↩

 

Page Last Reviewed: 27 March, 2009