Indigenous Nonreligion Master’s Scholarship

Study area(s): Humanities and Social Sciences
Scholarship level: Master’s Research
Closing date(s): 5 January
Award for: Māori
Number offered: One
Value: Stipend of $22,000 for one year plus fees up to the value of $9,585

Description

This scholarship is funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund, as part of the project Indigenous Nonreligion in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada, led by Dr Sara Rahmani and Professor Peter Adds. Its purpose is to support an interdisciplinary MA research project across Study of Religion and Te Kawa a Māui that complements the main study. Suitable projects will focus on one or more of the following:

  • Māori or Indigenous decolonial activism on social media (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, X).
  • Māori or Indigenous nonreligion on social media.

Eligibility

Open to Māori students intending to enrol in an MA in either (1) the Study of Religion or (2) Te Kawa a Māui – Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.

Applicants must have completed a BA (Hons) in a relevant field (e.g., Study of Religion, Māori Studies, Anthropology, Sociology).

Selection Criteria

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, the quality of the proposed research, and its relevance to the Marsden project to which it will contribute.

Application process

Applicants can contact Sara Rahmani sara.rahmani@vuw.ac.nz or Peter Adds peter.adds@vuw.ac.nz for inquiries regarding the Marsden project.

Scholarship specific documentation

  • A one-page description of the proposed MA research project, with a bibliography of up to three pages
  • A personal statement about why the applicant wishes to research this topic
  • A 10-page writing sample
  • One academic reference
  • CV

Additional Information

  • The stipend will be paid to the student in mothly installments
  • The fees will be paid to the university directly by the Scholarships Office.

Regulations and conditions

  1. A completed application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
  2. All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being fully enrolled in a full-year programme (full-time will be at the level of points considered by Studylink as full-time) within the stipulated criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
  3. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
  4. The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other awards.
  5. Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
  6. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
  7. At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.