Raukaraka Performance and Innovation Scholarship 2027

Scholarship level: School leaver
Closing date(s): 1 December 2026 – No application, nominations only
Tenure: One year
Award for: International; Domestic
Value: $5,000

Description

The Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship for Performance and Innovation recognises top achievement in the fields of performance and innovation.

Scholarships will be awarded based on achievement in significant secondary-school level initiatives that the University supports including:

  • The Strengthening Democracy Project,
  • SGCNZ VUW National Shakespeare Festival,
  • Young Enterprise Entrepreneurs in Action (EIA).

Scholarships are valued at $5,000 for the first year of study which can be put towards accommodation costs* at a Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Hall of residence, or as a contribution towards tuition fees.

Who is eligible?

  • Nominees must be identified as the individual or team winners from the above-named events.
  • Nominees must be in Year 13 at a New Zealand secondary school, who will be commencing tertiary study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 2027, or in Year 12, in which case deferral of the scholarship will automatically be approved for 2028 study at Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Approval may be given for nominees of other significant events at the university’s discretion.

Selection criteria

Scholarships will be awarded competitively based on achievement in the above-named competitions.

Application process

The award is through nomination only.

Scholarship specific documentation

  • No additional documentation is required for the nomination, additional to the nominee contact details. Upon acceptance of the scholarship, nominees will be required to provide bank account information.

Selection process

Nomination will be made to the Scholarships Office by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington staff engagement holders of the above-named competitions.

Nominations for the Strengthening Democracy Project recipients will be recommended by a parliamentary select committee panel and forwarded to the Victoria University Undergraduate Scholarship Committee for approval.

All final decisions for award will be made by the Victoria University Undergraduate Scholarship Committee.

Additional information

Additional nominees for this scholarship, outside of the specified events, can be submitted to the Undergraduate Scholarship Committee for consideration.

Recipients can choose to have the payments put towards accommodation at one of our University halls of residence*, in which case the total amount will be paid in two instalments in February and July.

If recipients choose to have the scholarships go towards tuition fees, the total amount will be credited towards student fees accounts upon receipt of first invoice.

*Contribution to accommodation costs excludes the initial deposit (including bond and other hall fees) that is due when accepting an offer of accommodation.

Conditions

  1. Scholarship offers will be conditional upon the recipient being fully enrolled in a full-year programme (this 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.
  2. The scholarship offer must be accepted by the date specified in the award letter, otherwise it will expire.
  3. Disabled scholarship recipients may enrol less than full time and are recommended to discuss their enrolment with Te Amaru-Disability Services to seek advice on this. Please inform Te Maka—Scholarships Office.
  4. Scholarships will be awarded at the value of $5,000.
  5. All Scholarship offers will be conditional upon the recipient gaining University Entrance, and admission into their degree programme.
  6. All recipients of the Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship for Performance and Innovation are guaranteed an offer of a place in a University hall of residence, provided an accommodation application is received by the University Accommodation deadline.
  7. The Scholarship can be deferred to a later year.
  8. Recipients may only hold one scholarship in the school-leaver suite including Kahotea, Kahurangi Māori, Mana Pasifika, Mātātoa, Pakohe, Raukaraka, Tangiwai, and Totoweka.
  9. Should the recipient withdraw from the University during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
  10. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for the University and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
  11. 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.
  12. The sections above headed Description, Eligibility, Selection Criteria, Application process, Scholarship specific documentation, Selection process, and Additional information as well as this section are all deemed to form part of these Scholarship conditions.

Contact

Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04