Te ao mārama | Le ao Malama | First Light - Māori and Pasifika Futures in Law School-Leavers' Scholarship
Description
This scholarship has been established to support Māori or Pasifika school leavers to study Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. It will support new students who are the first in their first line of descent to study at university. The scholarship has been designed to reduce the barriers to attending Law school such as financial constraints and mentorship.
History
The scholarship was established by Professor Mark Hickford Pro Vice-Chancellor Government, Law and Business and is supported by The Hon Justice Sir Joe Williams, Hon Judge Ida Malosi, Hon Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban and Hon Judge Heemi Taumaaunu along with generous law firms and alumni including the Tatau Tatau Trust and many other generous supporters. The aim is to provide financial and additional wrap-around support (e.g., mentoring, work experience, internships) to enable greater diversity amongst those obtaining a law degree in New Zealand.
Who is eligible?
These scholarships are open to students of Māori and Pasifika descent who are the first in their first line of descent within their family to attend university and are accepted onto a Bachelor of Laws at the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law. Preference will be given to applicants demonstrating financial hardship.
Selection criteria
- Applicants will be the first in their family to attend any university. (First in family on this occasion refers to the first line of family i.e., parents and grandparents.)
- Applicants must be of Māori or Pasifika descent.
- Applicants must demonstrate a motivation to study Law and demonstrate a keenness to break down the barriers for future generations to pursue tertiary education.
- Applicants must maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout their studies. Passing the required number of courses.
- The Scholarship is conditional on full-time enrolment, as per Studylink requirements, and is subject to satisfactory academic progress and continued enrolment in an LLB programme.
Application process
A completed online 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 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.
Scholarship specific documentation
- A one-page personal statement or video submission of up to 2 minutes (which could include content from whanau and other supporters), which shows the panel who you are and what motivates you, including:
- The driver for you to attend university.
- The academic goals you hope to achieve.
- Your aspirations post university.
- Why you believe you merit the scholarship.
- Leadership positions and details of your involvement in your school or community.
- Any drivers for supporting Māori and Pasifika communities.
- An outline of your personal circumstances, including barriers to attending university.
- More information may be requested if necessary.
- Students will be asked to fill out the Financial Information section in the application, including the submission of recent bank statements.
- A character reference (to be requested via the online application).
- An endorsement of ethnicity.
Selection process
Professor Mark Hickford, (PVC Government, Law and Business), or Dean of Law, or their nominee, with guidance from the approved panel.
Additional information
- First year via a monthly stipend, and then in subsequent years a choice between being paid a monthly stipend OR paid to University accommodation OR tuition fees and levies.
- Recipients are expected to write a thank you letter to the donors of the scholarship within one month of receiving the award.
- Recipients must be willing to be used in publicity to promote first in family scholarship recipients for the Faculty of Law and the Scholarships Office.
Regulations and conditions
- A completed online 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.
- 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.
- All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being enrolled in a full-year programme (as stipulated by Studylink as full-time), within the criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
- Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
- Where part-time study for the recipient is approved, their scholarship award may be pro-rated. This decision will be made by the decision-making panel. Before the recipient decides to reduce their workload from full-time study, this must be discussed with the Scholarships Office.
- The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
- The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other University awards.
- 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.
Contact
Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04