The Eastern Bay Education Scholarship (MK Lamont)

Scholarship level: Returning students; First year students; School leaver
Closing date(s): 30 November
Tenure: One year
Award for: Māori; Pasifika; Living with a disability; Facing financial hardship; From a refugee background; Athletes; Rainbow; Domestic
Number offered: One
Value: $5,000

History and purpose

In 2025, Victoria University alumnus Michael Lamont, in partnership with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation, established the Eastern Bay Education Scholarship. The scholarship was created to help ensure young people from the Eastern Bay of Plenty region have greater support to pursue and reach their academic goals. The focus of the scholarship is to empower students that demonstrate determination, perseverance, commitment to achieving their goals and facing financial barriers, to either attend university or continue their undergraduate studies.

Who is eligible?

  • Applicants must be originally from the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
  • Applicants must be either intending or already undertaking full-time undergraduate studies in any faculty at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens, or Permanent Residents; a New Zealand Residence Class visa holder.

Selection criteria

Applicants will be assessed and awarded on the following criteria:

  • Financial hardship.
  • Strength of personal statement.

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 statement regarding financial hardship.
  • A personal statement (approx. 500 words) describing how you have demonstrated an attitude of determination, perseverance and/or a commitment to achieving your goals. This could be in relation to your high school or university studies, employment, sporting and volunteer roles or lived experiences in your personal life. Your personal statement also needs to include your connection to Eastern Bay of Plenty region.

Selection process

The decision will be made by the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Undergraduate Scholarships Committee.

Additional information

The scholarship will be paid as a stipend in two instalments once the recipient is fully enrolled at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Before the second instalment is paid in Trimester 2, the Scholarships Office will confirm the recipient is still enrolled and engaged in their studies.

The recipient will be asked to write a letter of appreciation once they receive the scholarship, which will be shared will the scholarship donor(s).

Conditions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
  4. The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other University 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.

Contact

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