Wellington Mana Pasifika Scholarship (School-leaver scholarships for exceptional Pasifika students)

Scholarship level: School leaver
Closing date(s): 1 September
Tenure: Three years
Award for: Pasifika
Value: Up to $20,000 over three years

Description

The scholarship package includes full accommodation costs* for the first year in a Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington hall of residence. There is dedicated pastoral support, plus $5,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years of study. For students who are not in a hall, a $15,000 fees contribution can be taken evenly across three years.

History

The Wellington Mana Pasifika Scholarship recognises exceptional Pasifika students. We encourage applicants who have achieved academically and within the areas of culture, community involvement, and leadership.

Who is eligible?

  • Applicants must be of Pacific descent.
  • Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens, Permanent Residents or International Students who have completed at least two full years (ie. their Year 12 and Year 13) at a New Zealand Secondary School at the time of application.
  • Applicants are expected to have their NCEA Level 2 Certificate endorsed with Merit from Year 12 (or an equivalent level of achievement in an alternate qualification).
  • Applicants must be intending to enrol full-time in the year following application in their first undergraduate degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Applicants must be in Year 13 or have completed Year 13 in the year prior and be taking a gap year to be eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Selection criteria

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement as well as the areas of culture, community involvement, and leadership.

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 outlining service to the Pasifika community, your understanding of culture, language and a commitment to achieve.
  • A reference from your school (to be requested via the online application).
  • An endorsement of your ethnicity from your School Dean for Pasifika or their nominee, a Pasifika community member or Pasifika Future Student Adviser (to be requested via the online application).

Selection process

Selection will be made by the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Undergraduate Scholarship Committee.

Additional information

Holding the scholarship for years two and three is conditional on students continuing to be enrolled full-time, maintaining good academic progress and engagement with the Pasifika Student Success team.

*Full accommodation costs excludes the initial deposit (including bond and other hall fees) that is due when accepting an offer of accommodation. Remaining payment will be made directly by the Scholarships Office to the hall of residence in early February.

Regulations and conditions

  1. A completed online application must be submitted by 4:30pm 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 for the application to be considered.
  2. All 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.
  3. All scholarship offers will be conditional upon the recipient being fully engaged in Year 13 and gaining NCEA Level 3 with at least Merit endorsement (or equivalent in another qualification), University Entrance and admission to their degree programme. (NOTE: equivalent for CIE is 240 points on UCAS tariff, from Year 13, or 3 C grades at A level).
  4. Applicants who wish to enrol at the University in the year following application directly from Year 12, may not apply for the Scholarship unless they will meet all the normal conditions of the scholarship by the end of their Year 12 year (see regulation 3 in particular).
  5. Applicants who go on an official student school exchange for a minimum of six months instead of completing Year 13 may apply for the Scholarship. These applicants will also need to gain admission through Discretionary Entrance.
  6. Applicants who have taken a (single) gap year after completing Year 13 may apply for the Scholarship, as long as they have not studied at another university during that time (i.e. this scholarship is for first-year students, not transferring students). They will need to apply in the year prior to starting study at Victoria University of Wellington.
  7. Applicants who have studied up to 60 points of courses at tertiary level during secondary school are eligible to apply. This includes applicants who may have completed any STAR funded courses while still enrolled at secondary school.
  8. Exceptional applicants will also be considered for the Wellington Kahotea Scholarship which includes full accommodation costs at a University hall of residence plus a stipend for three years, conditional on students continuing to be enrolled full-time and maintaining a Grade Point Average of 6 (a B+ average). See full regulations here.
  9. All recipients of a Wellington School Leaver Scholarship are guaranteed an offer of a place in a University hall of residence, provided an accommodation application is received by University Accommodation Wellington by their deadline.
  10. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
  11. The Scholarship may not be held in conjunction with any other Victoria University of Wellington funded School Leaver Scholarship or the Robert Bostock Scholarship.
  12. Should the recipient withdraw from the University 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.
  13. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for the University and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
  14. 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.

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