References and personal statements
You may need to provide references or a personal statement as part of your scholarship application.
References—information for students
References are a common requirement when applying for a scholarship. When you apply online, you can nominate a referee, and they will be sent an email request. They will then be able to securely upload the reference to the scholarships system.
Choose referees who will provide the right kind of information about you, meaning information that the selection panel will need to know about. For example, if you are a research student and they need to know about your research capabilities, ensure the referee has supervised your research work before, or has some other knowledge of your capabilities.
Communicate with your referee about all the scholarships you have applied for so they can provide an appropriate reference relevant to each scholarship.
Referee’s statements are required by the scholarship's closing date.
References—information for referees
If you have received a request to supply a reference, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to submit a reference, including a link to the application system CommunityForce.
Be sure to include the most relevant information about the student. This may include academic merit, demonstration of involvement in sustainability or leadership practices, commitment to community, personal circumstances, and any extracurricular achievements you are aware of. You are welcome to comment on how they might benefit from attending Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
It is important to submit your reference by the scholarship deadline (this deadline is included in your reference email). Applications are not considered complete until the reference has been submitted to the system. Deadlines are not flexible.
References are confidential and will only be used by the Selection Committee to determine the applicant's eligibility for our scholarships. This information will not be shared with the applicant without your consent.
If you choose not to provide a reference, please click on the link provided in the invitation email and click the decline button on the online form. This will notify the student, and they will be able to assign another individual for their reference.
Referees for school leavers
Be sure to include the most relevant information about the student. This should be tailored to the requirements of the scholarships applied for. This may include demonstration of involvement in sustainability or leadership practices, commitment to community, sporting achievements, personal circumstances, and any extracurricular achievements you are aware of. We are also interested in the character of the student. School referees for our school leaver scholarships will have an additional week beyond the 1 September deadline to submit their reference.
Referees for current or returning students
Applicants may ask someone known to them in an academic capacity e.g., a tutor, programme coordinator, lecturer or secondary school tutor. Be sure to include the most relevant information about the student. This may include academic merit, involvement in projects, demonstration of initiative, time management or work ethics.
Referees for postgraduate students
Applicants may ask their current or previous supervisor or Programme coordinator. A brief statement highlighting the applicant's academic abilities and engagement in the classroom, research lab or online discussions. Time management for assignments and other academic priorities.
Personal statements
Some scholarships require a personal statement from the applicant. Always read the scholarship criteria carefully before you write your statement, so you gain a sense of what the panel are looking for.
If the scholarship doesn't specify what type of information to include, consider the following:
- your study goals and/or career aspirations
- your work or personal experience
- any barriers that might be relevant to the scholarship, such as financial barriers
- any personal characteristics, such as leadership, that will strengthen your application.
We recommend that personal statements are kept to a single page in length. The Scholarships Office is unable to proofread or review personal statements.