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New Zealand Development Scholarship

http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/scholarships/nzds/eligibility.html

PLEASE NOTE: for official information, specific details, and updated deadlines and instructions, please check the organization’s website and current application forms; if you have problems or questions, please contact us.

Deadlines:

  • 30 April 2013 to 18 June (depending on university where you apply); check website for updated university list and deadlines

Description:

General:

  • For development-related studies in New Zealand. This may include study related to education, health, rural livelihoods, governance, human rights, or economic development, depending on the human resource development training needs of the home government. New Zealand -Development Scholarships are offered for full-time, tertiary level study at participating New Zealand education institutions.
  • Open category: Employees of private sector or civil society sector organisations, including non-governmental organisations. In some countries, public sector employees can also apply for a NZDS-Open scholarship depending on the country or region-specific selection criteria. This criteria also determines the levels and the fields of study under which candidates can apply to study in New Zealand.

Eligibility and Restrictions:

Applicants must:

  • be a citizen of Myanmar (permanent residents are not eligible to apply); be residing in their home country, preferably for at least two years prior to application; not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country ; not be married or engaged to be married to a person who holds, or who is eligible to hold, citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country;
  • be 45 years or younger at the time of application;
  • be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for one already commenced in New Zealand or another country; not have completed, or nearly completed, a qualification at a similar level (i.e. applicants must apply for a higher level qualification than any previously attained), unless strong developmental
    relevance is demonstrated;
  • satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand education institution at which the qualification is to be undertaken, including English language proficiency criteria;
  • have been working in their home country for at least two years since completing their highest tertiary qualification, prior to application;
  • be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to their home country’s public, private or civil society sector (as relevant), and to the development of their home country in general;
  • and be able to take up the scholarship in the academic year for which it is offered.
  • Applicants cannot: be studying full-time at post-secondary level; be transferring from another tertiary scholarship (either in New Zealand or in another country) to a NZDS; hold, or have held, a New Zealand Government or Australian Government scholarship in the 24 months preceding the scholarship start date (excluding previous NZAID English Language Training for Officials scholarship recipients);
  • or have been terminated from a New Zealand or Australian Government scholarship previously.
  • Applicants are expected to continue residing in their home country during the NZDS application and selection process. If offered a NZDS, candidates must: be able to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements for international student entry to New Zealand (i.e. medical checks and police clearance/character checks, etc); not hold another scholarship during the period of the NZDS; and agree in writing that they will return to their home country for a minimum period of two years following completion of their scholarship in order to contribute to their country’s social or economic development.
  • Personnel from agencies involved in NZAID projects are encouraged to apply.
  • English language scores

Application Procedure:

  • NZDS-Open applicants apply directly to a New Zealand education institution and should direct all their questions about the NZDS-Open to that institution.

The university will:

  1. Distribute application forms for the applicant to complete and return with all required supporting documentation.
  2. Each education institution has their own deadline to receive completed applications.
  3. Assess the candidate’s application for admission to the institution.
  4. If the candidate’s application for admission to study at the institution is approved unconditionally, the institution will send complete NZDS-Open applications to NZAID’s Scholarships Unit in Wellington, New Zealand, by 30 June.
  5. Note: If the candidate does not meet the NZDS eligibility criteria, the education institution may decline the NZDS application on behalf of NZAID.
  6. NZAID will consider all submitted NZDS applications for selection.
  7. Some candidates may be interviewed as part of the selection process.
  8. NZAID will advise the institution of the outcome of the NZDS selection round by early September.
  9. The education institution will forward an offer for a NZDS scholarship to successful candidates, and then assist them with their travel arrangements to New Zealand.
  10. Successful candidates commence their studies around February the following year.

Required Attachments:

  • Requirements vary according to the university applied to
  • Generally, as a guide, most New Zealand education institutions require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, for postgraduate level study. Some postgraduate qualifications require a higher score, especially in the fields of education and the health sciences. It is mandatory for applicants to provide the original of their IELTS or TOEFL test result as a pre-condition of the application and placement process. Results must be no older than 24 months at the time of the scholarship start date.