University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Entrance Scholarship

Information

Established by the University of Otago Council in 2006 to assist students who have demonstrated all-round ability and who exhibit leadership potential to attend the University of Otago.

General eligibility criteria

Application for all Entrance Scholarships are normally open to students who meet the requirements of 1.1 OR 1.2, AND 2. Those who fit within 3 are ineligible.

1.1 Are New Zealand citizens, New Zealand Residence Class Visa Holders, Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents with domestic fee status;

Or

1.2 International students who have completed Year 12 and/or have completed or are in the process of completing Year 13 at a New Zealand school, or an equivalent foundation level course at a New Zealand tertiary institution.

And

2 Are intending to enrol or have enrolled for the first time for first-year (100-level papers), full-time degree-level, undergraduate study at the University of Otago.

But

3 Those who have studied more than 0.4 EFTs at any University or tertiary institution at degree-level or higher are not normally* eligible.

Specific eligibility criteria for this Scholarship

In addition to the above eligibility criteria, applicants must have:

• Involvement in activities at school, in the community, and/or in sport and cultural pursuits in which leadership has been shown.
• Achieved NCEA Level 2 endorsed with merit, or equivalent.

Other

Recipients of the Otago Daily Times Class Act Award will have an entitlement to this scholarship, subject to their meeting the general eligibility requirements and obtaining entrance to the University. The standard value and tenure conditions will apply.**

Recipients of the Southland Youthmark Young Achievers Award will have an entitlement to this scholarship, subject to their meeting the general eligibility requirements and obtaining entrance to the University. The standard value and tenure conditions will apply.**

Application process

All applications for Entrance Scholarships are done through eVision, the University's student management system. In order to apply for a scholarship, you will be required to go through the first stages of enrolment at the University of Otago to access the Entrance Scholarship online application.

In the Entrance Scholarship application, it is recommended that to be considered for this scholarship, you should have completed the Leadership section of the application, and it is recommended that the Extra-curricular section is also completed. For more information on the application process, as well as step-by-step instructions, please visit the apply for an entrance scholarship webpage.

Before going through the application process, it is important to ensure that you are adequately prepared to begin the application. What you will need to prepare for your application is listed on the scholarship application preparation webpage.

Selection of recipients

The Selection Panel consisting of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement, the Director of Planning and Funding, the Director of Accommodation Services, the Head of Schools Liaison, the Manager, Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship, or their nominees, and up to four further nominees of the Scholarships and Prizes Committee, shall consider the following factors in awarding the scholarships:

• Academic ability; disciplines or subjects relevant to their proposed programme of study at University may be assessed (a minimum of NCEA Level 2 awarded with merit, or equivalent, is normally required for consideration).
• Demonstrated leadership potential.
• Sporting and/or cultural involvement.
• Contribution to the community.

Scholarship detail

The Scholarship Terms and Conditions can be found here. In addition, following information applies to this Scholarship, subject to the specific provisions of the offer letter for the recipient:

• Standard value of $7,000.
• Standard tenure is one year.
• For those accepting a place in a Residential College as listed at the link below, it will be paid as an accommodation fee waiver for the amount specified in your scholarship offer letter, paid directly to your Residential College (the scholarship is not able to be used for payment or part-payment of Residential College placement, deposit, activity or equivalent fees due prior to studying).
  University of Otago Residential Colleges
• For those living in the local community (boarding, flatting or living at home), it will normally comprise of a payment, firstly towards tuition and student services fees, if applicable, then as a monthly stipend or lump sum, or you may be able to have the value of your scholarship credited against your tuition fees for your second year of study.
• For recipients not in a residential college, tenure may be longer than one year.
• For exceptional applicants, this scholarship will be awarded at a higher value and a longer tenure.
• Tenure in years two and three normally requires a GPA of 5.0 or better for the previous year.
• Recipients may request continuation of their scholarship if their GPA is not at the required level by writing to the Manager, Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships (entrance.scholarships@otago.ac.nz) asking that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement approve continuation of the scholarship into year two or three. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement will consider the following factors when making their decision (and may consider other things):    
  1. A written request received from the student, outlining why they would like some leniency in the GPA requirement. It is recommended that this request is received by 31 January.
  2. Evidence of sport or cultural activity performance and associated commitments, if relevant.
  3. Evidence of medical impairment, if relevant.
• Please note that, unless an exception is specified, other University of Otago Entrance Scholarships cannot normally be held concurrently with other Entrance Scholarships. The exception to this is the Dux Entrance Scholarship, which may be held concurrently at the value specified in its regulations.

*Exceptions to 0.4 EFTS or less are considered when all previous University or tertiary level study has been undertaken whilst concurrently enrolled at secondary school.

**Please note that recipients of both an Otago Daily Times Class Act Award and a Southland Youthmark Young Achievers Award may, and are encouraged to, apply for the University of Otago Entrance Scholarships using the eVision application system open between 1 July and 15 August. However, recipients will only be awarded one University of Otago Entrance Scholarship (subject to the Dux Entrance Scholarship provisions above), with a guarantee of the award of the University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Entrance Scholarship valued at $7,000 as a minimum.

Further information

You are likely to find the Frequently Asked Questions helpful and we recommend that you read them.

To find out more about Entrance Scholarships, please contact us:

Email entrance.scholarships@otago.ac.nz
Tel 0800 80 80 98 (callers within New Zealand only); or
64 3 479 7000 (callers outside New Zealand)
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If you have a University of Otago student identification number, please include this in your email.