The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka has increased financial support for students in the coming year, with more scholarships and continued investment in relief funds.
The support provided in 2025 will include an investment of $45 million in scholarships, while close to $500,000 is committed to the Pūtea Tautoko financial aid fund and the Residential College Relief Fund.
More than 200 students have already been supported from these relief funds in 2024, with further student support being provided through OUSA’s hardship relief fund for immediate low-level assistance.
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson is also contributing a portion of his salary each year to seven new scholarships, worth a total of $49,000.
These scholarships, worth $7,000 each, will be provided annually from 2025 as a supplement to first year students who have already been awarded an Otago equity scholarship, and whose circumstances are such that they would particularly benefit from additional support.
Recipients can put their combined scholarships towards the cost of their residential college accommodation, and/or as a contribution towards their tuition fees.
“Otago has a range of scholarships and my goal is to support those who have gained another award, but need a bit extra to make it all work,” Mr Robertson says.
He hopes the scholarships will provide support to students who have achieved well academically but are in circumstances that mean the cost of coming to Otago may be prohibitive, including students who are the first in their family to go into tertiary education.
“I am really aware of the financial pressures on students and their whānau at this time.
“Along with the cost of living, there are increased costs in studying, and the fees free programme has been shifted to the final year of study.
“I am in a privileged position in terms of my income, and I want to be able to give something to support those who are facing financial barriers.”
The seven commencing students who will receive these scholarships next year have been selected.
“In the past, this group would have been particularly helped by having fees free in their first year. I hope this extra support will make up for not having that this year.
“My goal is to do what I can personally to make sure that a person’s financial situation does not act as a barrier to education.”
Student scholarship support to be provided in 2025 includes:
- Entrance scholarships for commencing students, including increased stipends for all equity and key lower-value merit-based scholarships along with increased travel supplements.
- Scholarships for doctoral and selected postgraduate students, including a package for many of these students that covers tuition fees as well as providing a CPI-adjusted contribution to living costs.
In all, some 3,000 Otago students will receive scholarship support next year, either as commencing undergraduates or postgraduates, or as returning students who hold multi-year scholarships with Otago.
Many more of Otago’s 2025 returning students will also be the past recipients of entrance scholarships.