| Value | Between $2,000 and $4,000 (dependent on the level of academic achievement at school) |
|---|---|
| Number offered | Varies |
| Opening date | 1 July |
| Closing date | 4 March for Semester 1 start |
Information
The University of Otago New Frontiers Excellence and Sustained Excellence Scholarships were established by the University of Otago in 2015, in order to recognise academic excellence in secondary school study.
General eligibility criteria
Application for all Entrance Scholarships are normally open to students who meet the requirements of 1.1 OR 1.2 OR 1.3, 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.
*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.
Specificeligibility criteria for this Scholarship
In addition to the above eligibility criteria, those intending to commence study in programmes such as Health Sciences First Year or the intermediate year of professional degrees not offered at the University of Otago (e.g. Engineering) are not eligible for this scholarship.
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, there are no 'not compulsory' sections of the application required to be completed but you must fill in the compulsory sections and submit it. For more information on the application process, as well as step-by-step instructions, please visit the 'Apply for a scholarship' webpage:
Before going through the application process, it is important to ensure that you are adequately prepared to begin the application. The things you will need to prepare for your application are listed on the scholarship application preparation webpage:
Scholarship application preparation
Selection of recipients
Applicants who have achieved highly in another official secondary school qualification or who have gained high pre-degree level tertiary grades may also be considered by, and at the discretion of, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement, or nominee.
Selection will be based on academic accomplishments, measured by official secondary school qualifications or pre-degree level tertiary Grade Point Average.
Please note, this scholarship is not automatically awarded and therefore, you must submit a completed application through eVision to be considered for this scholarship.
New Frontiers Sustained Excellence
An applicant who has achieved ONE of the following academic standards set out in this section will be awarded a University of Otago New Frontiers Sustained Excellence Scholarship:
- NCEA Level 2 endorsed with Excellence AND NCEA Level 3 endorsed with Excellence while still enrolled at secondary school. Level 2 excellence credits must have been obtained while enrolled in Year 11 or 12.
- International Baccalaureate with a score of 37 points or more.
- Cambridge International Examinations with a University of Otago Cambridge International Exams Entry Score of 291–420.
New Frontiers Excellence
An applicant who has achieved ONE of the following academic standards set out in this section will be awarded a University of Otago New Frontiers Excellence Scholarship:
- NCEA Level 2 with an Excellence Endorsement. Level 2 excellence credits must have been obtained while enrolled in Year 11 or 12.
- NCEA Level 3 with an Excellence Endorsement obtained while still enrolled at secondary school.
- International Baccalaureate with a score of 34–36 points.
- Cambridge International Examinations with a University of Otago Cambridge International Exams Entry Score of 240–290.
- Rudolf Steiner Level 3 School Certificate at the level of Highly Commended or Distinction.
Your Cambridge International Exams entry score is calculated on the basis of your UCAS Tariff score. Please note that in calculating the tariff score, an AS level qualification will only count if you have not completed an A level in the same subject.
Scholarship detail
The Scholarship Terms and Conditions can be found here:
Scholarship terms and conditions
- 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.
In addition, the following information applies to this Scholarship, subject to the specific provisions of the offer letter for the recipient:
New Frontiers Sustained Excellence
- Standard value of $4,000.
- Standard tenure is one year.
- Those enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year or Engineering Intermediate programmes in their first year of study at the University of Otago are not eligible for this scholarship.
- 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.
New Frontiers Excellence
- Standard value of $2,000.
- Standard tenure is one year.
- Those enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year or Engineering Intermediate programmes in their first year of study at the University of Otago are not eligible for this scholarship.
- 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.
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
Tel +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.