New entrance scholarships increase opportunities at Otago

New entrance scholarships increase opportunities at Otago

The University of Otago today announced the expansion of its scholarship offerings for 2016 with the creation of a new scholarship as well as increases to existing scholarships for commencing students.

The New Frontiers Scholarship, available as-of-right to students who achieve to a high level in NCEA Levels 2 or 3, and who are enrolling for specified degrees, is one of several changes being made to Otago’s portfolio of undergraduate entrance scholarships.

With the new scholarships and related changes, the University is poised to offer a record number of scholarships to commencing students, says Otago Vice-Chancellor, Professor Harlene Hayne.

“Scholarships are, of course, an excellent way for students to fund their education. I am pleased that with this announcement, even more students from across New Zealand and beyond may be able to gain a world-class education from Otago.”

Otago’s New Frontiers Scholarship will be available to students commencing study in a range of science, commerce and humanities degrees. All students enrolling for those degrees who achieve NCEA Level 2 or NCEA Level 3 endorsed with Excellence (or who meet equivalent standards under the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge systems) will be guaranteed a New Frontiers Scholarship. The scholarship will have a value $2,500 for those who achieve an Excellence endorsement at one of NCEA Level 2 or Level 3. This will double to $5,000 in value for those who achieve an Excellence endorsement at both levels.

The University is also extending the availability of its Entrance Scholarships as follows:

• All entrance scholarships will now be available to international students who have completed Year 12 and Year 13 at a New Zealand secondary school;
• Recipients of this year’s Otago Daily Times Class Act Awards will receive an automatic entitlement to a University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship for 2016;
• The number of Māori and Pacific Peoples’ Scholarships provided will be increased, along with the numbers of several other scholarship types.

Other key changes that have been confirmed as part of the revised scholarship package include:

• An increase in the value of Otago’s most prestigious commencing scholarship – the Academic Excellence Scholarships – to cover the full cost of tuition fees and Residential College fees in Year One, followed by $10,000 per annum for Years Two and Three;
• An increase in the value and tenure period for Otago’s Performance Scholarships for students achieving to a high level in sport, culture, music and/or the arts from $5,000 for one year, to $16,000 over three years;
• An increase in the value of Otago’s Alumni, Leaders of Tomorrow, Donna-Rose Disability Support, and Dux scholarships from $5,000 to $6,000;
• A change to the Otago Dux scholarship to enable recipients to hold the scholarship, at a partial stipend, in conjunction with most other commencing scholarships (previously, the Dux scholarship could only be held in conjunction with another scholarship without stipend).

All Otago entrance scholarship recipients will also be guaranteed a place in a Residential College for their first year of study.

ENDS

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