Awards and scholarships

The School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies has prizes and scholarships available for students who show academic excellence.

Applied Linguistics prize

Prize awarded annually to the best student of the year at graduate level in Applied Linguistics. The amount of the award is approximately $500 for the purchase of books.

Discourse Analysis prize

Awarded every two years to the top student in Discourse and Meaning (LING 321).

English Speaking Union Award for Teachers of English

The funds for these awards are provided by The English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth (Wellington Branch) via the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation. The amount of the award is $500.

Ian Gordon Master’s Scholarship

These scholarships are intended to support students undertaking a Master's degree by coursework in Linguistics, Applied Linguistics or TESOL at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. At least one scholarship will normally be targeted towards teachers returning to study

Ian Gordon Prize in Linguistics

The Ian Gordon Prize(s) are awarded annually for the best piece(s) of completed research (essay, project, or thesis) by Honours or Master’s students in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. Up to two prizes may be awarded in any year. If the research selected is a thesis (90 points or above), the prize awarded shall be called the ‘Ian Gordon Thesis Prize’. If the research selected is an essay or project completed as part of a course that is less than 90 points, the prize shall be called the ‘Ian Gordon Research Essay Prize’.

JPK Prizes in Applied Linguistics

These prizes were generously established by JPK a Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington alumnus to encourage postgraduate study in applied linguistics.

Linguistics prize

Prize awarded annually to the best student of the year completing a BA with a major in Linguistics. The current value of the award is approximately $500.

Linguistics Taught Postgraduate Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students to undertake the degree of BA (Hons) or Master of Linguistics at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. One scholarship will be awarded each year.

Sociolinguistics Prize

The prize is awarded to the top student in Advanced Sociolinguistics (LING 330) who, preferably, is intending to continue to postgraduate study. Awarded every two years. The amount of the award is approximately $1000.

Wellington Doctoral scholarships

These scholarships are intended to encourage and support doctoral study (PhD) at Victoria University of Wellington.

To find out more about what PhD and postgraduate scholarships are on offer and how to apply, visit the postgraduate and doctoral scholarships page at the scholarships office site. Or visit the scholarships website for further information on all available prizes and scholarships.

Previously offered scholarships

Graeme Kennedy Masters Scholarship in Applied Linguistics/Linguistics

This scholarship was awarded annually and was offered from 2018 to 2020.