Ralph Preston-Thomas Scholarship

Study area(s): Science
Scholarship level: All postgraduate; Returning students
Closing date(s): 31 October
Tenure: The scholarship is awarded annually and may be held in conjunction with any other award, unless the conditions of the other award precludes it.
Award for: Domestic
Number offered: One scholarship awarded annually
Value: $5,000 (subject to funds available)

History and purpose

This scholarship was established through the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation in 1998 by Peter and Ruth Preston-Thomas of Wellington and Winnipeg, Canada. The scholarship was set up in honour of their son Ralph, to encourage students, particularly mature students, to further their tertiary education in Maths and Physics.

Who is eligible?

  • Applicants must be a New Zealand citizen.
  • Applicants must be 21 years and over.
  • Applicants must be entering their second or subsequent year of an undergraduate degree, or postgraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Applicants must be majoring in Mathematics or Physics.

Selection criteria

  • The scholarship is open to applicants who are New Zealand citizens, 21 years and over, and are entering full time study for their second or subsequent year of an undergraduate degree as well as students enrolling in postgraduate study in the Faculty of Science, at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
  • The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit.

Application process

A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.

Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.

Apply here

Scholarship specific documentation

  • Applicants will be asked to include a personal statement in their application.

Selection process

The successful recipient will be selected by the Academic Dean of Science and appropriate Faculty of Science staff.

Additional information

The scholarship is awarded annually and may be held in conjunction with any other award, unless the conditions of the other award preclude it. The Victoria University of Wellington Foundation will expect recipients to write a letter of thanks to the donor on receipt of the award and provide an end of year progress report. Recipients of the Scholarship are required to provide two reports during each year of the tenure of the scholarship. Guidelines for these reports are available from the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation.

Regulations and conditions

  1. A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
  2. All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being fully enrolled in a full-year programme (full-time will be at the level of points considered by Studylink as full-time) within the stipulated criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
  3. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
  4. The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other awards.
  5. Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
  6. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
  7. At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.

Contact

Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04