Wellington Pasifika Master's by Thesis Scholarship

History and purpose

These Scholarships are intended to encourage and support Pasifika students to undertake a Master’s by Thesis degree at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.

Who is eligible?

• All domestic and international Pasifika candidates who are eligible at the time of application, or who will have become eligible by the start of Trimester 2 the following year, to enrol for a Master’s by Thesis degree at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.
• Applicants who are either enrolled in a one-year Master’s programme in which the student will undertake a thesis worth 90 points or more, or Part 2 Master's degree in which the student will take a thesis course worth 90 points or more. The Master's thesis will usually have the course code 591 or 592.
• For avoidance of doubt, eligibility includes students who are taking a portfolio course that is worth 90 points or more and is administered under the University's Master's by Thesis regulations (see section 6 of those regulations).
• Students who are taking a 60-point dissertation course are not eligible.

Selection criteria

• Applicants must be of Pasifika descent.
• Applicants must be intending to enrol for a Master’s by Thesis degree at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.
• Applicants must be intending to enrol in a thesis of at least 90 points.

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.

Scholarship specific documentation

• Personal statement
• One-page research proposal outlining the proposed research topic and impact of the research
• CV
• One academic reference (to be requested via the online application)
• Academic transcripts if previous study has not been completed at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington

Selection process

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of an individual’s academic achievement in combination with their previous experience and knowledge, commitment to their community and the strategic importance and impact of the proposed research.

Final selection is made by the University Research Scholarship Committee on recommendation from a representative of the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika).

Additional information

For students studying full-time, the Scholarship comprises a $15,000 tax-free stipend for one year, plus tuition fees and levies (domestic fees for 120 points only). The tenure is for one year and will be paid out for the year in which the student is enrolled in their thesis course. For students studying part-time the scholarship is pro-rated and paid across two years.

International students will usually be liable to pay the difference between the full international student fee and the domestic fee.

The scholarship stipend will be paid to each scholarship recipient in monthly instalments. The first such payment will be made by the Scholarships Office as soon as practicable after confirmation of enrolment. Fees and student levies will be paid directly to the University by the Scholarships Office.

Approval for the co-tenure of a Wellington Pasifika Master's by Thesis Scholarship with other awards that total more than $6,000 must be sought from the University Research Scholarships Committee. The co-tenure of other awards may result in a reduction in the value of the scholarship stipend.

Regulations and conditions

1. Recipients are required to accept their offer of scholarship within four weeks of the offer after which the scholarship offer will lapse.
2. All offers are conditional upon the recipient enrolling no later than the start of Trimester 2 the following year in a Master's Research degree. If a student has already been enrolled for a Master's degree by thesis more than three months at the time when the offer of a scholarship is made, the maximum length of tenure of the scholarship will be reduced at the discretion on the University Research Scholarships Committee.
3. The Committee may grant a scholarship recipient a deferment of the commencement of the scholarship for longer periods if it considers that such a deferment would benefit the scholarship recipient's programme of research and the University.
4. Scholarship recipients shall normally be required to maintain full-time enrolment and devote themselves full-time to their thesis. However, students for whom compelling reasons make part-time enrolment preferable, may apply to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis pro-rated.
5. Scholarship stipends shall be paid to each scholarship recipient by monthly instalments, in advance, during the tenure of the scholarship. The first such payment shall be made by the Scholarships Office as soon as practicable after confirmation of enrolment.
6. Tuition fees and student levies will be paid, upon enrolment, by the Scholarships Office.
7. Approval must be obtained from the University Research Scholarships Committee before any period of leave is taken, other than reasonable annual holiday leave. This includes any period the Scholar needs to spend overseas to undertake research relating to the approved programme or research.
8. Scholarship recipients must advise the Scholarships Manager immediately of any suspension or withdrawal from study in the approved programme or research.
9. For scholarship recipients enrolled full-time, approval may be given by the supervisor and Head of School to undertake paid employment for up to a maximum of 600 hours in any one calendar year.
10. The scholarship recipient must complete the University scheduled progress reports during the tenure of the scholarship, outlining their progress to date.
11. The scholarship recipient acknowledges that failure  to make satisfactory academic progress in the approved programme of research, any breach of this contract or University statutes, policies and procedure, may result in the Scholarship being terminated at any time and/or the scholarship recipient being required to pay the University for part or all of the scholarship money paid during the tenure of the scholarship, at the sole discretion of the University Research Scholarships Committee.
12. The Committee may at any time suspend or terminate a scholarship, or require the forfeiture of such proportion of the scholarship emolument as it may determine, if the scholarship recipient is not diligently pursuing their programme of research and is not making satisfactory progress, has violated the Student Conduct Statute, or has failed to comply with any of the terms and conditions on which the scholarship was awarded.
13. At the discretion of the Committee, the application of any of the terms and conditions of a Wellington Pasifika Master’s by Thesis Scholarship may be modified or relaxed in special circumstances or in order to avoid hardship to any scholarship recipient or misuse of the scholarship funding.
14. The Committee shall review these Terms and Conditions from time to time.

Contact

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