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New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship
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The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships are prestigious awards that facilitate students from developing Commonwealth countries to undertake Master's and Ph.D. studies in New Zealand. These scholarships are designed to foster and support future leaders by providing them with the opportunity to gain high-quality education and develop skills that can contribute to the development of their home countries.
| Offered by | Government bodies |
|---|---|
| Amount granted | INR 26,000 per week - Living allowance INR 1,57,000 - Establishment allowance |
| Type of scholarship | Merit cum need-based |
| Level of program | Postgraduate and doctorate |
| Application deadline | February 29th, 2024 |
| International students | Yes |
| Official url | New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship |
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The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship provides significant advantages for international students from Commonwealth countries, facilitating their higher education in New Zealand's top-tier universities. These institutions are recognized globally, ranking within the top 3% in the World University Rankings, which offers scholars exceptional academic opportunities and access to distinctive research resources influenced by the academic traditions of the United Kingdom. The scholarship benefits include:
Opportunity to Study at Premier Institutions: Scholars have the chance to enroll in internationally acclaimed universities or top Pacific educational institutions, ensuring a high-quality education.
Comprehensive Financial Support: The scholarship covers the entirety of tuition fees, removing financial barriers to education.
Generous Living Allowance: A weekly living allowance of up to 491 NZD (equivalent to approximately 25,704 INR) is provided to cover day-to-day expenses.
Initial Establishment Allowance: An initial payment of 3,000 NZD (around 157,053 INR) helps scholars settle in New Zealand.
Healthcare and Travel Coverage: Scholars benefit from comprehensive medical and travel insurance, ensuring their well-being during their studies.
Travel Expenses Covered: The scholarship includes airfare to New Zealand at the beginning of the study period and return airfare upon completion of the studies.
Support for Research Endeavors: Postgraduate students receive funding to cover research and thesis expenses, supporting their academic investigations.
This scholarship package is designed to offer a supportive environment for scholars, enabling them to focus on their studies and research without the stress of financial constraints, while also encouraging cultural exchange and the development of international networks.
The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship is accessible to students who are looking to pursue Master's and Doctoral degrees at designated universities and institutions within New Zealand. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Citizenship Requirement: The applicant must be a national of a Commonwealth member country.
Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of applying for the scholarship.
Visa and Immigration Requirements: Applicants need to comply with all visa conditions set by the New Zealand government, which include undergoing health and security checks, obtaining necessary approvals from their home country, and demonstrating English language proficiency.
Educational Qualifications: For those aiming to pursue a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree recognized in their home country is required. PhD applicants must hold a Master's degree from a recognized institution.
Residency Requirement: Scholars are expected to move to New Zealand for the duration of their scholarship, which is a minimum of two years or until the completion of their scholarship program.
English Language Proficiency: Applicants must achieve high scores in English language proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or CAE, as recognized by the New Zealand government.
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IELTS: An overall score of 6.5 or higher is required, with no individual band score less than 6. This ensures that the applicant has a proficient level of English across all areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
TOEFL: For the internet-based test (TOEFL iBT), a minimum score of 90 is required. For the paper-based TOEFL, including the written exam, a score of at least 21 is necessary. This demonstrates the applicant's ability to effectively communicate in an academic setting.
PTE Academic: An overall score of 58 is needed, with no communicative skills score (reading, writing, listening, speaking) less than 50. This reflects a good command of the English language, suitable for postgraduate education.
Cambridge Academic English (CAE): A score of 176 overall, with no individual component score less than 169, is required. This score indicates that the applicant is capable of handling complex academic material in English.
These English proficiency requirements are designed to ensure that scholarship recipients are fully prepared to engage with their academic work and life in New Zealand, facilitating a successful study experience.
Work Experience: Candidates applying for postgraduate studies should possess relevant work experience in their field of study.
These requirements are designed to ensure that scholarship recipients are well-prepared for their studies in New Zealand and capable of contributing to the development of their home countries upon their return.
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To apply for the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship, interested candidates must complete an application form, which can be obtained from the official website of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the Sakshat portal, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) website. After filling out the form thoroughly, applicants are required to submit it along with the necessary documentation to the MHRD office. Essential documents to be attached with the application include:
Self-verified scanned copies of all academic transcripts, diplomas, and certificates from qualifying exams.
An official document detailing the conversion of GPA to percentage, providing a clear explanation of the university's marks calculation system.
A self-attested copy of the birth certificate or any school leaving certificate post-grade 10 as proof of date of birth.
A concise essay, not exceeding 500 words, outlining the applicant's study plans under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan while in New Zealand.
Upon receipt of the application form and all requisite documents, the selection process is initiated, focusing on three primary criteria:
The academic achievements and excellence of the applicant.
The potential impact of the applicant's proposed study on the development of their home country.
The coherence and quality of the applicant's proposed study plan in New Zealand, demonstrating how it aligns with their academic and professional goals.
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To get your questions or queries answered, you can mail them on the below mentioned email address:
Email id: [email protected]
Scholarship recipients may be allowed to work a limited number of hours per week as per their student visa conditions. However, their primary focus should be on their studies.
Recipients are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Failure in a course may require a review of the scholarship status, and in some cases, could lead to the termination of the scholarship.
Beyond financial support, the scholarship offers opportunities for professional development through access to international networks, internships, and potential research collaborations, enhancing recipients' career prospects and their ability to make impactful contributions in their fields.
The scholarship is highly competitive, with applicants from across the Commonwealth countries vying for a limited number of awards. Selection is based on merit, relevance of the proposed study to development goals, and the quality of the study plan.
Extensions may be considered for Doctoral students under exceptional circumstances but are not guaranteed. Master's students are typically expected to complete their studies within the duration of the scholarship as initially granted.