| Value | $15,000 |
| Number offered | 1 every 3 years |
| Opening date | 1 July |
| Closing date | 15 August (if no suitable candidates are found, the due date for submission may be extended) |
Established in 2025 with funds from the Dunedin City Council | kaunihera a-rohe o Ōtepoti this scholarship provides financial support to students to undertake undergraduate degree study at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
General eligibility criteria
Applications for all Entrance Scholarships are normally open to students who meet the requirements of 1.1 OR 1.2, AND 2. Those who fit within 3 are ineligible.
1.1 Are New Zealand citizens, New Zealand Residence Class Visa Holders, Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents with domestic fee status;
Or
1.2 International students who have completed Year 12 and/or have completed or are in the process of completing Year 13 at a New Zealand school, or an equivalent foundation level course at a New Zealand tertiary institution.
And
2 Are intending to enrol or have enrolled for the first time for first-year (100-level papers), full-time degree-level, undergraduate study at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
But
3 Those who have studied more than 0.4 EFTs at any University or tertiary institution at degree-level or higher are not normally* eligible.
Application process
All applications for Entrance Scholarships are done through eVision, the University's student management system. In order to apply for a scholarship, you will be required to go through the first stages of enrolment at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka to access the Entrance Scholarship online application.
Before going through the application process, it is important to ensure that you are adequately prepared to begin the application. What you will need to prepare for your application is listed on the scholarship application preparation webpage.
Scholarship application preparation
Selection of recipients
The selection panel, consisting of the Mayor of Dunedin, a current sitting member of the Dunedin City Council, a staff member from the Development and Alumni Relations Office and the Manager of Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships, or their nominees, shall consider the following factors in awarding the scholarship:
- Academic ability (a minimum of NCEA Level 2 awarded with merit, or equivalent, is normally required for consideration).
- Potential and motivation to succeed at university.
- First consideration to be given to those who reside within the Dunedin City boundary.
- Intended programme of enrolment aligns with the field of study as selected by the Mayor.
- Selection of a recipient will be every three years coinciding with the year of the local body elections.
Scholarship detail
Scholarship Terms and Conditions
In addition, the following applies to this Scholarship, subject to the specific provisions of the offer letter for the recipient:
- Standard value of NZ$15,000.
- Standard tenure is three years.
- Payment of the scholarship in year one will consist of $5,000 paid as a contribution to accommodation fees for those accepting a place in a Residential College, or University Flat, as listed at the link below, paid directly to your Residential College (the scholarship is not able to be used for payment or part-payment of Residential College placement, deposit, activity or equivalent fees due prior to studying).
University of Otago Residential Colleges - For those living in the local community (boarding, flatting or living at home), payment in year one will normally comprise of a payment, firstly towards tuition and student services fees, if applicable. Any remaining balance will be paid to the recipient’s bank account in two lump-sum payments in May and September.
- Payment of the scholarship in years two and three shall consist of $5,000 in each year and normally paid first, towards tuition and student services fees if applicable, then as lump sums to the recipient. Payment is subject to satisfactory academic performance as outlined below.
- Tenure in years 2 and 3 normally requires a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 or better for the previous year, or admission to and successful progression within one of University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka's professional programmes.
- Payment of this scholarship will only be made once a copy of a message of appreciation from the scholarship recipient to the donor has been received by the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
- Recipients must submit an end of year report to the Development and Alumni Relations Office, no later than 1 December in each year of tenure, detailing their activities and experiences of the past year.
- The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka and Dunedin City Council | kaunihera a-rohe o Ōtepoti reserve the rights to use names, photographs and details of successful applicants for advertising and publicity. Scholarships holders must agree to be reasonably available to participate in interviews and promotional activities if requested by the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka or Dunedin City Council | kaunihera a-rohe o Ōtepoti.
- This scholarship may be held concurrently with any other University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship at the discretion of the selection panel.
*Exceptions to 0.4 EFTS or less are considered when all previous University or tertiary level study has been undertaken whilst concurrently enrolled at secondary school.