Some of the recipients of the inaugural International Academic Excellence Scholarship, pictured with Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) Professor Jessica Palmer, at the official scholarship recognition event at the Staff Club last week.
The first recipients of a new University of Otago scholarship for offshore international students were officially recognised at a special ceremony last week.
The International Academic Excellence Scholarship, valued at about $35,000, is awarded to newly starting Bachelor degree students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability in their home country school system, International Marketing and Recruitment Manager Megan Smith says.
“As a one of the world’s top 200 universities, academically talented students are attracted to the University of Otago and our diverse range of programmes across business, health sciences, humanities and natural sciences,” Megan says.
“We are pleased to be able to recognise the hard work and ambition of these students through the introduction of this International Academic Excellence Scholarship and to support these students in their academic journey at Otago.”
Recipients of the new scholarship come from countries including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and the United States.
“International students bring invaluable diversity, perspective, and vibrancy to the university community,” Megan says.
“It was a wonderful event for these students to celebrate their achievements as they embark on their first year of Bachelor studies.
“As the first recipients of this new scholarship, this event was yet another first for the University of Otago – New Zealand’s first university.”
Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships Manager Ben Rickerby says the new scholarship was awarded to the top percentage of first-year international students who applied to study with Otago for 2025.
“As well as academic success, we also looked at attributes such as leadership potential and community engagement. These students displayed a wide range of involvement and abilities from helping those in need in their communities with involvement in support and action groups, through to success in sporting and cultural pursuits,” Ben says.
Recipients of this scholarship had also previously received a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship for International Students or a Global Scholarship towards their tuition fees in year one as well, with a combined total value of more than NZ $44,000.