If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, then a TeachNZ scholarship may help you to realise your dream.
If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, then a TeachNZ scholarship may help you to realise your dream.
1. Are previous Scholarship or Study Grant recipients eligible for one of the TeachNZ Scholarships this year?
2. Why are TeachNZ Scholarships bonded?
3. The selection criteria doesn’t include financial circumstances. Will this prevent some students from taking up study because of financial hardship?
4. What is a TeachNZ ECE Scholarship worth?
5. Which TeachNZ ECE Scholarship should I apply for?
6. Why are the ECE Scholarships merit-based?
7. Are the criteria the same for the ECE Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships?
8. When do I apply for a TeachNZ ECE Scholarship if I am a mid-year student?
9. Why have ECE Study Grants become TeachNZ scholarships?
1. Are previous Scholarship or Study Grant recipients eligible for one of the TeachNZ Scholarships this year?
No. The Scholarships are only available to students who haven’t had the financial benefit of a Scholarship or Study Grant in previous years.
2. Why are TeachNZ Scholarships bonded?
TeachNZ’s work is targeted towards attracting and retaining skilled and talented people into the teaching workforce. So bonding makes good sense.
All TeachNZ Scholarships are bonded, including the Graduate and Undergraduate ECE Scholarships. This helps ensure that New Zealanders get some return from their investment in the Scholarships.
For Graduate Scholarships, the bond period is two years.
For Undergraduate Scholarships the bond period is one year for each year a scholarship is received, unless you are in the final year of your study. In this case the bond period is two years.
3. The selection criteria doesn’t include financial circumstances. Will this prevent some students from taking up study because of financial hardship?
The purpose of the criteria is to attract and reward the exceptional people we need to enter the teaching profession.
In previous years, financial circumstances of the applicants were taken into account. The shift to fully merit-based criteria could mean that some applicants will not be awarded a Scholarship, regardless of financial circumstances.
4. What is a TeachNZ ECE Scholarship worth?
A TeachNZ ECE Scholarship pays course study fees for each year of study and full-time students may also receive an allowance.
For ECE Graduates the allowance of $10,000 will be paid in two instalments of $5,000. You should receive payment of the first instalment of $5,000 four to six weeks after we receive your completed Scholarship agreement The second instalment of $5,000 will be paid at the end of your study year if you pass all of your study.
For ECE Undergraduates the $10,000 allowance is paid in equal annual instalments over your period of study. If you’re a full time student (or have Limited Full-Time Status from StudyLink) and pass all your study, you can apply for an allowance payment at the end of the year.
5. Which TeachNZ ECE Scholarship should I apply for?
You are eligible to apply for a TeachNZ Graduate Scholarship if you:
are a primary or secondary teacher who has been a practising teacher and is now enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)*.
You are eligible to apply for a TeachNZ Undergraduate Scholarship if you are:
You are not eligible to apply for a TeachNZ ECE Undergraduate or Graduate Scholarship if you already have an ECE teaching qualification. The Scholarships are for first ECE teaching qualifications only, at either graduate or postgraduate level.
*These applicants would previously have applied for an ECE Study Grant.
6. Why are the ECE Scholarships merit-based?
TeachNZ’s ECE Scholarships have merit-based criteria that cover knowledge, experience, and involvement with Māori and Pasifika communities, academic achievement, and suitability and motivation to teach in early childhood education.
The merit-based criteria is in line with other TeachNZ Scholarships for primary and secondary education, reinforces our work to attract top-quality candidates into teaching, and supports the Government’s focus on widening the availability and suitability of ECE to Māori and Pasifika communities.
TeachNZ scholarships are designed so we can both attract and reward people with the right attributes into ECE teaching as a career.
7. Are the criteria the same for the ECE Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships?
In assessing applications for both Scholarships, the panel will consider each applicant’s knowledge, experience, and involvement with Māori and Pasifika communities; leadership qualities; community support; and achievements in an applicant’s life to date. These can include work or sport achievements, community involvement, training and personal development, and academic achievement.
Applicants for a Graduate Scholarship will be required to provide their academic transcript from their previous studies. Applicants for an Undergraduate Scholarship will be required to state the highest qualification they have achieved.
The application guide and form have detailed information on what’s required for each application.
8. When do I apply for a TeachNZ ECE Scholarship if I am a mid-year student?
The academic year for early childhood teacher education study has two intakes – one at the start of the calendar year and one that commences mid year.
Both start of year and mid-year students applying for a scholarship, will need to apply in the beginning of the year application round and have the Programme Director to confirm on the application form that they are enrolled in an approved qualification for the study year beginning Semester 2, 2012.
If the TeachNZ Scholarship is awarded, fees will be paid from Semester 2, 2012.
Once the application round has closed, TeachNZ will contact all Providers with a mid year intake to confirm if applicants are start of year or mid year students.
9. Why have ECE Study Grants become TeachNZ scholarships?
The change has been made to align all TeachNZ Scholarship administration, and to ensure consistent, merit-based criteria across all Scholarships.
TeachNZ ECE Scholarships are merit-based and have a higher value than previous years’ ECE Study Grants, paying core study fees as well as an allowance of $10,000.
TeachNZ’s role is to encourage talented people with the skills, motivation and disposition to teach into teacher training, and to support successful teachers to stay in the teaching profession. The move to merit-based Scholarships is part of this work.