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Financial help to study

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Secondary)

TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarships, available only for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, are targeted at areas of priority for teacher supply to meet increasing demand for teachers in certain areas over the next ten years. Currently these areas are early childhood, rural, Māori Medium teachers, and secondary teachers of specific subjects. 

The Teacher Recruitment Scholarships listed here will be allocated across three categories:
• school leavers/undergraduates (closed for 2008)
• career changers (closed for 2008)
• graduates (scholarships for study starting in the second semester open on 1 June 2008 and close on 1 July 2008).

The new scholarship numbers are capped and apart from rural scholarships (which will operate with existing criteria) will be awarded in order of completed applications, where the eligibility criteria have been met. Every full-time student teacher who receives a new TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarship will receive course fees, an annual allowance and be bonded to teach.

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Secondary Subjects)
These scholarships aim to encourage more people into studying to become a secondary teacher in these target subjects:
chemistry, home economics (added for the first time), mathematics, physics, and Māori language

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Technology)
The purpose of Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Technology) is to increase the number of technology teachers in secondary schools. These scholarships are available for school leavers, graduates and a new category, 'career changer'. The application form is now available and can be downloaded below.

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Rural)
These aim to encourage people from rural areas into teaching in primary or secondary rural schools. This scholarship for 2008 has closed.

Secondary Subject Trainee Allowances (SSTA)
From 2008, the TeachNZ Secondary Subject Trainee Allowances will be replaced by a TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarship for graduates. Target subjects are: chemistry, home economics (added for the first time), mathematics, physics, technology, and te reo Māori. English and biology will no longer be target subjects.

If you have received a Secondary Subject Trainee Allowance prior to 1 Jan 2008, you will continue to be eligible for the second and/or third payments.

Other forms of financial help to study

StudyLink
If you do not meet the criteria for any of the above secondary teaching incentives, you can still apply for Government financial support through StudyLink - administered by the Ministry of Social Development.
Support through StudyLink includes Student Allowances and Student Loan Schemes and the Training Incentive Allowance.

Links to more information
Download this document for the application form and full information on the TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarship (Rural). Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Rural) (269k pdf)  Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Rural) (269k pdf)
TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarship (Secondary Subjects) application form for 2008.Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Secondary Subjects) (175k pdf) Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Secondary Subjects) (175k pdf)
TeachNZ Teacher Recruitment Scholarship (Technology) application form for 2008.Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Technology) (177k pdf) Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Technology) (177k pdf)
Application form for the 2nd payment of the Secondary Subject Trainee AllowanceTeachNZ SSTA form - second payment (85k pdf) TeachNZ SSTA form - second payment (85k pdf)
Application form for the third and final payment of the Secondary Subject Trainee Allowance (SSTA)TeachNZ SSTA form - third and final payment (83k pdf) TeachNZ SSTA form - third and final payment (83k pdf)