Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
What scholarships are available in 2021?
The table below outlines the scholarships available this year – they cover early learning, primary, secondary and immersion settings. Find out more information about the individual scholarships by following the links below or to the left of the page.
You can also download our scholarship guide.
When can I apply?
There are three application rounds to ensure you have the greatest opportunity to apply - and reapply if you are unsuccessful. You must submit your application on or before the application round closing date. If you submit an eligible application, it will be assessed by an independent panel of education experts.
Due to the demand of the Te Huawhiti Career Changer, Te Huarau and Kupe scholarships, there is an expectation that the third application round will only be open to applicants with mid-year enrolments starting their first year of study.
How can I apply?
To apply for a scholarship you must complete an online application form. It will be available when the Scholarship Application rounds are 'open'.
We cannot accept image or PDF copies of the postal form that are sent to the TeachNZ email address.
For instructions and tips on how to fill in our application form, we advise you click here or download our scholarship guide, where there is also an application checklist.
Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions, you can email us on teachnz.admin@education.govt.nz or call us during business hours on 0800 165 225.
Which TeachNZ Scholarship should I apply for?
The Scholarship Guide and each scholarship web page contains detailed information on eligibility and selection criteria. If you don't meet all the eligibility criteria, check out the other scholarship opportunities available.
If you're a trained teacher you may want to look at our Study Awards, Sabbaticals and Study Support Grants to find out more about these opportunities.
How many scholarships can I apply for?
You can apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for, but only be awarded one.
Should your application be unsuccessful you can reapply.
If you have previously completed Initial Teacher Education training, hold teacher registration in any sector, or have received a TeachNZ Scholarship, you are not eligible for any of the scholarships available.
What documents do I need to provide alongside my application?
To help confirm your eligibility you'll need to provide the following:
- proof of name and date of birth (your New Zealand passport OR New Zealand birth certificate OR certificate of New Zealand citizenship)
- proof of change of name (if applicable: a marriage certificate, deed poll or birth certificate that shows your name change)
- proof of residency status (if applicable: the main ID page in your passport AND the page showing your indefinite New Zealand permanent residency stamp or sticker or a certified copy of your E-visa.
- proof of your qualifications or academic results (please note you must provide proof of each year of study that you have completed)
- a copy of your CV (this gives the selection panel a greater understanding of your qualifications and work history).
All of these documents must be photocopied and certified.
You can ask any one of the following people to certify your documents:
- School principal
- Registrar of a tertiary provider
- District Court Registrar or Deputy Registrar
- Barrister or Solicitor
- Justice of the Peace (you can find a list of local Justices of the Peace in the Yellow Pages).
If completing an online form, please upload any supporting documents as PDFs or as Microsoft Office files, picture copies of documents will not be accepted.
For information on certified documents and an application checklist click here or download our scholarship guide.
How do I know TeachNZ have received my application?
As soon as we have received your application we will send you an email acknowledging it.
What happens if my application is ‘incomplete’?
An application can be judged to be ‘incomplete’ if:
- Any section of the application form has not been completed correctly
- Any required supporting documents are not included alongside your application
- Any documents that require certification have not been correctly certified
- Sections that need to be completed in Te Reo are not
- The application form is illegible
- You are not eligible for the scholarship.
If an application is judged to be ‘incomplete’ we will contact you advising what you need to resupply for it to be considered ‘complete’. . If you do not supply the correct documentation before the ‘Additional/missing documents date’ your application will be ineligible and not be assessed.
What happens once I have submitted a ‘completed’ application?
Once we have received your application and it is considered to be ‘complete’ we will process it and present it to the application panel.
The application panel is an independent body and awards and marks the scholarships against a set criteria.
Once we have the panel’s decision we will notify you by email.
If your application is successful, we will email you a scholarship offer letter with an agreement setting out the terms and conditions of the scholarship. Please note, your scholarship offer is subject to you gaining entry onto an approved qualification.
Should you want feedback on your application contact us and we can send it to you over email.
Can I make a late application?
Late applications will not be considered. We will accept postal applications after the application round deadline if they are sent and postmarked on or before the closing date.
Are there other funding opportunities if I'm not eligible for a TeachNZ scholarship?
There are a number of sources that you may like to try. The Funding Information Service website has a list of scholarships and grants. This website can be accessed free of charge at public libraries. In addition, you can visit the Universities New Zealand website, a database of University Scholarships. You can also consider a Student Loan. StudyLink is part of the Ministry of Social Development and administers Student Loans and Allowances. You can contact StudyLink on 0800 88 99 00 or visit www.studylink.govt.nz.
What is a TeachNZ Scholarship worth?
A TeachNZ Scholarship pays course fees for each year of study, and full-time students (or those who have limited full-time status from StudyLink) may also receive an allowance.
The allowance is paid over the duration of your study. To find out more about each scholarship's course fees and allowances, download the scholarship guide, or browse the scholarships web pages.
Can I apply for a scholarship if I am studying part time?
Yes, part-time students can apply but the scholarship will only cover your course fees. If you have less than 0.8 EFTS (and do not hold limited full-time status from StudyLink) to complete your qualification you are not eligible to receive the allowance.
One EFTS is usually considered to be a standard year of full-time study by most tertiary providers.
What do I need to do if I hold an overseas qualification?
If you have an overseas qualification, you must get this assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) before sending us your application. This includes Australian qualifications. You can apply to get your overseas qualifications assessed at www.nzqa.govt.nz or by contacting NZQA on 0800 697 296.
A NZQA qualifications assessment is required to apply for New Zealand teacher registration and for salary purposes. You can find out more about requirements for New Zealand teacher registration by visiting The Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand or by calling 04 471 0852.
Why are TeachNZ scholarships merit and competency based?
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. TeachNZ Scholarships are designed so we can attract and reward people with the right attributes into teaching as a career.
The merit-based criterion is to help us to attract top-quality candidates into teaching, and support the Government's focus for education.
TeachNZ Scholarships have merit-based criteria that cover knowledge of, experience with, and involvement with Māori and Pacific communities; academic achievement; and suitability and motivation to teach.
How do I know if I am either ‘proficient’ or ‘fluent’ in Te Reo?
It is a requirement to be ‘proficient’ or ‘fluent’ in Te Reo to enrol on an approved Māori Medium or Te Reo Māori ITE programme. If you are deemed ‘proficient’ or ‘fluent’ by a provider we also consider you to be so. However, your written and spoken Te Reo will be assessed by our application panel.
Why are the TeachNZ Scholarships bonded?
TeachNZ's work is targeted towards attracting and retaining skilled and talented people into the teaching profession.
All TeachNZ Scholarships are bonded. This helps ensure that New Zealanders get some return from their investment in the scholarships.
For most 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. If you receive a TeachNZ Career Changer Scholarship, the bond period is two years for every year the scholarship is received.
If you have less than 0.8 EFTS to complete your qualification, the following rule applies:
Do you hold limited full-time status?
If yes, then the standard Scholarship Terms and Conditions entitlement and bonding clauses apply.
If no, then you are eligible to have only your fees paid, and you will be bonded to complete one year of teaching within two years.
Are previous Scholarship or Study Grant recipients eligible to apply for a TeachNZ Scholarship this year?
No. You can only be awarded one TeachNZ Scholarship. If you have been successful in the past and failed to meet the terms and conditions of that scholarship, you're not eligible to reapply.
How much do teachers get paid?
Early Learning
There is a wide variety of Early Learning and ECE services and remuneration varies greatly. Salaries may be covered by a collective agreement or negotiated on an individual basis.
Primary and Secondary
Primary and secondary teachers' pay rates are competitive. The following information can be used as a guide.
Trained primary teacher entry salaries are:
- $48,410 for those with a Bachelor's teaching degree.
- $52,736 for those with a Bachelor's degree (not a teaching degree) and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $54,796 for those with a Level 8 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $58,247 for those with a level 9 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
Trained primary teachers will be able to progress to the following salaries after seven years' service:
- Up to $75,200 for those with a Bachelor's teaching degree
- Up to $80,500 for those with a Bachelor's degree/Masters/PhD (not a teaching degree) and a recognised teaching qualification.
- Trained secondary teacher entry salaries are:
- $52,736 for those who hold Level 7 specialist/subject qualification (the qualification must have at least 72 credits at Level 7) and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $54,796 for those with a Level 8 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $58,247 for those with a level 9 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
- Trained secondary teachers will be able to progress to the following salary after seven years' service:
- Up to $80,500. Teachers with Masters or PhD qualifications and a recognised teaching qualification may take less time to reach this maximum.
Trained secondary teacher entry salaries are:
- $52,736 for those who hold Level 7 specialist/subject qualification (the qualification must have at least 72 credits at Level 7) and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $54,796 for those with a Level 8 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
- $58,247 for those with a level 9 specialist/subject qualification and a recognised teaching qualification.
Trained secondary teachers will be able to progress to the following salary after seven years' service:
- Up to $80,500. Teachers with Masters or PhD qualifications and a recognised teaching qualification may take less time to reach this maximum.
In order to progress up the salary scale a teacher must demonstrate that they have met the applicable professional standard. Their school's board of trustees (often delegated to the school principal) must attest that the teacher has met this standard.
Schools can also allocate 'units' to teachers in management positions or to those with extra responsibilities. Each unit is worth $4,000 and is paid on top of a teacher's base salary.
When you're first appointed to a teaching position your entry salary will be assessed by the Ministry of Education. The assessment takes into account your academic qualifications (including any recognised teaching qualifications), any teaching experience and any relevant work experience. (For secondary teachers, relevant work experience will be assessed provided the work was undertaken after completing a recognised and appropriate vocational qualification that is at least at Level 4 on the NZQF).
For more information on teachers' pay, allowances and qualifications visit the Ministry of Education's website.
Need more help?
Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions, you can email us on teachnz.admin@education.govt.nz or call us during business hours on 0800 165 225.
You can also learn more about our scholarships by watching the videos and exploring the links on the left of this page.