Scholarships

We offer a variety of scholarships to assist students in many study areas.

We understand that studying can be expensive and can create a barrier for some learners. Our range of scholarships give you the opportunity to undertake the learning journey you want to – no matter what your situation.

Prospective students

If you’re thinking of studying with us, we have a variety of scholarships to assist you. Some of these are for any programme of study while others are
more specific.

Current students

If you're already studying with us, we're keen to help you move into further study or give you opportunities for professional and/or personal development.

Fees Free and TTAF

These Government initiatives mean that some of the cost of your tertiary study may already be covered. For students who don’t need to use their scholarship for fees, we have alternative options available.

All learners can only use one scholarship discount at a time. For example, if you are an alumni wanting to use your alumni discount as well as applying for another scholarship, you will be awarded whichever discount is highest - you wouldn't receive both.

Prospective students

Scholarship	Who is eligible?	Study area	Programme
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS			^ TOP
Dunedin School of Art – Otago Secondary Schools Supreme Scholarship Award	All secondary school students	Art	Bachelor of Visual Arts
Otago Secondary Tertiary Interface/Trades Academy	Otago Secondary Tertiary College/Trades Academy graduates	Any study area	Any Level 3+ vocational programme
Principal’s Leadership Scholarship	Otago and Southland secondary school students	Any study area	Any programme
POSTGRADUATE
Neurodiverse Scholarship
WOMEN			^ TOP
Otago Polytechnic Women in Engineering Scholarship	All current engineering female learners	Engineering Construction	Bachelor of Engineering Technology New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical) or (Electrical)
Otago Polytechnic Women in Information Technology Scholarship	All current IT female learners	Information Technology	Bachelor of Information Technology
Betty Loughead Soroptimist Scholarship	Prospective female students over 25 years old	Any study area	Any programme
MĀORI-SPECIFIC			^ TOP
Mana Pounamu Scholarships	Prospective Māori students who are recipients of Mana Pounamu Young Māori Achievers Award	Any study area	Any programme
Mātāwaka Scholarships	Prospective Māori students who whakapapa outside the Kai Tahu rohe	Any study area	Any programme
Rūnaka Scholarships	For prospective Māori students from our four local Rūnaka	Any study area	Any programme
Māori Education Trust	All prospective Māori students	Any study area	Any programme
He Toki Fees Scholarship	All prospective Māori students between 16-40 years old	Engineering Construction	Bridging certificate to an engineering diploma New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) (Carpentry)
Irihapeti Ramsden Memorial Scholarships	All prospective female Māori students	Midwifery	Bachelor of Midwifery
MIDWIFERY			^ TOP
North Island Midwifery Scholarships	Successful Bachelor of Midwifery applicants in our North Island satellites	Midwifery	Bachelor of Midwifery
PRIVATE TRAINING PROVIDER PATHWAY			^ TOP
Private Training Provider (PTP) Pathway Scholarship	Prospective students transitioning from a Private Training Establishment	Any study area	Any programme
SPECIFIC SPORTS			^ TOP
Football South Scholarships	For prospective students from Football South	Any study area	Any programme
Otago Rugby Football Scholarships	For prospective students from Otago Rugby Football Union	Any study area	Any programme
Otago Cricket Association Scholarships	For prospective students from Otago Cricket	Any study area	Any programme
Otago Hockey Associations Scholarships	For prospective students from Otago Hockey	Any study area	Any programme
Otago Nuggets Scholarships

Current students

PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Scholarship	Who is eligible	Study area	Programme
FOR SPECIFIC STUDY AREAS			^ TOP
Brittany Arthur Memorial Scholarship	Nursing graduates from the Bachelor of Nursing	Nursing	Bachelor of Nursing
Staircasing Scholarship	Graduates from Foundation Studies Level 2 or 3 who are moving into Level 4+ vocational programme	Any study area	Any programme
Digital Marketing Scholarship	Current second or third-year students undertaking the Bachelor of Applied Management with a marketing major	Business	Bachelor of Applied Management (Marketing)
Todd Foundation Awards for Excellence	All current students undertaking a project in the relevant study area categories	Science & Technology Engineering & Manufacturing Business & Commerce Health & Social Sciences	Any programme
Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia and Latin America	All third year (or above) students	Any study area	Any programme
OneChoice Futures Grant	All current students	Business Finance Medicine Healthcare Specialist healthcare	Any programme from the specific study areas
PASIFIKA LEARNERS			^ TOP
Pasifika Scholarships	All current Pasifika students	Any study area	Any programme (retrospective funding)
OneChoice Futures Grant	All current Pasifika students	Business Finance Medicine Healthcare Specialist healthcare	Any programme from the specific study areas
POSTGRADUATE			^ TOP
Otago Polytechnic Art and Community Projects Scholarship	All current Postgraduate Art students	Art	Any Postgraduate Art programme
WOMEN
Otago Polytechnic Women in Information Technology Scholarship	All current female students studying Bachelor of Information Technology	Information Technology	Bachelor of Information Technology
Otago Polytechnic Women in Engineering scholarship	All current female students undertaking an engineering degree or diploma OR Construction diploma	Engineering Construction	Bachelor of Engineering Technology New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical) or (Electrical) New Zealand Diploma in Construction
Betty Loughead Soroptimist Scholarship	For current female students aged over 25 years	Any study area	Any programme
GCSB Women in STEM Scholarship	For current female students who are 18 years or older and in their second year of study (or above)	Science Technology Engineering Mathematics	Any programme
New Horizons for Women Trust	For current female students	a wide range of areas	A range of programmes
PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT			^ TOP
Otago Polytechnic Education Foundation Grant	For all current students	Any study area	Any programme - chance to make an impact on the world stage as part of your study or professional development
Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia	For all current students	Any study area	Any programme - costs related to study, internship or research in Asia

International Scholarships			^ TOP
Scholarship	Who is eligible?	Study area	Programme
Covid-19 Relief Scholarships $2,000 - $15,000	International applicants	A range of study areas	A range of programmes

FEES FREE and TTAF

With the introduction of the Government’s Fees Free scheme and the Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), some of your tertiary study may be covered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). For those who don't need to use their scholarship for fees, we have alternative options available.

Up to $4,000 towards accommodation in Te P¯a Tauira - Otago Polytechnic Student Village or Central Otago student accommodation OR
To defer your scholarship so that it's applied to the following year of your tuition fees.

For students who are unable to defer their scholarship, a third option is to use your scholarship for course-related costs up to a maximum of $2,000 (including GST). This will be paid by reimbursement on the production of invoices. This third option will be for students who have a three-year full fees scholarship or those that are studying a one year programme.

What happens next?

We will send a communication to all our scholarship recipients advising you of your options and asking you to email your preference to scholarships@op.ac.nz

Please note:

Any income that you receive while on a student allowance must be reported to StudyLink.
If you choose the accommodation option, please be aware that StudyLink will view this as income and it may impact on your student allowance.
For help and guidance with this, please either contact the Otago Polytechnic Student Association (OPSA) www.opsa.org.nz or contact StudyLink directly www.studylink.govt.nz or 0800 889 900.
All learners can only use one scholarship discount at a time. For example, if you are an alumni wanting to use your alumni discount as well as applying for another scholarship, you will be awarded whichever discount is highest - you wouldn't receive both.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please email scholarships@op.ac.nz or phone 0800 762 786

Scholarships

We offer a variety of scholarships to assist students in many study areas.

Prospective students

Current students

Fees Free and TTAF

Prospective students

Current students

International Scholarships

FEES FREE and TTAF

With the introduction of the Government’s Fees Free scheme and the Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), some of your tertiary study may be covered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). For those who don't need to use their scholarship for fees, we have alternative options available.

What happens next?