New Zealand ASEAN Scholar Awards, 2015

Applications are invited for 2015 New Zealand ASEAN Scholar Awards. These awards are open for postgraduate level study at one of the participating tertiary institution in New Zealand. Grants are awarded for the whole duration of the programme. Scholarships are open for the national from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Criteria for awards for Brunei and Singapore are set by Victoria University of Wellington. Application timelines can vary depending on the country

Study Subject (s): Applicants from all fields are encouraged to apply at one of a participating tertiary institution in New Zealand. However, candidates will be given preference whose work experience or proposed field of study relates to the following sectors except Brunei and Singapore as priority will be given to topics related to regional integration and sustainable development for the applicants from these countries:
-Agriculture Development: Phytosanitary, agri-business management, agricultural economics, agricultural systems and management, sericulture, vegetable production, livestock, bio-security, biotechnology, food sciences, post-harvest processing, rural development;
-Disaster Risk Management: emergency management, hazard assessment and management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management, environmental management, geology, land planning & development
-Public Sector Management: Law, justice, legal and judicial reform, public administration, public policy and management;
-Private Sector Development: Management, leadership, economics, value chain development, trade facilitation, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) development, private sector management, accountancy, applied economics, business finance, commerce, marketing, entrepreneurship, industrial relations, logistics & supply chain management including Tourism (Ecotourism, tourism management, tourism planning) and Renewable Energy (Geothermal, solar, hydro engineering and wind energy);
-English Language Training (except Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand).
Course Level: Brunei and Singapore: The awards are offered for doctoral study at Victoria University of Wellington.
Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar: New Zealand ASEAN Scholars awards are for full-time postgraduate study (i.e. postgraduate Certificate, postgraduate Diploma and Masters including both research and/or coursework)
Philippines, Indonesia: The awards are for full-time postgraduate study (i.e. postgraduate Certificate, postgraduate diplomas, masters degrees including both research and/or coursework and doctoral) undertaken in New Zealand.
Thailand: The New Zealand Aid Programme provides scholarships for candidates from Thailand to undertake postgraduate Diploma and Masters including both research and/or coursework.
Malaysia and Vietnam: New Zealand ASEAN Scholars awards are for full-time postgraduate level study, i.e. Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters degrees including research and/or coursework and doctoral.
Scholarship Provider: New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government’s international development programme.
Scholarship can be taken at: New Zealand

EligibilityNew Zealand Aid ProgrammeAwards are open to candidates from government, civil society and private business organisations. To be eligible, applicants must:
-Be a citizen of your country and have resided there for at least two years at the time of application (permanent residents are not eligible to apply). You must also reside in your country of citizenship during the application and selection process.
-Have been working in your country for at least two years prior to application.
-Be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to your country’s public, private or civil society sector and to the development of your country in general.
-Agree in writing that you will return to your country for a minimum of two years following completion of your Scholarship in order to contribute to your country’s social or economic development.
-Be available to take up the Scholarship in the calendar year for which the Scholarship is offered.
-Satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand institution in which the degree programme is to be undertaken, including the institution’s English language criteria.
-Be able to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements for international student entry to New Zealand (i.e. medical checks, police clearances/character checks, etc).
-Not be seeking funding for a qualification already commenced in New Zealand or another country.
-Not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia (except for Pacific countries who also have New Zealand citizenship).
-Not hold or have held a New Zealand Government or Australian Government Scholarship in the preceding 24 months at the time of application.
English Language Requirements: A high standard of English is required. New Zealand tertiary education institutions set their own admission requirements for English language proficiency. All applicants should check the IELTS (International English Language Testing System, academic stream) or TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language) score required for admission to their selected New Zealand education institution.
-For postgraduate study, most New Zealand education institutions require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, for postgraduate level study. Some postgraduate qualifications, particularly education or PhD programmes, may require a higher score.
-For undergraduate study, most New Zealand education institutions require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, with no band less than 5.5. Some qualifications, particularly health or education qualifications, may require a higher score.

Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Applications for New Zealand-ASEAN Scholar Awards are welcome from the following countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Scholarship Description: The New Zealand-ASEAN Scholar Awards (NZAS) recognise New Zealand’s close cultural, economic, and geographic ties with Southeast Asia. They seek to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills and qualifications to contribute to the economic, social, and political development of their region. NZAS are offered for postgraduate level study. NZAS are funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government’s international aid and development programme. They are managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Number of award(s): Brunei: Two New Zealand ASEAN Scholars Awards (NZAS) are available each year for candidates from Brunei.
Cambodia: Up to 30 New Zealand ASEAN Scholars Awards (NZAS) are available for Cambodian candidates.
Indonesia: Up to 50 scholarships per annum are available for Indonesian applicants.
Lao PDR: Up to 30 New Zealand ASEAN Scholars Awards (NZAS) are available for Lao candidates.
Myanmar: Up to 10 New Zealand ASEAN Scholars Awards (NZAS) are available for Myanmar candidates.
Malaysia: Up to 4 scholarships per annum are available for Malaysian applicants.
Philippines: An indicative allocation of 18 scholarships is made available for Filipinos.
Singapore: Two New Zealand ASEAN Scholars Awards (NZAS) are available each year for candidates from Singapore.
Thailand: New Zealand Embassy offers up to four New Zealand Scholar Awards to Thai applicants.
Vietnam: An indicative allocation of 30 scholarships is available for Vietnamese nationals.

Duration of award(s): NZSA are awarded for the whole duration of the programme.

What does it cover? New Zealand has world class education institutions that offer internationally recognised qualifications. Successful applicants will have access to excellent academic knowledge, quality facilities and enjoy a learning environment that celebrates diversity, new thinking and multi-cultural perspectives. New Zealand Scholarships cover: Full tuition fees, Travel costs, an establishment and living allowance, Medical and travel insurance and Pastoral and academic support.

Terms and conditions: All applicants who are offered a New Zealand-ASEAN Scholars Awards will be required to sign a contract with the New Zealand Government declaring they will comply with the terms and conditions of the scholarship. All awardees are required to return to their home country for a minimum period of two years following completion of their scholarship in order to contribute to their country’s economic and social development.

Selection Criteria: After the closing date, all complete applications for Scholarships will be assessed taking into account the following criteria:
-Development priorities: Alignment of the course with the priority sectors
-Work Experience: Work experience in the chosen field of study, for those employed
-Gender Equity: Women are encouraged to apply and the aim is to ensure that there are approximately equal numbers of women and men in each category (diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD)
-High academic results
-Leadership potential

Notification:  Shortlisted Scholarship applicants will be advised whether they will be required to attend an interview and undertake English language tests. Please ensure that you respond to any requests for additional information in a timely manner to ensure your application can be considered for a Scholarship. Shortlisted candidates will be advised whether or not they have been awarded a scholarship. Letters of Offer for in-service applicants are typically issued in October and November each year.

How to Apply: Brunei and Singapore: The applications and selection process is managed directly by Victoria University. Please click here for details on how to apply.
Cambodia: Applicants must submit their completed applications to IDP Cambodia.
Indonesia: Applications to be submitted to PTAN.
Lao PDR: Applicants must submit by hand in an A4 envelope.
Myanmar: On obtaining an unconditional offer of place from a New Zealand institution, applicants should then submit the to the New Zealand Embassy, Bangkok
Malaysia: Applicants should submit two NZ ASEAN Scholarships applications completed in English (one original and one copy) to the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. The applications should be accompanied by the letter of offer of a place from the university. PhD candidates must also include evidence of correspondence with a potential supervisor.
Philippines: Anyone applying for a New Zealand ASEAN Scholars award must identify their desired course of study and provide evidence of an unconditional offer of a place at a participating tertiary institution in New Zealand. Applicants should submit an original and a copy of the application form completed in English, with a copy of the letter of offer from a participating tertiary institution in New Zealand, directly to the New Zealand Embassy in Manila. PhD students must also include evidence of correspondence with a potential supervisor.
Thailand: Applicants should apply for MTESOL and obtain an unconditional offer of study place from a New Zealand institution, applicants should then submit the following to the Ministry of Education of Thailand.
-Two copies of the NZAS scholarship application form along with required documents. Applicants are also requested to send an electronic copy of the application pack to the New Zealand Embassy Bangkok.
-A copy of the unconditional offer of study from one of the five New Zealand institutions.
Vietnam: The New Zealand ASEAN Scholars awards applicants submit two applications completed in English (one original and one copy), including a copy of the letter of offer from a tertiary institution in New Zealand, directly to the New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi. PhD students must also include evidence of correspondence with a potential supervisor. Applicants are encouraged to download the application form at Application forms are also available from the New Zealand Embassy in Ha Noi.

Scholarship Application Deadline: Application timelines can vary depending on the country.
Brunei and Singapore: 1st July 2014
Indonesia: 22 April 2014 – Closing date for applications to be submitted to PTAN (PT Austraining Nusantara (PTAN), the managing service contractor for New Zealand-ASEAN Scholars Awards in Indonesia).
Lao PDR: Applications close on 9 May, 2014.
Philippines: 15 July of each year. (The embassy will not accept late and incomplete applications).
Vietnam: Applications close on 30 June of each year
Thailand: The deadline vary from university to university. 20 June of each year (it is recommended that applicants apply to a New Zealand Institution for an offer of place by 30 April).
Malaysia: 30 June (it is recommended that applicants apply to a New Zealand Institution for an offer of place by 30 April of each year).
Myanmar: NZAS applications are due by 13 June of each year.
Cambodia: NZAS applications are due by 31 May.

Download the New Zealand-ASEAN Scholar Awards application form.

Further Official Scholarship Information and Application

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