Scholarships for 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.
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. So, we offer a variety of scholarships to assist our current students in many study areas.
Areas of study
Who is eligible: Graduates from specific foundation, study preparation or bridging pathway programmes (listed below) who are moving into a Level 4+ vocational programme.
Available to all students who staircase from one of the below programmes to a vocational programme at Level 4 or above:
- New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 2)
- New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3)
- Bridging to beauty therapy certificate
- New Zealand Certificate in Whānau Ora (Level 3)
- Te Whakamahi Whenua (Level 3)
This scholarship entitles the recipient to a one-off fee reduction of $1,000.
There are four scholarships available each year.
Talk to your academic leader for more information and application forms.
All North Island learners who are studying the Bachelor of Midwifery full-time in their first year are eligible for a $2,000 tuition fee reduction.
This scholarship is funded by the Jamieson family and is in memory of Clare Jamieson. Clare was a highly respected Occupational Therapist who exemplified excellent patient care throughout her career.
The scholarship is awarded to recognise outstanding skills and achievement in fieldwork practice, particularly a client-centred approach and application of academic learning to fieldwork settings. The hope is that the recognition of these skills in fieldwork will inspire students in future years.
Who is eligible: A current student, from either our Dunedin or Hamilton (Wintec City) campus, who has successfully completed the first two years of study and is enrolled in the third year.
Eligibility criteria
Current year three students in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy who demonstrate the following attributes:
- Care and concern for clients/service users within clinical practice
- ‘Extraordinary’ patient care - the focus here is going above and beyond the patient care expected of all occupational therapy students (e.g. going the extra mile). There would be a preference for a student who intends to specialise in neurology, neurosurgery, stroke etc. but the key driver is patient care.
- A high level of patient care competence - the focus here is on evidence of advanced skills (communication, negotiation, planning, advocacy, commitment, etc.) to ensure patients receive the care, equipment, or resources they need to maximise independence and wellbeing within the fieldwork setting.
- The application of academic learnings to the fieldwork setting - the focus here is on evidence to demonstrate application of learning to practice.
Availability
This scholarship is offered annually. Te Kura Whakaora Ngangahau | The School of Occupational Therapy will make a call for applications through Moodle. Applications will be shortlisted by the school and the final decision will be made by the Jamieson family.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please contact Te Kura Whakaora Ngangahau | The School of Occupational Therapy. Email OccupationalTherapy@op.ac.nz
Māori students
The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage Kāi Tahu learners of all ages and backgrounds to study at Otago Polytechnic. The scholarships also acknowledge the contribution learners make to their local community.
This scholarship will cover tuition fees for one year of study at Otago Polytechnic.
Two scholarships are available.
Who is eligible: You must be of New Zealand Māori descent, whakapapa Kāi Tahu, but do not have whakapapa connections to the four Papatipu Rūnaka (Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki and Hokonui Rūnanga).
You must be enrolled as a Māori learner at Otago Polytechnuc and be studying full-time for the full year in a chosen programme at Otago Polytechnic.
You must be living in the Otago region and studying at one of the Otago campuses (Dunedin or Cromwel).
If you have previously received a fee-paying scholarship from Otago Polytechnic, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
You must meet the entry criteria for your chosen programme of study.
All successful recipients will be paired with a Tuakana (Māori mentor) to guide you through your first year of studies.
Closing date for applications: 4pm, 21 March 2025
The purpose of the Mātāwaka Scholarship is to encourage Māori of all ages and backgrounds to study at Otago Polytechnic, and encourage them to succeed in tertiary education by removing financial barriers to study. The scholarships also acknowledge the contribution learners can make to their local community.
The scholarship will cover tuition fees for one year of study.
Who is eligible? Prospective and current ākonga Māori who do not have whakapapa links to the four local Rūnaka enrolled in any study programme.
You must be enrolled as a domestic Māori learner at Otago Polytechnic and be studying full-time for the full year in a chosen programme.
You must be living in the Otago region and studying at one of the Otago Polytechnic campuses (Dunedin or Cromwell).
If you have previously received a fee-paying scholarship at Otago Polytechnic, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
You must meet the entry criteria for your chosen programme of study.
All successful recipients will be paired with a Tuakana (Māori mentor) to guide them through their first year of studies.
Closing date for applications: 4pm on 21 March, 2025
Who is eligible? Prospective Māori students from our four local Rūnaka enrolled in any study programme.
The purpose of this scholarship is to acknowledge the contribution students make to their Rūnaka and the local community. It is offered to four students (one from each of the four local Rūnaka), for study in a chosen programme at Otago Polytechnic.
This scholarship will cover the learner's tuition fees for up to three years.
To be eligible:
- You must already be registered with one of the four local Rūnaka:
- Te Rūnaka o Moeraki moeraki.runanga@ngaitahu.iwi.nz
- Kati Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki admin@puketeraki.nz
- Te Rūnanga ō Otākou office@tro.org.nz
- Hokonui Rūnaka hokonui.office@ngaitahu.iwi.nz
- You must meet the academic entry criteria for your chosen programme of study.
- You must be a domestic student.
- You must pass your academic studies each year with a minimum of 50%.
- Your study must be continuous.
- You must be enrolled in a full-time, full-year course.
Closing date for applications: 4pm, 21 March 2025
Neurodiverse
These scholarships are to assist neurodiverse learners completing study at Otago Polytechnic.
This scholarship is a one-off fee reduction of $2,000. We offer six of these scholarships per year.
The following conditions apply:
- This scholarship applies to domestic students only.
- Applicants must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
- Applicants must be able to provide supporting documentation of their disability if they are not currently registered with Student Success.
- The scholarship may be held concurrently with other awards/grants, subject to approval of OP.
- The successful recipients for the scholarship will be selected via a panel consisting of staff nominated by Heads of College.
- Otago Polytechnic reserve the right to terminate the scholarship if the recipient ceases to follow regulations of the programme of study and/or bring the reputation of Otago Polytechnic disrepute.
Please contact any of the following teams for information and application forms - Accessibility Team (Student Success), OPSA, or Customer Services.
Your completed application form should be returned via email to Otago Polytechnic’s Scholarship Coordinator by emailing scholarships@op.ac.nz.
Pasifika Students
Who is eligible
This scholarship is for Pasifika learners studying at Otago Polytechnic who show ability and character to succeed in their field of study.
Scholarship amount
This scholarship is for a reduction in tuition fees.
Terms and conditions
The scholarships are open to students studying at Otago Polytechnic in 2024 who:
- identify as Pasifika (i.e. of Pacific Island ethnic origin), and
- are permanent residents or citizens of New Zealand, and
- reside in and study within the Dunedin City area*
- are not in receipt of any other study scholarships, and
- are enrolled in a current year Otago Polytechnic programme* of at least 0.5 EFTS (i.e. at least half a full-time programme*)
*Excludes Otago Polytechnic short courses, Capable NZ, Kokiri Training Centre and Te Taketake programmes.
Selection criteria
Selection will be based on the assessed ability of the student to meet the following:
- potential to complete their study
- success in previous study
- planning for the future.
Application process
Please complete the application form and email it to litea.ikahihifo@op.ac.nz or post it to Otago Polytechnic, Private Bag, 1910, Dunedin 9054.
Download application form here >
The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 27 September 2024.
For more information
Please check the information sheet for more details including the selection process. If you have any questions, please email litea.ikahihifo@op.ac.nz
The purpose of this scholarship is to support Pasifika students returning to continue a nursing programme at Otago Polytechnic. The recipient will show ability and character to succeed in their field of study.
Who is eligible:
- Students currently studying at Otago Polytechnic who:
- identify as Pasifika (i.e. of Pacific Island ethnic origin)
- permanent residents or citizens of New Zealand
- reside in and study within the Dunedin city area
- are not in receipt of any other study scholarship
- are enrolled in a current Otago Polytechnic programme of at least 0.5 EFTS (i.e. at least half a full-time programme)
- are in their first or second year of the Bachelor of Nursing or in their first year of the New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing (Level 5).
Selection criteria
Selection will be based on the assessed ability of the student to meet the following:
- potential to complete their study
- success in previous study
- planning for the future.
Application process
Applicants need to fill out the application form and include at least two recent referees. You also need to give us a copy of your academic records/results and your CV. You can find out more about the application and selection process in this information sheet.
Download application form here >
Closing date for applications
Friday 27 September 2024
If you have any questions, please email Director: Pasifika Achievement, litea.ikahihifo@op.ac.nz
Professional & Personal Development
Find out more about this grant here.
Women (she/her/they/them)
The purpose of this scholarship is to recognise that women in Aotearoa New Zealand are under-represented in the Engineering Technology industry, particular in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical. This scholarship has been set up to help a female student studying at Otago Polytechnic who shows ability and character to succeed in the field of engineering.
This scholarship will contribute $1,000 towards tuition fees for every year of study in the following Engineering programmes:
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology
- New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil, Electrical or Mechanical).
Who is eligible: Female students studying at Otago Polytechnic in 2025 who:
- are a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand, and
- is not on any other study scholarship(s); and
- is enrolled full-time in either the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering or the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, and
- does not have any outstanding debt to Otago Polytechnic.
Criteria for selection
Selection will be based on the assessed ability of the student to meet the following:
- potential to complete their study,
- success in previous study in NCEA, and
- planning for their future and drive for success.
Terms and conditions
All scholarships will be applied to the scholarship recipient student account to be allocated towards programme tuition fees.
If there are no programme fees payable by the recipient (i.e. due to something like Fees Free), the scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient.
If the employer pays the student’s fees, the student is only eligible for any personal contributions to course materials.
Application deadline
Completed application forms need to be sent to us by 5.00pm on Friday 7 February 2025.
You can email these to EngTech@op.ac.nz or post them to:
Engineering Technologies
T Block, Otago Polytechnic,
Private Bag 1910,
Dunedin 9054.
Who is eligible: All current students who identify as female, studying the Bachelor of Information Technology.
The purpose of this scholarship is to recognise that women in New Zealand are under-represented in the Information Technology industry in comparison to the majority of the developed world. Women represent less than 16% of the workforce in technical roles.
This scholarship is intended to assist a female student studying at Otago Polytechnic who shows ability and character to succeed in the field of information technology.
This scholarship will contribute a one-off fees reduction of $2,000.
Download this information sheet for terms and conditions, criteria for selection, what you need to do to apply and the selection process.
Download the 2025 application form to apply.
For more information contact Justine Molloy.
What happens next?
Once you've applied for a scholarship, we will be in touch to discuss your options and confirm your scholarship status. If you have any questions or need help applying for a scholarship please get in touch with our Scholarships team.
