Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $1,000

Details: Supports students of Art History and Theory at UC who have a serious health condition. Applicants must be enrolled in at least one 100-, 200-, or 300-level course in Art History and Theory at the University. Applicants must have a serious health condition, excluding a Specific Learning Difficulty, that qualifies them for registration with the University's Student Accessibility Service, and/or Special Consideration

Closing date: 31 March

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $1,000

Details: Supports students of French at UC who have a serious health condition. Applicants must be enrolled in at least one 100-, 200-, or 300-level course in French at the University. Applicants must have a serious health condition, excluding a Specific Learning Difficulty, that qualifies them for registration with the University's Student Accessibility Service, and/or Special Consideration.

Closing date: 31 March

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$2,000 for one year.

Details: Supports full-time students at UC who have a vision impairment. By the closing date for applications, an applicant must have registered with the University’s Student Accessibility Service as a student with a vision impairment

Closing date: 31 March

Value: Tuition fees for up to 135 points of enrolment per annum, plus $5,000 per annum each year for up to 3 years and an opportunity to participate in a bespoke mentoring and development programme and curated opportunities to contribute to UC's Wellbeing Programme throughout a recipient's degree.

Details: This scholarship recognises and supports students who have faced significant barriers or personal challenges to entering tertiary education. Applicants should be new incoming first-year undergraduate students who have achieved despite significant barriers or personal challenges. (This may include disabled people, or those with chronic health conditions, ongoing mental health challenges or neurodiversity, second chance learners and others who have shown resilience managing their personal circumstances.)

Closing date: 15 August

Details: For students with strong academic potential but facing challenges to affording university accommodation costs. Applicants must be Year 13 students or gap year students attending a school and/or living outside the Greater Christchurch area. Applicants must be eligible to receive StudyLink Student Allowance and recipients must be in receipt of a Student Allowance. Dependent on achievement of Merit or higher at NCEA Level 2, or an equivalent university entrance qualification. At least two scholarships are reserved for disabled people and students who will be registering with the University’s Student Accessibility Service.

Value: $15,000 towards accommodation fees and priority consideration for a place in a hall, plus educational outdoor recreational field trips and a personal and professional development programme in the first year of study.

Closing date: 15 August - applications must be made on the 'UC Incoming First-Year Scholarships' application form.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $10,000 for one year for a full-time student (the scholarship is paid pro-rata if a recipient is enrolled for fewer than 120 points).

Details: To support students with a vision impairment in undertaking study at UC. Applicants must have a vision impairment of 6/18 or less with both eyes and best possible correction, or less than 20 degrees of vision. By the closing date for applications, an applicant must have registered with the University’s Student Accessibility Service as a student with a vision impairment. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas.

Closing date: 31 March

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $3,000.

Details: This scholarship supports first year undergraduate students at the University of Canterbury who have a disability or accessibility challenges. Applicants must have a disability or condition that would qualify them to be registered with the University’s Student Accessibility Service. Preference is given to applicants whose last year of secondary education was in North Canterbury.

Closing date: 15 August

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$30,000 per 120 points of thesis enrolment (increased to $32,000 in 2025) + tuition fees for thesis enrolment only, at the Aotearoa New Zealand domestic rate; for up to a total of 480 points.

Details: Candidates must have been offered admission to a doctoral programme at UC and have a disability or condition that significantly impairs their ability to study.  Applications must be made on the 'UC Doctoral Scholarships' application form.

Closing date: 25 October for students commencing doctoral studies between 1 February and 1 July 2025. Details of subsequent rounds will be announced by late December 2024.

Value: $14,000 plus tuition fees (at domestic rate) for up to 240 points

Details: To support students studying towards a Master's degree at UC who have a significant disability or condition that significantly impairs their ability to study. 

Closing date: Not offered in 2024 or 2025