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General Undergraduate Scholarships

14 March 2024

UC offers a diverse range of scholarships to help undergraduate students study any degree at UC. Have a look at some of the undergraduate scholarships available to students of any discipline.

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This is a summary list of many of the UC Scholarships that are available for students enrolled in any undergraduate degree at UC. 

Each scholarship has different eligibility criteria so check the details of each one to find out if you're eligible. 

Click on the Scholarship Name for the Scholarship Regulations.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

These scholarships are subject to funding availability and are reviewed each year. The UC Scholarships Office administers most of these scholarships. Please search our scholarships database for all scholarships currently available.

Scholarship NameScholarship Information
Ada Wells Memorial Prize

Details: Open to students and recent graduates of UC to write an essay on a subject involving an exposition of some passage chosen each year from literature having reference to social ideals.

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

Closing date: 30 September

Ah Nua Scholarship                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Details: To support undergraduate Asian and Pacific students studying at UC, and primarily aims to provide financial assistance to students experiencing financial and/or personal hardship. Applicants must be full-fee-paying international students enrolled full-time in a Third or Fourth Year of any undergraduate degree. Applicants cannot be citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand or Australia or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand or Australia residence class visas and must be either (a) citizens of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, or Vietnam; or (b) residents of Rapa Nui.

Value: Financial assistance of up to $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 October



Chalky Carr Scholarship

Details: Applicants must have been affected by a cancer experience, either directly or through a close relative. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. 

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 October

Dr Russell Smith Memorial Scholarship                         

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 Te Ratonga Whaikaha | Equity & Disability Service as a student with a vision impairment

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

Closing date: 31 March

Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship

Details: To support full-time undergraduate Asian students at UC. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at UC in their second, third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree programme. Applicants must be either (1) citizens of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam, or (2) holders of Hong Kong permanent identity cards. Applicants must not also be citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas.

Value: Financial assistance with tuition fees and compulsory charges, at a value of $10,000.

Closing date: 31 March (NB: this scholarship is not open for applications in 2024)

Ensom Prize

Details: Open to undergraduate students or students who have become eligible to graduate from UC with their first degree not more than 12 months before the closing date for applications. Applicants submit an essay on a topic that is advertised two months before the closing date. This topic will be relating to constructive policy to promote and preserve international peace and goodwill.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $1,500

Closing date: 30 September

Ernest William File Scholarship

Details: To assist the sons and daughters of members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) in their first year studying for an undergraduate degree. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship.

Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $2,000 for one year.

Closing date: 01 April

Freemasons University Scholarships

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $6,000 for one year.

Details: Scholarships to assist students who demonstrate good citizenship and show leadership potential, who were experiencing financial difficulties during their period of university studies. Applicants must be going into their final year of their undergraduate degree and be citizens or permanent residents of Aotearoa New Zealand. NB: This scholarship is not administered by UC - contact Freemasons NZ Charity for further information.

Closing date: 01 October

Graduate Women Canterbury (Inc) Trust Board Scholarship

Details: To support female students at the University of Canterbury to complete bachelor’s degrees, bachelor’s with honours degrees, and non-thesis postgraduate study. Two scholarships are available annually in the following categories: (a) for students who are enrolled mainly at 300 level (one scholarship); and (b) for students who are enrolled mainly at 400, 500, or 600 level (one scholarship). Applicants must be female and citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Value: Tuition fee support to a value of $4,500 for one year

Closing date: 31 March

Helen Macmillan Brown Bursary

Details: Applicants must be female and resident in one of UC's affiliated halls of residence in the year of tenure. 

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$2,500 per 120 points of thesis enrolment; for one year.

Closing date: 15 August.

Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Centre Postgraduate Scholarship

Details: To support postgraduate diploma, honours, and master’s students whose study is facilitated through Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Centre at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury.

Value: (a) Financial assistance at a value of $16,000 (for students with whakapapa Ngāi Tahu) or $12,000 (open); and (b) tuition fees at the Aotearoa New Zealand domestic rate + SSL; for one year.

Closing date: 31 October  

KiwiRail Scholarship

Details: To enable the children of KiwiRail's permanent employees to undertake a first undergraduate degree or diploma at a New Zealand university, polytechnic, or college of education. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their course of study aligns with KiwiRail’s core functions, e.g. Engineering, Tourism, Commerce, etc. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $2,000 for one year.

Closing date: 01 December

Kuching Malaysian Alumni Scholarship (International Application Round)

Details: To recognise and support top students from the Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia who are studying in an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Canterbury. Applicants must be citizens of Malaysia. They cannot also be citizens of New Zealand or Australia, holders of New Zealand residence class visas, or Australian Permanent Residents.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $10,000 for one year

Closing date: 31 October (NOT OFFERED IN 2024)

Lighthouse Vision Trust Scholarship and Susan Barnes Memorial Scholarship

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 Equity & Disability Service as a student with a vision impairment. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas.

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).

Closing date: 31 March

Macmillan Brown Prize for Writers

Details: Recognises excellence in English composition by current and recent undergraduate students of UC. Applicants must either: (a) be enrolled as undergraduate students at the University; or (b) have become eligible to graduate with an undergraduate degree from the University no more than three years prior to the closing date for applications. Applicants must submit an original piece of writing of their own sole composition, either unpublished or published, which deals imaginatively with any theme: an essay, a short story, a poem or group of poems, or a short play.

Value: First prize = $2,500; Second prize = $1,000; Third prize = $500

Closing date: 30 September

Tan Sri Datuk Oh Siew Nam P.S.M, P.J.N. Malaysian Scholarship (International Application Round)

Details: To recognise and support top students from Malaysia who are studying in an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Canterbury. Applicants must be citizens of Malaysia. They cannot also be citizens of New Zealand or Australia, holders of New Zealand residence class visas, or Australian Permanent Residents.

Value: Financial assistance to a value of NZD$20,000 (if in any year there are two candidates of equal merit, two $10,000 scholarships will be awarded).

Closing date: 31 October

University of Canterbury Alumni Scholarship

Details: To support students studying full-time in either their final year of an Honours degree programme; or any year of a postgraduate degree or diploma.

Value: Financial assistance at the value of $5,000

Closing date: 15 August

Westpac Southland Scholarship

Details: Applicants must have completed at least one academic year at UC and who's earlier youth was spent substantially in Southland and whose parents, or guardian, are resident in Southland at the time of the award.

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$1,000 per annum; for two years.

Closing date: 31 March.

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