New Zealand Scholarship
Encyclopedia
From 2004, the New Zealand Scholarship is a New Zealand
secondary school award gained at the end of Year 13, and provides financial support for study at a New Zealand university. It is intended for the top students of NCEA
Level 3, the main secondary school leaving qualification.
took over the work of the Universities Entrance Board in 1991.
From 1989 to 2003 scholarships were awarded to the top 3-4% of Bursary
students. In response to the removal of separate scholarship examinations a group of teachers set up their own scholarship exam, later becoming the New Zealand Educational Scholarships Trust (NZEST).http://www.nzest.ac.nz/about.html
A "NCEA Level 4" qualification was proposed in the 1998 Cabinet paper "Qualifications for Young People Aged 16 to 19 Years" and the discussions that ensued concluded that there be an external examination and that scholarships be awarded. http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/scholarship/background.html New Zealand Scholarship exams started in 2004. NZEST stopped its examinations and now provides financial assistance for students studying at NZ universities.
The 2004 examinations, in line with the NCEA, were criterion-referenced and produced some unexpected results distributions. Several reviews of the award and a media and political debate followed. The Scholarship examination was largely revamped. Scholarships in 2005 were awarded to the top three per cent of NCEA Level 3 candidates in the subject, given that examiners are satisfied a worthy standard has been met. Monetary awards were restructured and credit value was removed from the examinations.
The 2004 examination of the New Zealand Scholarship by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
was marred by controversy, most notably the irregular pass rates (e.g. 0.9% pass rate for Biology 2004). The head of the Authority later resigned over this and allied issues.
The monetary awards are tenable at any New Zealand university
, and all except single subject awards last for three years as long as a 'B' average is maintained. Candidates must gain at least three scholarships to be eligible for the Scholarship, Outstanding and Premier awards. All candidates are eligible for only one of the following monetary awards, except that up to two single subject awards can be awarded to a candidate, and a winner of a Top Subject Scholar Award who also passes a second scholarship subject is eligible for the additional $500 award.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
secondary school award gained at the end of Year 13, and provides financial support for study at a New Zealand university. It is intended for the top students of NCEA
National Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement is, since 2004, the official secondary school qualification in New Zealand.It has three levels, corresponding to the levels within the National Qualifications Framework, and these are generally studied in each of the three final years of...
Level 3, the main secondary school leaving qualification.
About
The first scholarship examination by the University of New Zealand was held in May 1872. After 1962 scholarships were awarded by the Universities Entrance Board. The New Zealand Qualifications AuthorityNew Zealand Qualifications Authority
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is the New Zealand government crown entity tasked with providing leadership in assessment and qualifications....
took over the work of the Universities Entrance Board in 1991.
From 1989 to 2003 scholarships were awarded to the top 3-4% of Bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
students. In response to the removal of separate scholarship examinations a group of teachers set up their own scholarship exam, later becoming the New Zealand Educational Scholarships Trust (NZEST).http://www.nzest.ac.nz/about.html
A "NCEA Level 4" qualification was proposed in the 1998 Cabinet paper "Qualifications for Young People Aged 16 to 19 Years" and the discussions that ensued concluded that there be an external examination and that scholarships be awarded. http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/scholarship/background.html New Zealand Scholarship exams started in 2004. NZEST stopped its examinations and now provides financial assistance for students studying at NZ universities.
The 2004 examinations, in line with the NCEA, were criterion-referenced and produced some unexpected results distributions. Several reviews of the award and a media and political debate followed. The Scholarship examination was largely revamped. Scholarships in 2005 were awarded to the top three per cent of NCEA Level 3 candidates in the subject, given that examiners are satisfied a worthy standard has been met. Monetary awards were restructured and credit value was removed from the examinations.
Assessment
The Scholarship is awarded by standards based three hour external examination, mostly written. The grades are No Award, Scholarship and Outstanding Scholarship. Example of result table at NZQAThe 2004 examination of the New Zealand Scholarship by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is the New Zealand government crown entity tasked with providing leadership in assessment and qualifications....
was marred by controversy, most notably the irregular pass rates (e.g. 0.9% pass rate for Biology 2004). The head of the Authority later resigned over this and allied issues.
Monetary Awards
- All monetary values are in the New Zealand dollarNew Zealand dollarThe New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
.
The monetary awards are tenable at any New Zealand university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, and all except single subject awards last for three years as long as a 'B' average is maintained. Candidates must gain at least three scholarships to be eligible for the Scholarship, Outstanding and Premier awards. All candidates are eligible for only one of the following monetary awards, except that up to two single subject awards can be awarded to a candidate, and a winner of a Top Subject Scholar Award who also passes a second scholarship subject is eligible for the additional $500 award.
- The Premier Award is awarded to the top five to ten candidates who gain three or more scholarship subjects with at least three at outstanding level, and is worth $10,000 per year for three years.
- An Outstanding Scholar Award is awarded to the top 40 to 60 candidates (usually around the top 0.3% of the number of Level 3 students sitting the subject, but more for the less common subjects) who gain three scholarship subjects with two at outstanding level or gain more than three scholarship subjects with at least one at outstanding level, and is worth $5,000 per year for three years.
- A Scholarship Award is awarded to all candidates who gain three or more scholarship subjects, and is worth $2,000 per year for three years.
- A Top Subject Scholar Award is awarded to candidates who are top of a subject, and did not receive one of the above prizes. It is worth $2,000 per year for three years.
- A single subject award is awarded to candidates who gain one or two scholarship subjects and did not top the subject(s). It is worth $500 per subject for one year only.
See also
- New Zealand Qualifications AuthorityNew Zealand Qualifications AuthorityThe New Zealand Qualifications Authority is the New Zealand government crown entity tasked with providing leadership in assessment and qualifications....
(website) (awarding body) - New Zealand Educational Scholarships Trust
- New Zealand Scholarship website
- Press release 15 December 2003 detailing prizes