Financial help to study

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Rural and Māori medium)

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships, available only for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, are targeted at areas of priority for teacher supply to meet increasing demand for teachers in certain areas over the next ten years. Currently these areas are early childhood, rural, Māori Medium, and secondary teachers of specific subjects. 

The Teacher Recruitment Scholarships listed here will be allocated across three categories:
• school leavers/undergraduates
• graduates
• career changers.

Scholarship numbers are capped and apart from rural scholarships are awarded in order of completed applications, where eligibility criteria have been met.  Every full-time student teacher who receives a Teacher Recruitment Scholarship will receive course fees, an annual allowance providing criteria are met, and be bonded to teach.

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Māori Medium)

These aim to increase the supply of teachers in both total immersion and bilingual settings in either primary or secondary schools. Existing Māori Medium Scholarships remain. There is a category for ‘career changers’ to teach te reo Māori or to teach in bilingual or Māori immersion classrooms.  Scholarships for study in 2009 are now available and applications will be received from 1 October 2008. Māori Medium Career Changer scholarships are now closed.

Teacher Recruitment Scholarships (Rural)

These aim to encourage people from rural areas into teaching in primary or secondary rural schools. Scholarships for study in 2009 are now closed.

Other forms of financial help to study

StudyLink

If you do not meet the criteria for any of the above teaching incentives, you can still apply for Government financial support through StudyLink - administered by the Ministry of Social Development.

Support through StudyLink includes Student Allowances and Student Loan Schemes and the Training Incentive Allowance.