The Pacific Excellence Scholarship supports the University of Waikato’s commitment to recognize and foster the excellence of our Pasifika students. The Pacific Excellence Scholarship was launched in 2018 and is awarded on the basis of meritorious achievement. Also,  and connection to the Pacific community. Up to 25 will be each year.

Benefit

• Scholarships will have a value of up to $10,000 and will have a tenure of one year.
• If a recipient is eligible for Fees-Free under the Fees-Free Tertiary Education Policy during the year of tenure then the Scholarship may be used for accommodation fees in a University of Waikato Hall of Residence. Or credited to the recipient’s University tuition fees for the following academic year where Fees-Free doesn’t apply. Further, with any remaining funds to be forfeited by the recipient.
• Similarly, If a recipient chooses to defer the credit of their Scholarship towards tuition fees to the following academic year, the payment will be conditional on the recipient gaining at least a B grade point average in their first year of study.
• If a recipient is not eligible for Fees-Free under the NZ Government’s Fees-Free Tertiary Education Policy during the year of the tenure of this Scholarship, then the Scholarship will be to the recipient’s University tuition fees with the remainder of the scholarship.
• Alternatively, the Scholarship may be for accommodation fees in a University hall of the Residence.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, candidates must:

• be of Pacific Island descent;
•  have received at least a Merit endorsement at NCEA Level 2, or equivalent;
•  be studying at NCEA Level 3 towards University Entrance in the year prior to tenure;
•  be intending to enroll full-time in an undergraduate degree (a full-time academic year comprises 120-points) at the University of Waikato for the first time1 in the year of tenure, and commencing study in the first semester that year; and
•  be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.