Applications on plain paper, as per prescribed format, are invited from Indian Nationals residing in India for the above-mentioned Commonwealth Scholarship for higher studies, research leading to Ph.D /Masters/Post Graduate Diploma Study in New Zealand

NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS TO BE SENT:                TWO

 

Ph.D                                                                                     1(one)

 

MASTERS                                                                          1(one)

SUBJECT FIELDS: 

1.      Environmental Studies;   

2.      Agriculture/ Fisheries/ Biosecurity and Food Safety    

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR

 

            Should have completed Bachelor’s Degree/ Master’s Degree in the subject or allied fields with minimum 65% marks. Where percentage of marks is not available and grades are mentioned, the candidates must indicate the conversion formula adopted by the University/Institution and should also indicate equivalent percentage of marks.

AGE

            The candidate should not be more than 40 years of age as on 31.05.2012.

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS

(a)       Travel: International, and New Zealand domestic, air travel at the start and end of the scholarship for awardee, and reimbursement of awardee’s visa costs. In addition, a reunion travel entitlement may be available to awardees who have left dependants in their home country.

(b)        Tuition Fees and other compulsory institutional course costs.

 

(c)       Postgraduate research and thesis allowance: An allowance of NZ$1,500, and a return economy airfare to awardee’s home country for overseas fieldwork, if research component is 50% or greater.

 

(d)        Medical and Travel Insurance

 

(e)        Establishment allowance: NZ$3,000 paid on arrival in New Zealand to meet text book costs and to assist with other set up costs in New Zealand. At the beginning of each additional study year NZ$1,000 will be paid to cover the full year.

 

(f)        Living Allowance: The annual rate of NZ$21,580 (NZ$415 per week) is paid fortnightly and  is a contribution to living costs for day-to-day expenses, including accommodation (rent or board), food costs, utility expenses (telephone, electricity etc.), transport, personal items and course-related costs (e.g. stationery, field trips, workshops etc.)

 

*          No funding is available for dependants. Students who choose to have their immediate family members join them in New Zealand will be responsible for their financial support.

 

*         The New Zealand Government has the right to amend the terms and conditions of the scholarships as needed.
 

General Eligibility Criteria:

                Applicants for the scheme must satisfy the following general eligibility criteria andy any pre-determined, country or regional-specific selection criteria set by NZAID and the nominating authorities. At a minimum, to be eligible to apply for a scholarship, applicants must:

 

(i)         have citizenship of Commonwealth developing country;

(ii)        be residing in their home country for at least two years prior to application;

(iii)       not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand or Australia, or another development  country, except where their country does not issue passports and they hold a New Zealand passport;

(iv)       not be married or engaged to be married to a person who holds, or who is eligible to hold, citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country, except where their country does not issue passports and they hold a New Zealand passport

(v)        be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for one already commenced at the PhD or Masters level;

(vi)        satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand education institution I which the qualification is to be undertaken, including English language criteria;

(vii)       have been working in their country of citizenship, preferably for at least two years prior to application;

(viii)      hold a first class standard (or above); or a first class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a Master’s degree;

(ix)       be available to commence their academic studies in New Zealand by the start of the New Zealand academic year in February 2013;

(x)        have already secured admission to their preferred New Zealand university; evidence of admission (eg. A letter of offer) is required with the application form; a conditional letter of offer from a New Zealand  university is sufficient to allow an application to be accepted; (To be produced at the time of interview)

(xi)        have a planned programme start date (in the letter of offer) not earlier than February 2013.

Further Scholarship Information and Application