New Zealand Asean Scholars awards to close July 15

MANILA, Philippines - There are good opportunities for Filipinos to obtain scholarships for graduate’s studies in New Zealand. But applicants must be zealous about meeting the schedules set to complete the applications.

Under the New Zealand Asean Scholars (NZAS) awards, Filipinos interested and eligible to apply for postgraduate development-related studies at a tertiary institution in New Zealand only have up to July 15 to submit their completed application forms.

The NZAS awards program administrator of Bato Balani Foundation Reina Lino says that the whole application process usually takes more than a month, so she advises all who want to qualify for the program to secure their offer letter from their choice institutions.

“The average processing period of our previous applicants is 4 weeks. Securing the offer letter takes 6 weeks which includes the correspondences,” according to Lino.

Aside from the completed application form and other letters, scholarship applicants also need to submit certified copies of their birth certificate, passport and transcripts; original international English proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL) result; current curriculum vitae; references and some essays.

An indicative allocation of 18 scholarships is made available for Filipinos who desire to obtain a postgraduate degree in New Zealand commencing in 2015.

The NZAS awards are open to qualified candidates from the public, private, and civil society sectors who want to pursue further studies in the fields of agriculture, tourism, governance, public sector, trade, development, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and renewable energy.

Applicants will be selected on merit, including the development benefits of their proposed course of study. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate leadership qualities and potential for future leadership. Priority will also be given to applicants who have demonstrated high academic achievements especially in their undergraduate degree.

The program aims to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills and qualifications to contribute to the economic, social, and political development of the ASEAN region.

The scholarships are funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme for post-graduate study at New Zealand institutions in the subject areas most needed for the development of the recipient country.

Applications for the 2014 scholarships close on July 15, 2014. Further information, including eligibility and application form, can be found at the New Zealand Embassy website http://www.aid/govt.nzfunding-and-contracts/scholarships/eligible-countries/philippines.