University of Canterbury introduces big boosts for scholarship funding and preferential entry requirements for 2012

The University of Canterbury has increased its scholarship funding for 2012 and beyond by more than one third, with a particular focus on increasing scholarship funding available for first-year undergraduates.

For the first time Year 12 secondary school students will have an opportunity to use their NCEA Level 2 results to secure a scholarship and preferential entry to the University of Canterbury, providing they maintain or improve their academic performance in Year 13 and go on to gain University Entrance.  Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr says the new initiatives are being introduced to encourage and reward sustained achievement at secondary and tertiary level.

“Students who have obtained NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 with endorsements of Merit or Excellence (or their equivalent – such as International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examination) are guaranteed to receive a scholarship from the University of Canterbury.”

Dr Carr says students who achieve academic excellence and fulfil leadership roles at secondary school could be eligible to receive as much as $8,000 in scholarship funding for their first year of study at UC.

The number of existing undergraduate scholarships, such as Dux scholarships for top academic achievement and Emerging Leader scholarships for all-round high achievers, has been increased by more than 70 per cent.

The UC Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship offer works like this:

New scholarships are also on offer for international students, UC’s summer programme, students going on exchange, Masters students and PhD students, including five PhD scholarships for candidates selected as a result of contestable research proposals submitted on earthquake-related topics. New four-year undergraduate scholarships for international students have also been established valued at $20,000 per year.

The University of Canterbury is also introducing preferential entry requirements in 2012 which will provide more certainty for students and their parents and caregivers and provide an important indicator of students’ preparedness for tertiary study.

Preferential Entry will be awarded to:

• Students who are awarded a UC Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship
• Students who have been awarded a UC Emerging Leader Scholarship (including  Sports Scholarships and Māori/Pasifika Scholarships) or a Dux Scholarship.
• Students with NCEA Level 3 who achieve an entry score of at least 120. (See www.canterbury.ac.nz/admissions* for an example showing how the entry score is calculated).
• Students with an International Baccalaureate score of 26.
• Students with a score of at least 140 points in the Cambridge International Examinations.  (See www.canterbury.ac.nz/admissions* for an example showing how the CIE score is calculated).
• Students who have been accepted for programme entry into the Bachelor of Fine Arts Intermediate Year or the Bachelor of Music (Performance).
• Students who successfully complete a STAR course at UC in Year 12 or Year 13.
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“This is a significant announcement for our future students,” says Dr Carr. “We are committed to delivering a high-quality education and will be offering a place at UC in 2012 to all students who achieve University Entrance.

“Students who are doing well at Year 12 will be able to plan for their continuing education at the University of Canterbury with more certainty and Year 13 students will have a clear goal to aim for as they prepare to transition from secondary to tertiary study.

“Students and their parents or caregivers can be assured that achievement will be rewarded both in terms of securing a place at UC and in terms of scholarship funding. We wish to encourage the sustained and long-term success of the best and brightest students as they pursue their studies at the University of Canterbury.”

For more information about scholarships and the new preferential entry requirements please go to www.canterbury.ac.nz, phone 0800 VARSITY (827 748) or contact liaison@canterbury.ac.nz.