Master of Education (ECE) Scholarship

Scholarships can help remove financial barriers, allowing students from diverse backgrounds to access higher education. This promotes inclusion and ensures a broader range of perspectives and experiences within our communities. Offering a master’s scholarship supports our commitment to equity and growing teachers who are skilled at undertaking culturally responsible and ethical inquiry within their own workplace and beyond.

Launched for study in 2025 and beyond, this scholarship will go some way to reducing the socio-economic barriers that may prevent people from realising their aspirations to enrol in postgraduate study. This scholarship will be awarded to one new student enrolling in our Master of Education (ECE) programme per year, based on equity, merit, and commitment to engaging in research that betters their local community.

A Master of Education (ECE) scholarship will pay study fees for the full duration of the following programme:

• Master of Education (ECE)

The Master of Education (ECE) scholarship is intended to support highly deserving applicants who would otherwise struggle to afford postgraduate study because of socio-economic barriers.

The scholarships will be awarded competitively to new students based on equity, merit and commitment to engaging in research that betters their local community.

Applicants must:

• meet the admission criteria for the programme they wish to study and have submitted an application to study for the programme.

• be new students, not already studying with Te Rito Maioha.

• be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents, currently residing in Aotearoa.

• intend to begin study in the semester following their application, either full-time or part-time.

• be enrolled in the Te Rito Maioha Master of Education (ECE) programme and be able to demonstrate how the scholarship can contribute to their success in the programme and their future as a researcher.

Applications close on:

• Monday 10 January 2025 for the 2025 semester one intake of the Master of Education (ECE) programme.

To be considered, the following must be received by 5 pm on the closing date:

• Completed online scholarship application form

• All supporting documents including 2 references, and IRD earnings statements

• Completed application to study in the intended programme (apply via the Apply Now button)

Late or partially completed applications will not be considered for a scholarship.

Every scholarship application must be supported by the following documents.

1. A personal statement, less than two pages, outlining:

   • Your goals for your teaching career
   • Your involvement and commitment to your community and tamariki
   • Your personal attributes, achievements and strengths that you feel would make you an outstanding kaiako, teacher or faiāʻoga in your community.
   • Why do you want to study teaching with Te Rito Maioha
     
     
2. Two references from reputable people in your community who know you well.
   This could include a school principal or senior teacher if you are a recent school leaver; a leader of a community organisation, church or iwi group you are connected with; an ECE service manager or school principal where you are employed or volunteer.
   They cannot be a family member.
   
   
3. IRD statement of earnings
   Te Rito Maioha scholarships are intended for tauira | students who would otherwise be unable or find it difficult to study for financial reasons. Because of this, we ask for information on the applicant’s financial situation and support. The information provided will be reviewed only by the committee and is used solely for the purpose of assessing the application.
   Note: Financial hardship does not include reluctance to take on a student loan.

If the applicant is financially self-supporting, or you have a partner who helps support you




   You must supply a Statement of Earnings from Inland Revenue for the previous financial year.

  
IRD Website
  
   
 Log in to MyIR (registering is easy if not already registered).
   
Go to 'My Income', click on 'Account Information'
   
 Navigate to 'Income Tax'.
  
Under Earnings Information, the previous financial year will be listed.

If you are self-employed, you should provide either your IRD statement or supporting documentation from your business indicating your income.  


Note: Payslips, bank statements and/or employer letters will not be accepted. If you have a partner or spouse, they also need to supply a Statement of Earnings from Inland Revenue as above.

If the applicant is supported by parents or caregivers




Each parent or caregiver who support you needs to provide a Statement of Earnings from Inland Revenue for the previous financial year.

 
IRD Website
  
   
 Log in to MyIR (registering is easy if not already registered).
   
Go to 'My Income', click on 'Account Information'
   
 Navigate to 'Income Tax'.
  
Under Earnings Information, the previous financial year will be listed.

  If they are self-employed, they should provide either their IRD statement or supporting documentation from your business indicating their income.  
 
Note: Payslips, bank statements and/or employer letters will not be accepted.

Successful applicants will be notified within three weeks of the application closing date.

Applicants will be considered and recommended by a committee led and organised by Dr Rosina Merry (Director of Teaching, Learning and Research).

The Chief Executive will make the final decision.

• A completed online application form and all supporting documents must be submitted by 5pm on the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.

• All offers of the Master of Education (ECE) Scholarship are conditional upon the recipient being confirmed to begin study in the semester following application, in the Master of Education (ECE) programme.
  
  

• The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later semester or year. Applicants who wish to delay their study to a later semester or year may re-apply for the Scholarship.

• Should the recipient withdraw from study during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise Te Rito Maioha if they intend to withdraw.

• At the discretion of the Chief Executive, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.

• During their study, recipients of Te Rito Maioha Scholarships are expected to:

  • show outstanding commitment to their study
  • contribute to their ECE centres, and community
  • act as ambassadors for Te Rito Maioha and participate in marketing activities if required.
    
    
• After graduation, scholarship recipients are expected to continue to make a positive contribution to the education sector and their community.