A Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship provides support for 36 months of study. While this may involve part or full-time study, it is expected that most scholarships will support students engaged in full-time study. The funds included in the scholarship are:

• an annual stipend of $25,000 (an overseas loading will be applied where the scholarship is undertaken in a country other than New Zealand)
• conference attendance to a maximum of $3,000 (GST included) per annum
• relocation costs for overseas students (these costs will be deducted from the funds provided for conference attendance)
• medical insurance (if the scholarship is undertaken overseas and the insurance is justified)
• the annual course fee required by the host tertiary education provider.

The final application deadline for 2008 Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships is:

• Wednesday 14 May 2008
• Wednesday 10 December 2008.

The aims of the Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships are to:

• signal the value of high-level intellectual skills and abilities and their importance to New Zealand's future
• give doctoral scholars the choice of studying in New Zealand or at overseas universities
• increase the supply of highly trained researchers and highly skilled graduates by supporting the top 10 percent of doctoral candidates.

Changes to eligibility

The Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship is currently open to student applicants with the appropriate grades (minimum A to A+) for their prerequisite degree or equivalent. From 2007 onwards, this minimum eligible grade was raised to 87 instead of 85. This grade will not be negotiable.

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship forms

• Report Guidelines (Word, 188 Kb)
• Application Form updated 27 February 2008 (Word, 261 Kb)
• Notes for Applicants updated 27 February 2008 (PDF, 109 Kb)

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