New Zealand Sign Language Interpreting Scholarship

The scholarship supports:

• AUT’s Bachelor of Arts: New Zealand Sign Language: English Interpreting(external link).

For more information about the degree

If you have any questions regarding the degree, please contact AUT:

Dr George Major
Programme Leader
gmajor@aut.ac.nz

This scholarship provides:

• $3,000 per year of study upon successful completion of the year (paid to you).
• one off travel and accommodation assistance if you have had to relocate to Auckland to attend the course, to a maximum of $1,500 on top of the scholarship payment (paid to you).
  
  

 

Action	Dates
Applications close	24 April 2023
Applicants notified	31 May 2023

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• be accepted into the AUT’s Bachelor of Arts: New Zealand Sign Language: English Interpreting course.
• study full time.
• be interested in working in the education sector as a NZSL Interpreter
• be a New Zealand citizen or have rights to reside and work in New Zealand indefinitely or permanently.
• not be repeating a failed course.

We will give priority to applicants who:

• demonstrate proficiency (NCEA level 1 equivalent or higher) in Te Reo Māori, a Pasifika language or a spoken language in addition to English that is widely used by children who attend early childhood centres and schools in New Zealand
• provide evidence of that proficiency in the form of a formal qualification or written reference from a tertiary institution, a kaumātua or a community leader.

Your application must include:

• your resume/CV
• a cover letter outlining below:
  • why do you want to become a qualified NZSL interpreter
  • your strengths and experience, personal and professional, that will help you to become an effective NZSL Interpreter
• additional Information Sheet [DOCX, 161 KB]
• academic transcripts of your highest and most recent qualifications
• written references from 2 of the following:

• • a member of the Deaf community
  • your sign language tutor or lecturer
  • your employer
  • your high school teacher or lecturer.

We will use 4 factors to assess your application, and you will be scored on how well your application meets each of these. Make sure your cover letter includes information about each of the following factors:

1. your future commitment to working as a sign language interpreter.
2. your academic ability.
3. your level of financial hardship.
4. your understanding of the philosophy and values of deaf culture.

The decision to grant or not grant a scholarship is final.

If you are granted this scholarship, you must meet certain conditions. The specific terms and conditions will be listed in your letter of offer. In brief, you must:

• enrol in your courses at the university
• plan your study and workload for the year
• pass your course papers
• email us at learningsupport.workforce@education.govt.nz if any of the information you provided in your application changes – this includes your employment status and contact details, if you fail any papers and if you change your proposed study.

Failure, withdrawal and breaks in study

If you...	then...
Decide not to start the course after you have enrolled	You must re-apply for a scholarship in the following year. Your scholarship will not be deferred for a year.
Fail a paper	You will need to re-take that paper at your own expense.
Want to study part time	Email us at learningsupport.workforce@education.govt.nz and let us know this change in your study.
Withdraw from study part way through the qualification	You will need to pay back all academic fees that we have paid for your study.
Need to take a break from study due to unforeseen circumstances	Email us at learningsupport.workforce@education.govt.nz and the university. You may ask for a study break of a maximum of one year.

Convictions

Your application must disclose any convictions you have had unless they are covered by the Criminal Records (Clean Slate Act) 2004. This is required to ensure that you would not be prevented from gaining future employment with the Ministry of Education.

You must declare all of your convictions if you have:

• been convicted of an offence within the last 7 years; or
• been sentenced to a custodial sentence (eg, imprisonment, corrective training, borstal); or
• been ordered by a court during a criminal case to be detained in a hospital due to your mental condition, instead of being sentenced; or
• been convicted of a ‘special offence’ (eg, sexual offending against children, young people or those mentally impaired); or
• not paid in full any fine reparation or costs ordered by the court in a criminal case; or
• been indefinitely disqualified from driving under section 65 of the Land Transport Act 1998 or earlier equivalent provision.