Speech Language Therapy Scholarship

This scholarship supports:

• Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology (Hons) offered by the University of Canterbury(external link)
• Master of Speech and Language Pathology (MSLP) offered by the University of Canterbury(external link)
• Bachelor of Speech Language Therapy (Hons) offered by Massey University (Albany campus or Distance programme)(external link)
• Master of Speech-Language Therapy Practice offered by The University of Auckland (Tamaki campus)(external link)

For more information about the courses of study

If you have any questions regarding the courses of study, please contact:

University of Canterbury

Dean Sutherland
Senior Lecturer
dean.sutherland@canterbury.ac.nz

Massey University

Elizabeth Doell
SLT programme coordinator
E.H.Doell@massey.ac.nz

University of Auckland

Clare McCann
Head of Speech Science
c.mccann@auckland.ac.nz

Philippa Friary
Director of Clinical Education
philippa.friary@auckland.ac.nz

This scholarship provides:

• $5,000 per year of study upon successful completion of the academic year (paid to you).
• one guaranteed placement at a Ministry office during the practicum block course with additional $1,500 payment paid before the placement starts
• strengthened support for Māori scholarship recipients by connecting you with a network of Ministry Māori SLTs and allowing greater flexibility in your placement experience
• an interview with the Ministry in your final year.

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

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• be accepted onto one of the courses of study.
• be studying full-time.
• be interested in working in the education sector as a Speech Language Therapist
• 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 (in descending order of priority):

• demonstrate proficiency in te reo Māori or te reo Rangatira (NCEA level 2 equivalent or a higher qualification or equivalent)
• demonstrate proficiency in a Pasifika language (NCEA level 2 equivalent or a higher qualification or equivalent) 
• are of Māori or Pasifika descent 
• demonstrate proficiency in a spoken language in addition to English that is widely used by children attending early childhood centres and schools in New Zealand (NCEA level 2 equivalent or higher qualification or equivalent).

Your application must include:

• additional information sheet [DOCX, 158 KB]

• your resume/CV
• a cover letter outlining particular factors that are appropriate to our assessment (as per the points listed below):

  1. why do you want to become a qualified Speech Language Therapist?

  2. your strengths and experience, personal and professional, and ability to establish and maintain relationships that will help you to become an effective Speech Language Therapist.

• academic transcripts or grades of your highest and most recent qualifications
• any special circumstances you would like the selection panel to consider.

If you are applying for priority selection:

• submit evidence in the form of formal qualifications or written references from a tertiary institution, a kaumātua or a community leader of your language proficiency.

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 contact details, if you fail any papers and if you change your proposed study
• email us at learningsupport.workforce@education.govt.nz if you are appointed to a position within the Ministry after you graduate.

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 sit and pass the paper before you receive your scholarship payment.
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.