Athletes
Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships
The Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarship programme is a Government initiative managed by SPARC and administered by the New Zealand Academy of Sport regional operations. The purpose of the scholarships is to enable emerging and talented New Zealanders to concurrently pursue tertiary study and elite level sport development.
Scholarships are aligned to SPARC’s High Performance Strategy 2006-2012 and must impact SPARC’s high performance mission, More New Zealanders winning on the world stage.
2008 Scholarships
In 2008, approximately 300 athletes across 23 national sport organisations (NSOs) were awarded scholarships. Click here for the list of 2008 recipients as at 31 January 2008 -
The scholarship allows athletes to have their academic fees paid (at domestic student rates) to a maximum of $10,000 per annum, and receive a living allowance of up to $6,000 per annum (if studying greater than or equal to 0.4 EFTs per twelve-month period or 0.2EFTs in a six-month period if only studying for six months).
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for a scholarship in 2008, athletes must meet the following eligibility criteria.
- Be capable of impacting SPARC’s high performance mission, More New Zealanders winning on the world stage.
- Be endorsed by their NSO leading up to and during the scholarship.
- Have met all athlete requirements whilst studying under scholarship in the previous 12 months.
- Submit a complete application.
There is also a Gold-level Scholarship, which helps athletes study after they are carded and/or retire.
• Learn more about the Gold-level Scholarship.
Who will receive a Scholarship?
With the funds available, it is unlikely that all applicants will receive a scholarship in 2008. Therefore applications will be assessed and prioritised by an assessment panel. The selection criteria are outlined in the Programme Guide (Word, 264 KB) and applicants prioritised for a scholarship are likely to be:
- World class athletes and/or athletes receiving PEGs
- Level 1 carded athletes
- Level 2 carded athletes
- Level 3 carded athletes
- Level 4 carded athletes and other athletes who have the potential to impact SPARC’s high performance mission.
What qualifications are eligible?
Athletes may enrol in any tertiary or vocational qualification that appears on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications, found at http://www.kiwiquals.govt.nz. This includes most university and polytechnic qualifications, teaching courses and trade courses. The education provider (eg, the university or polytechnic) must be a New Zealand organisation.
How can I apply?
Applications for study in 2008 have now closed, but applications may still be considered throughout 2008 at the discretion of the NZ Academy of Sport.
There is one scholarship intake for all 2009 scholarships. Athletes should submit their application form according to the process outlined by their national sport organisation. The national sport organisation will receive, prioritise and endorse applications (using the NSO endorsement form), then nominate applicants to SPARC. The closing date for this is 1 December 2008.
Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarship Application Form 2008 (Word, 208 KB)
Receiving payments
Fees are paid directly to the relevant education provider. Athletes' living allowances are credited to their nominated bank accounts.
To maintain payments, athletes must:
- pass all of their study,
- submit an electronic six-month progress report at the end of each six-month period (due 1 July and 1 December each year),
- attend an anti-doping seminar in the first 12 months in which the scholarship is awarded and once every alternate year thereafter whilst on scholarship and
- meet any tax and income declaration requirements.
Submitting progress reports
Scholarship recipients must submit six-month progress reports online. If you are unable to complete your progress report online, contact your Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarship Coordinator for assistance.
Change of contact details
If you've changed your contact details since your application or since you submitted your last six-monthly progress report, please complete the Change of Contact Details form.
• Change of Contact Details form
Where can I find out more information?
Downloads
Updated | 30 Jul 2008.
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