to benefit New Zealand
New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship (In Law)
Back to Awards and ScholarshipsPurpose
The purpose of the New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is to encourage postgraduate study and research in law in New Zealand. The scholarship will be awarded to a doctoral candidate who will carry out research in a defined area of the law which is for the benefit of New Zealand and its legal system, and which encompasses the wider objectives of the New Zealand Law Foundation.
Every scholarship shall be tenable at a law school in a New Zealand university.
Eligibility
A scholarship may be awarded to any person who is the holder of a masters or honours degree of a university in New Zealand or elsewhere, or any equivalent qualification.
Candidates may apply for this scholarship if they are about to commence doctoral study or if they have recently commenced doctoral study. If a candidate has already commenced then they must be within 18 months of starting their doctoral studies.
Tenure
The scholarship shall be tenable for a period of three years unless the Scholarship Selection Committee, having regard to the programme of research or advanced study approved for any scholar, determines in respect of that scholar that the scholarship shall be tenable for such shorter period as it may specify.
Except with the express approval of the New Zealand Law Foundation, the total period of tenure of the New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship shall not extend beyond three years.
If the New Zealand Law Foundation is satisfied that a scholar is unable to complete the programme of research or advanced study by the expiration of the period of tenure of the scholarship, then the New Zealand Law Foundation may, at its absolute discretion, grant an extension of that period by such further period as it determines but normally no extension shall increase the total period of tenure beyond three years.
Commencement Date
The tenure of every scholarship shall commence on a date to be determined in each case by the NZVCC, which date shall be not later than 31 May in any year, or as soon as is practicable thereafter.
Co-Tenure
A New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship may be held with any other scholarship, bursary or award unless the conditions of the other award(s) preclude it and provided that the grantors of the other scholarship(s) or award(s) recognise the right and ability of the New Zealand Law Foundation to publicise the successful scholar as a New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship winner. In the event of co-tenure, the Scholarship Selection Committee may impose such conditions as it thinks fit, whether as to reduction in the emolument of the New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship or otherwise.
Value
The value of the New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is $35,000 per year, which is intended to include tuition fees. The scholar must inform the New Zealand Law Foundation of all other awards received. If a scholar holds another award or is granted another award during the term of the Scholarship, then the emolument of the New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship may be reduced at the New Zealand Law Foundation's discretion.
Applications
Closing Date: 1st October each year.
Application forms and scholarship regulations can be downloaded from the NZ Vice Chancellors' Committee website.
The scholarship is administered by the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee (NZVCC). Candidates shall enter for the scholarship on the application form provided by the NZVCC. Every candidate who is enrolled at a university in New Zealand shall forward the application to reach the Scholarships Officer of the university at which s/he is enrolled not later than the 1st day of October preceding the year in which it is proposed to commence the programme of research or advanced study. Every other candidate shall forward their application to reach the Scholarships Manager of the NZVCC not later than the aforesaid 1st day of October. Every application shall be accompanied by:
| (a) | certified copy of the candidate's academic record; | ||
| (b) | statement of the candidate's proposed programme of research or advanced study and an outline of the methods of investigation it is proposed to adopt; | ||
| (c) | an example of legal writing not exceeding 15,000 words (e.g. essays, opinions, legal articles); | ||
| (d) | names of two persons who will be forwarding, to the University Scholarships Office or directly to the NZVCC, by 1 October, a written assessment of the candidate including achievements, potential, and suitability for the award; | ||
| (e) | Curriculum Vitae | ||
| (f) | signed NZVCC Privacy Form; | ||
| (g) | full particulars of any other bursaries, scholarships, prizes, fellowships or awards which the candidate has applied for or has been awarded. | ||
| (h) | a budget proposal | ||
| (i) | a statement outlining how the candidate intends to disseminate the final research product. |
Note: Any grant of a scholarship will be conditional upon the successful applicant confirming enrolment for the approved course of study and at the approved university specified in the application. However the Selection Committee may at its discretion approve an alternative course of study or an alternative educational institution in circumstances where the first preference has not resulted in an acceptance.
Selection
The Scholarship Selection Committee will invite shortlisted candidates to a personal interview, and, except in exceptional circumstances, no candidate shall be selected without such interview.
In selecting the successful candidate(s) the Committee will have regard to (among other things) scholastic ability, the nature of the intended research, and its compatibility with the New Zealand Law Foundation's wider objectives.
No scholarship shall be awarded if the Scholarship Selection Committee shall be of the opinion that there is no candidate of sufficient merit offering for the same.
Constitution of Scholarship Selection Committee
The award of every New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship shall be made by a Scholarship Selection Committee constituted as follows:
| (a) | Two Trustees of the New Zealand Law Foundation, or nominees | |
| (b) | Two persons of academic distinction appointed by the NZVCC, at least one of whom will be a professor of law. |
Payments
The scholarship is administered by the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee. Payments shall be made in such manner and on such conditions as shall be determined by the NZVCC.
Positions of Emolument
Every scholar shall be required to devote their whole time during the tenure of the scholarship to a programme of research or advanced study approved for the purpose by the Scholarship Selection Committee and may not hold a position of emolument except on such terms and conditions as the New Zealand Law Foundation may determine.
Reports
The New Zealand Law Foundation may at any time during the course of study request a progress report. Whenever requested, the holder of a New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship shall arrange for progress reports to be provided to the New Zealand Law Foundation or an administrative agent on behalf of the New Zealand Law Foundation, by the scholar's Head of Department, professor or other responsible officer of the university or institution at which the programme of research or advanced study is being pursued. The report will cover academic progress and will report generally as to conduct and ability and such other information as the New Zealand Law Foundation may require.
Suspension or Termination
The New Zealand Law Foundation may at any time suspend or terminate any scholarship, or require the forfeiture of such proportion of the scholarship emolument as it may determine, if it is satisfied that the scholar is not diligently pursuing the programme of research or advanced study or has failed to comply with any of the terms and conditions on which the scholarship was awarded; and a scholarship shall be terminated and no further payments shall be made if a scholar ceases to pursue the aforesaid programme.
Power to Vary
The New Zealand Law Foundation may, if it thinks fit, relax or modify the application of any of these regulations in any special circumstances or in order to avoid hardship to any scholar or candidate for a scholarship.