New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS) is the New Zealand
Government Scholarship program administered by New Zealand’s
International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID).
The purpose of the New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS)
scheme is for awardees to gain knowledge and skills that will
contribute to their home country’s human resource development
needs.
NZDS in Cambodia
The NZDS program was introduced in Cambodia in 2005 under an
agreement with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) as
part of the New Zealand bilateral development cooperation
program.
In the 2010 selection round, New Zealand is offering up to ten
scholarships, of which five are NZDS-Public category and five are
NZDS-Open category scholarships.
- NZDS-Public scholarships are for government officials of
Cambodia who have a minimum three years work experience with the
Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and are currently employed by
the RGC.
- NZDS-Open scholarships are offered to people in the
private/civil sector or NGOs who have a minimum three years
relevant work experience in Cambodia.
When and How to Apply for Cambodia
Eligibility Criteria
- be a citizen of Cambodia and be residing in Cambodia
- be 35 years or younger at the time of application
- hold a Bachelors degree, of strong academic merit, relevant to
the proposed postgraduate qualification (Note: NZAID gives
preference to candidates who do not already hold a graduate degree
from an industrialised country)
- have worked at least two years in Cambodia since completing
highest qualification
- be applying to commence a new qualification (not seeking
support for one already commenced)
- not hold a qualification at a similar level, or in a similar
field of study at a similar level (i.e. applicants should apply for
a higher level qualification than previously achieved)
- satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand education
institution in which the qualification is to be undertaken,
including English language criteria *
- NZDS-Public applicants must have a minimum three years work
experience with, and be currently employed by, the Royal Government
of Cambodia
- NZDS-Open applicants must have a minimum three years relevant
work experience in Cambodia
- not have citizenship or permanent residence status for New
Zealand, Australia or another developed country, or be married or
engaged to be married to a person who holds, or who is eligible to
hold, New Zealand or Australian citizenship or permanent residence
status
- not hold or have held a New Zealand Government or Australian
Government scholarship in the preceding 24 months at the time of
application (excluding previous NZAID English Language Training for
Officials scholarship recipients)
- have a minimum IELTS (Academic) result of 5.5 overall, with no
band less than 5.0 *
- be available to take up the scholarship in the calendar year
for which the scholarship is offered
*
Some candidates may be provided IELTS testing following
interview
In addition, applicants must:
- have an appropriate work background for the anticipated field
of study
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to Cambodia’s public
sector and/or private and/or community sector (as relevant) and to
the development of Cambodia in general
- satisfy New Zealand Government requirements for international
student entry to New Zealand (medical and character checks
etc.)
- not hold any other scholarship during the period of the
NZAID-funded scholarship
- in being offered and accepting an NZDS award, agree in writing
that they will return to Cambodia to take up a position that
utilises their study skills for a minimum period of two years
Officials from government agencies involved in NZAID projects
are encouraged to apply.
Successful candidates who do not hold the required IELTS result
to commence postgraduate study in New Zealand (usually 6.5 with no
band less than 6) must undertake pre-departure training for up to
nine months in Cambodia prior to tertiary studies in New
Zealand.
Female and provincial applicants, applicants from
minority and disadvantaged groups are strongly encouraged to
apply.
Successful NZDS candidates may be required to undertake
pre-departure training for up to nine months in Cambodia prior to
tertiary studies in New Zealand.
Length and Level of Study
New Zealand Development Scholarships are for full-time,
multi-year postgraduate study at the Graduate Diploma or Masters
level in New Zealand.
Field of Study
In line with New Zealand’s country strategy for Cambodia,
scholarships will be awarded in the following priority sectors:
- Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, water resource management,
environment and natural resources, rural development, bio-security
(quarantine, phytosanitaion), development studies, food science,
veterinary studies
- Sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, tourism management
- Law, justice, legal and judicial reform, human/gender rights,
social work
- Trade policy, international trade, economics,
business
- Public sector development, public policy, public
management
- Governance
- Health
- Education
English Training Stipend
In recognition that some students will be required to undertake
full-time pre-departure training in Cambodia prior to postgraduate
studies in New Zealand, the New Zealand Government pays a stipend
to all candidates who undertake prescribed pre-course training.
Scholarship Entitlements
The NZDS scheme covers tuition and orientation fees, an economy
return airfare, a basic living allowance (including accomodation
expenses), and medical and travel insurance. Assistance provided
for some course-related costs, and a dependents' allowance may be
provided for students with study programs 18 months or longer.
Scholarship Conditions
Applicants who are offered the NZDS scholarship will be asked to
sign a statement declaring that they will comply with the
conditions of the scholarship:
- full-time study of the approved program
- satisfactory academic progress
- compliance with education institution regulations and NZAID’s
scholarship conditions
- compliance with New Zealand law as it applies to any agreement
between awardees and the New Zealand Government
- acceptance that the scholarship may be withdrawn by NZAID where
awardees fail to comply with scholarship conditions
- return to home country for a minimum period of two years within
14 days of the completion date of the scholarship
Applications
Applications are to be submitted at IDP Education. Applications
close 12:00 noon, 18 March 2010.
Additional Information
For further information on NZDS scholarships, please contact IDP
Education (Cambodia) within the ACE building at No. 46, Street 214,
Sangkat Boeung Raing, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel:(855 23) 212 113
(855 23) 215 227
Fax:(855 23) 426 608
Email: nzds.phnompenh@idp.com