Completing the Application Form
If you find a scholarship that appeals to you and you are eligible to apply for it, complete the online application form before the application round closing date.
You will need to be logged into your social account (e.g. Google, Apple or Microsoft) and then you can access the online application form by following the link to ‘TeachNZ scholarship application form’ on the right hand of the scholarships home page.
Once you are logged in you will be taken to a web page with a number of questions with accompanying tick, text and attachment boxes. Work through the questions ensuring that you complete all of the required sections. To attach a file to the form, either drag and drop it in an attachment box, or click on the attachment box for options of files to attach.
Please upload your documents as PDFs or as Microsoft Office files, picture copies of documents will not be accepted.
If you want to save the progress of your online application form and return at a later date to complete it, you must not delete your browser history or cache. Once you return you can revisit the saved URL and your work should be saved. If you do delete your history or cache, your application will be discarded and you must start again.
Once you complete the application form and submitted it, we will send you an email to acknowledge we have received your application. Applications that are not supported by the correct documents will be considered incomplete.
We recommend your ask someone else to check your completed application before you send it to us. The Application Form is valid for people commencing or continuing study towards an approved teaching qualification in the 2024 academic year.
Please note: scholarship applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on the closing date. Applications received after this time will not be accepted.
The application form is divided into six sections
1. Scholarship Details
On the Application Form, tick the scholarship you are applying for. You may apply for more than one if you meet the eligibility criteria. For each scholarship you apply for you will have to complete a new application form.
Note: You can only be awarded one TeachNZ scholarship. If you have previously received a TeachNZ scholarship, and failed to meet the terms and conditions of that scholarship, you are not eligible to reapply.
2. Personal Details
Name and contact details
Proof of your name and date of birth
Please supply a certified copy of at least one of the following:
- passport
- birth certificate
- certificate of citizenship.
Please ensure you enter on the Application Form the name that your tertiary provider knows you by.
Proof of your name change (if applicable)
Please supply a certified copy of at least one of the following:
- marriage certificate
- deed poll document
- birth certificate (that shows name change).
Citizenship or residency status
Proof of your residency status
If you are a New Zealand citizen you need a certified copy of:
- your New Zealand passport (ID page) OR
- your New Zealand birth certificate OR
- your certificate of New Zealand citizenship.
If you are a permanent resident or you need certified copies of the following:
- your main passport ID page AND
- a passport page showing your indefinite New Zealand residency stamp and/or sticker or a certified copy of an e-visa.
Ethnicity
Please state your ethnicity. If you are Māori, please specify your iwi and/or hapu. Please be aware that this information may be used for statistical purposes.
3. Study plan
You must be enrolled, or planning to enrol, on an approved teaching qualification in 2023 to be eligible for a scholarship. To confirm you are studying, or planning to study, an approved programme refer to the eligible courses in this guide. The approved list of teaching qualifications has been provided to us by the Teaching Council. If you dispute the courses available, please contact a member of the TeachNZ team.
Enter the approved qualification you intend to study in 2023. We require to know your provider, the qualification code and the name of the qualification. All of this information can be taken from this guide or from the TeachNZ website.
You do not need to be enrolled at the time of applying unless you are applying for a Kupe scholarship. If you are offered a scholarship, we will ask you to confirm which qualification you are enrolling in.
Please also let us know what year you will be starting and if you want to start mid-year in 2023.
If applicable (often with graduate and secondary courses) please specify your junior and senior subjects.
4. Work and life experience (CV)
To give the selection panel a greater understanding of the qualifications you hold, your work history
(including voluntary work), community involvement (Eg. at the marae or church) and life experiences; please supply your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
To support your application, please provide certified evidence of at least one of the following:
- Your highest qualification
- Academic transcripts for any study you have undertaken
- Any work related certificates and awards you hold
If you are applying for a Te Huawhiti Career Changer or Te Waka Whakarei Career Changer scholarship you also need to provide details and proof of your current and previous paid employment. Please also provide certified evidence of at least one of the following:
- Reference(s)
- a signed letter from your employer
- certificate of service
- current payslips
What documents are required as proof of my qualifications?
A4-size certified photocopies of one of the following:
- official certificate of the qualification
- official academic transcript (results)
- New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) assessment
- letter from recognised New Zealand tertiary provider.
Your documented proof must include every year of study.
What if my academic transcript shows I have failed some papers?
You may provide reasons for this if you wish.
What do I do if I have overseas qualifications?
You must get them assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) before sending us your application. You can apply to get your overseas qualifications assessed at www.nzqa.govt.nz or by contacting NZQA on 0800 697 296. All papers must be translated into English.
NZQA will take several weeks to assess these.
What are equivalent qualifications?
Equivalent qualifications are ones that are considered the same level on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
For example, New Zealand’s National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2 is equivalent to sixth form certificate.
What do I do if have lost my qualifications?
Lost qualifications must be replaced so certified copies can be provided with your application. It is your responsibility to contact the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or your Tertiary Education Provider to request copies.
5. Criteria Assessment
Your personal statement allows you to express what kind of person you are, your characteristics, cultural competencies, your experiences and your skills that will add value to the education workforce and the lives of children.
The criteria you will be assessed on:
Relationship and engagement skills (max score 10)
Effective engagement with the learner, parents, families, and their communities are a significant contributor to improving student outcomes. Please provide information on:
- Your characteristics, experiences and skills that will add value to the education workforce and children’s lives
- Your ability to effectively engage and build relationships with youth, learners, families, and your community
Provide examples demonstrating:
- How you’ve built and build effective relationships with Māori and Pacific communities
- Work experience in Māori Medium and/or Pacific immersion settings
- Work experience in any sector
Leadership (max score 20)
Provide a statement that describes the necessary skills, attributes and qualities required in a leader and your experiences in leading and working with young people. Research shows that great teachers can motivate and influence others. You will be scored on your demonstration of your ability and experience in influencing others to act.
Motivations (max score of 20)
Although leadership qualities are closely linked with motivations, what we are looking for is your motivations to go into teaching and in the subject or sector you have chosen. The following you will be scored on:
- How will your passion for your chosen sector/subject/s shape our future generation (10)
- Why did you decide to become a teacher and what are key elements that make a good teacher (10)
Communication skills (5)
A great teacher can make their classroom a place where students want to be. They can communicate complex concepts at a level that every student can grasp. They can be the difference between a student loving school and a student wishing they could skip their class. You will be scored on:
- General behaviour – professional, courteous?
- Communication Skills: communicates clearly and confidently.
- Personality: able to get on with others, humour, adaptable.
- Ambassador: will you represent Aotearoa and new Zealand’s education system well.
Language proficiency / cultural competency and capability (max score 10)
For scholarships with a language requirement (Māori Medium Primary, Te Reo Secondary, ECE Māori and Pacific languages) you will be scored on your overall proficiency.
For all other scholarships you will be scored on your ability and commitment to recognising the importance of achieving correct pronunciation of Māori and Pacific languages and your desire to improve existing levels of proficiency.
This statement must have a referee to support what you say in the statement. We or the selection panel may contact them.
Communication skills (5)
A great teacher can make their classroom a place where students want to be. They can communicate complex concepts at a level that every student can grasp. They can be the difference between a student loving school and a student wishing they could skip their class. You will be scored on:
- General behaviour – professional, courteous.
- Communication Skills: communicates clearly and Confidently.
- Personality: able to get on with others, humour, adaptable.
- Ambassador: will you represent Aotearoa and new Zealand’s education system well.
Language proficiency / cultural competency and capability (max score 10)
For scholarships with a language requirement (Māori Medium Primary, Te Reo Secondary, ECE Māori and Pacific languages) you will be scored on your overall proficiency.
For all other scholarships you will be scored on your ability and commitment to recognising the importance of achieving correct pronunciation of Māori and Pacific languages and your desire to improve existing levels of proficiency.
6. Applicant declaration and checklist
Read each of the declaration statements (including the privacy statement).
You will be asked to endorse them by ticking a confirmation box. If you do not sign the declaration,
your application can not be considered.
Use the checklist to ensure you have attached certified copies of all the relevant documents to your application.
Privacy Statement
The Ministry of Education uses the information collected in this application form to:
- Consider your application for a TeachNZ Scholarship
- Administer your scholarship, if your application is successful.
For these purposes the Ministry of Education may share your application with the selection panel; may seek to verify relevant parts of your application with your tertiary provider; may contact your named referees to discuss your application including the information you have provided; and if your application is successful, your details will be shared with StudyLink and may be shared with the Inland Revenue Department.
The Ministry of Education may also use information for statistical and research purposes. Individuals will not be identified in any reports arising from such purposes.
You have the right to access your personal information provided as part of this application, including any referee contact details provided, and to request correction of anything that you think is incorrect
Apendix 1 (Kupe Applicants)
Kupe Tertiary declaration and family tree
Kupe applicants are required to ask their tertiary provider to complete a tertiary provider declaration to confirm that you are enrolled in a programme and meets the criteria.
In addition, Kupe applicants are to submit family tree or whakapapa and must be endorsed by a leader of your community to confirm you are of that cultural group.