The Milford Foundation today announced the establishment of a scholarship scheme that will enable school leavers facing cost and other barriers to enroll in tertiary study in New Zealand.

The Milford Foundation Scholarship’s purpose is to help reduce inequality in access to tertiary education.

Up to twelve scholarships will be offered in 2023, worth up to $10,000 each annually.

To help promote the inaugural Milford Foundation Scholarship, this year’s Sunday Star-Times short story competition, sponsored for the second year running by the Foundation, will include a new category for secondary school writers. The winning writer in this category will receive prize money of $1,500.

For the tertiary study scholarships, the Foundation intends to select two applicants from each of the following six regions: Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Auckland.

Successful candidates will receive a flexible support package up to a value of $10,000 annually for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study, at a New Zealand university or other tertiary institution.

This funding is intended to help the students cover various costs associated with their study: fees, living costs, course materials, accommodation, and travel.

“The Milford Foundation scholarship programme focuses on school leavers who ordinarily might face cost and other barriers to embarking on further study,” said Milford Foundation Chief Executive Bryce Marsden.

“As an example, at one South Island high school the principal has already identified an ideal recipient for a Foundation scholarship. This student is a top academic but is also living alone and paying for living costs via a student benefit as her mother has significant health issues.

“Unfortunately, there are so many other stories like this throughout New Zealand. For the Milford Foundation to have the ability to change the lives of talented youth that might not ordinarily ever have this opportunity feels like a pretty fantastic initiative.”

Established in 2021, the Milford Foundation was born from a desire to make a significant positive impact on our communities, and to help build a stronger New Zealand.

Already, in its first sixteen months of operation, the Foundation has provided funding of $1.56m with a further $1.65m committed.

“Supporting youth and education are key areas of focus for us and that’s why we are allocating significant funding to the scholarship programme in its early years,” said Bryce Marsden.

The Foundation will work with principals in selected regions to help identify candidates and an announcement on the inaugural scholarship winners will be made in December. Twelve scholarships will be awarded in the scheme’s first year, rising to 20 annually over future years.

Preference will be given to students who face financial barriers to higher study and demonstrate strong academic potential.

Other selection criteria are set out on the Milford Foundation’s website.

“As the first scholarships are put in place, we look forward to getting to know these young New Zealanders and supporting them as their studies and careers advance,” said Mr Marsden.

Contact: Bryce Marsden, Chief Executive, 021 822 702