Prime Minister's Scholarships

The scholarship scheme also helps retiring athletes move smoothly into another career once their sporting careers have ended.

• A financial contribution towards academic fees (up to a maximum of $10,000 per year including GST if applicable)
• A financial contribution towards other study costs (up to a maximum of $5,000 (Athlete) and $1,000 (Athlete Gold) per year including GST if applicable), referred to as the Study Support Allowance (SSA), which may include living expenses, study expenses (for example, exam-related fees), and books.

NSOs may in partnership with HPSNZ stipulate and earlier closing date however this will be no later than 30 November.

Applications for the secondary intake close 5pm, 31 May and are by invitation only and are for the purpose of education in the second 6-month period of the current academic year (note that the secondary intake is subject to available Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme funds).

Contact your Performance Life Coaching Advisor (if you have one) if you are intending on applying for a scholarship. A completed study plan is compulsory for all applicants and must be signed off by your Performance Life Coaching Advisor and endorsed by your NSO. If you do not have an Performance Life Coaching Advisor you are still required to submit your study plan with your application.

It is recommended that you complete a draft application to prepare you for the online submission process.

All scholarship related documents and access to the application portal can be found in the useful links section to the left of this page. Early applications for each intake are appreciated but will not be considered until after the closing date.

Applications are assessed and prioritised by a High Performance Sport NZ panel, comprised of people with skills in high performance programme management, scholarship management and performance services.

For more information relating to the Selection Criteria and Priorities please refer to schedule 1 of the programme guide.

This opportunity can assist athletes to sustain dual careers and explore options aligned to their interests and qualifications. Successful candidates will work with the Performance Life Coaching team to create an internship that suits them.

Priority will be given to athletes that have recently completed or are in the final year of their qualification/training. Refer to the PM Scholarship Guidelines for further details.

Step 3: Applicants may be invited to interview with the PM Scholarship Internship Panel as part of the application and matching process. This will take place 6-10th December.

Step 4: Successful applicants will be notified by the 23rd of December 2021.

Applications will be considered from:

• Coaches working with high performance athletes,
• Coaches working directly in high performance environments,
• NSO HP Leaders on behalf of coaches in their NSO,
• HPSNZ Coaching Team members on behalf of coaches from across a number of sports.

Applications must be explicitly endorsed by the relevant NSOs and a member of the HP Coaching Team.

• Individual – for projects that focus on individual professional development requirements.
• Group – for project that focus on two or more coaches who share a set of professional development requirements.

Applications will be considered from:

• Coaches working with high performance athletes,
• Coaches working directly in high performance environments,
• NSO HP Leaders on behalf of coaches in their NSO,
• HPSNZ Coaching Team members on behalf of coaches from across a number of sports.

Note: Applications must be explicitly endorsed by the relevant NSOs and a member of the HP Coaching Team.

Applicants must provide information on themselves and the specific professional development project being proposed. Applicants are also required to submit specific documentation in support of the application. All requirements must be met for the application to be considered.

All eligible applications are reviewed by a panel. The panel considers the relative merits of all proposed projects and reaches decisions on which will be approved, and which declined.

Examples of activities supported by the programme include:

• Multi-sport or cross-sport coach development initiatives, accreditation requirements, business coaching, mentoring, training, internships, conferences, study visits, observations at key sporting events, discussions on ‘best’ practice, on-the-job shadowing, participation in peer network activities, participation in international committees or working groups, peer review of professional work, travel, accommodation, incidentals and in some cases limited reimbursement for lost income.

Examples of activities not supported by the programme include:

• Sport coaching, membership fees for professional bodies or industry groups, or the purchase of any equipment associated with the applicant’s vocation, job role or as a requirement for the project.

Any project must be submitted through the online application portal.

All scholarship related documents and access to the application portal can be found in the useful links section to the left of this page. Early applications for each intake are appreciated but will not be considered until after the closing date.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should contact their NSO or HPSNZ in advance of their application as each organisation may have additional eligibility criteria.

Applications received throughout the year outside the stipulated intakes may only be considered at the discretion of HPSNZ on a case-by-case basis and if funds permit.

Applications are assessed by a HPSNZ assessment panel comprising a broad high performance skill set in areas such as: capability development, high performance programme management, high performance coaching.

For more information relating to the Selection Criteria and Priorities please refer to Schedules 1 & 2 of the programme guide.

Applications will be considered from:

• Support Team members working with high performance athletes,
• Support Team members working directly in high performance environments,
• NSO HP Leaders on behalf of support team members in their NSO,
• HPSNZ team leaders on behalf of support team members across a number of sports.

Applications must be explicitly endorsed by the relevant:

• NSOs,
• HPSNZ Performance Team Leaders, and
• Line managers.

• Individual – for projects that focus on individual professional development requirements.
• Group – for project that focus on two or more coaches who share a set of professional development requirements.

Scholarships are available to support team members so they can develop skills that add to New Zealand’s performance at the elite level.

Examples of activities supported by the programme include: multi-sport or cross-sport coach and leader development initiatives, accreditation requirements, business coaching, mentoring, training, internships, conferences, study visits, observations at key sporting events, discussions on ‘best’ practice, on-the-job shadowing, participation in peer network activities, participation in international committees or working groups, peer review of professional work, travel, accommodation, incidentals and in some cases limited reimbursement for lost income.

Scholarships do not support sport coaching, service delivery, membership fees for professional bodies or industry groups, or the purchase of any equipment associated with the applicant’s vocation, job role or as a requirement for the project.

Applicants must provide information on themselves and the specific professional development project being proposed. Applicants are also required to submit specific documentation in support of the application. All requirements must be met for the application to be considered.

All eligible applications are reviewed by a panel. The panel considers the relative merits of all proposed projects and reaches decisions on which will be approved, and which declined.

Examples of activities supported by the programme include:

• Multi-sport or cross-sport leader development initiatives, accreditation requirements, business coaching, mentoring, training, internships, conferences, study visits, observations at key sporting events, discussions on ‘best’ practice, on-the-job shadowing, participation in peer network activities, participation in international committees or working groups, peer review of professional work, travel, accommodation, incidentals and in some cases limited reimbursement for lost income.

Examples of activities not supported by the programme include:

• Service delivery, membership fees for professional bodies or industry groups, or the purchase of any equipment associated with the applicant’s vocation, job role or as a requirement for the project.

Any project must be submitted through the online application portal.

All scholarship related documents and access to the application portal can be found in the useful links section to the left of this page. Early applications for each intake are appreciated but will not be considered until after the closing date.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should contact their NSO or HPSNZ in advance of their application as each organisation may have additional eligibility criteria.

Applications received throughout the year outside the stipulated intakes may only be considered at the discretion of HPSNZ on a case-by-case basis and if funds permit.

Applications are assessed by a HPSNZ assessment panel comprising a broad high performance skill set in areas such as: capability development, high performance programme management, high performance coaching, technology, innovation, research, performance service provision, and athlete life service provision.

For more information relating to the Selection Criteria and Priorities please refer to Schedules 1 & 2 of the programme guide.

Applications will be considered from:

• Officials working with high performance athletes,
• Officials working directly in high performance environments,
• NSO Leaders on behalf of officials within their NSO,Applications must be explicitly endorsed by the applicants NSO.

Applicants must provide information on themselves and the specific professional development project being proposed. Applicants are also required to submit specific documentation in support of the application. All requirements must be met for the application to be considered.

All eligible applications are reviewed by a panel. The panel considers the relative merits of all proposed projects and reaches decisions on which will be approved, and which declined.

Examples of activities supported by the programme include:

• Multi-sport or cross-sport development initiatives, accreditation requirements, business coaching, mentoring, training, internships, conferences, study visits, observations at key sporting events, discussions on ‘best’ practice, on-the-job shadowing, participation in peer network activities, participation in international committees or working groups, peer review of professional work, travel, accommodation, incidentals and in some cases limited reimbursement for lost income.Examples of activities not supported by the programme include:

Service delivery, membership fees for professional bodies or industry groups, or the purchase of any equipment associated with the applicant’s vocation, job role or as a requirement for the project.

Any project must be submitted through the online application portal.

All scholarship related documents and access to the application portal can be found in the useful links section to the left of this page. Early applications are appreciated but will not be considered until after the closing date.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should contact their NSO or HPSNZ in advance of their application as each organisation may have additional eligibility criteria.

Applications received throughout the year outside the stipulated intakes may only be considered at the discretion of HPSNZ on a case-by-case basis and if funds permit.

Applications are assessed by a HPSNZ assessment panel comprising a broad high performance skill set in areas such as: capability development, high performance programme management, high performance coaching, technology, innovation, research, performance service provision, and athlete life service provision.

For more information relating to the Selection Criteria and Priorities please refer to Schedules 1 & 2 of the programme guide.