Not-for-profit scholarship

The scholarship will cover the student’s domestic tuition fees for one year for the Graduate Diploma.

Before applying to the Polytechnic for the scholarship, the applicant must have their not-for-profit status pre-approved by the Authority.

Applicants wishing to apply for a scholarship must apply to the Authority for pre-approval. The Authority will undertake to assess this pre-approval within two months, only where all information requested is provided upfront.

Criteria for pre-approval of not-for-profit status

Applicants must be employees of, or volunteers working for, an organisation operating on a not-for-profit basis.

A not-for-profit organisation is:

• An organisation in its own right
• One that does not return profits to those who own or control it
• One that does not charge more than a nominal fee for services provided
• Institutionally separate from government
• Self-governing
• One that has voluntary membership and participation
• One that does not have a commercial purpose or interest

How to apply

Applicants will need to apply to the Authority requesting pre-approval of their not-for-profit status for the purpose of applying for the Polytechnic’s not-for-profit scholarship. They will need to provide the following information to the Authority for consideration:

• Completed Form 501: Not-For-Profit Recognition Application.
• Full name and contact details of an authorised officer of the organisation who can verify the information supplied by the applicant.
• A letter signed by an official, on the letterhead of the organisation the applicant works or volunteers for, dated within the last month, confirming that the applicant intends to provide immigration advice on a not-for-profit basis (when licensed) and confirming the applicant’s role and responsibilities within the organisation.
• A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Constitution or other founding documents of the organisation.
• A copy of the certificate of incorporation for the organisation (if applicable).
• A copy of the last annual report or financial accounts for the organisation.

If the application is approved by the Authority, the applicant may then apply to the Polytechnic for the scholarship in the next available intake.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

To be eligible for consideration for the award of the scholarship, applicants must provide the Polytechnic with:

• Proof of NZ Citizenship/Residence
• Proof of acceptance as either a full-time or part-time student in the Graduate Diploma in Immigration Advice L7
• Pre-approval of not-for-profit status by the Immigration Advisers Authority
• Career goals including intention to continue to work in the not for profit sector
• Indications of financial need.

Te Pūkenga |Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology website(external link) has more information on the scholarships.