Prizes and scholarships
The School of Social and Cultural Studies has prizes and scholarships available for students who show academic excellence.
Scholarships specific to our students
C. Wright Mills Scholarship in Criminology
The scholarship is open to graduates of any university in New Zealand or of the University of the South Pacific, who are enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time, in a Masters by thesis or a PhD in Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington.
Sir Lloyd Geering Scholarship in Religion
This scholarship is open to students who are enrolled, or are intending to enrol, in a Master’s or PhD degree in Religious Studies at at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.
Scholarships in development
Religious Studies Scholarship Fund
As part of the 50th anniversary of the Religious Studies programme at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington, the Religious Studies Programme is fundraising to establish and provide annual funding for two new scholarships.
- Sir Lloyd Geering Scholarship in Religion (postgraduate)
- Paul Morris Scholarship in Religious Diversity and Inclusion (undergraduate)
School Prizes
Jim Robb Memorial Prize in Sociology
Awarded to the student or students majoring in Sociology and completing their qualification in Sociology with the highest overall grades in their 200- and 300-level Sociology papers.
Joan Metge Prize in Anthropology
Awarded to a student majoring in Cultural Anthropology for the most outstanding essay submitted as part of the course work of a 200- or 300-level Cultural Anthropology course.
John Robson Prize in Criminology
Awarded to the best student completing an Honours degree in Criminology.
Joyce Liew Chui Ha Chan Essay prize
Awarded for the best essay on a topic on Asian women completed by either a student who is o is completing their BA in the current year and plans to enrol in Honours in any of the programmes (Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, Criminology, or Religious Studies) in the School of Social and Cultural Studies in the following year, or who is completing a BA(Hons) in Cultural Anthropology or Sociology or Criminology or Religious Studies in the current year and who intends enrolling in a MA or PhD thesis in one of these subjects in the following year.
Other Scholarships and Awards
University Scholarships
Many other scholarships are available for students at Victoria University of Wellington, through the Scholarships Office.
The office maintains the Scholarships Database, a comprehensive searchable database listing all available scholarships with criteria, value, tenure and closing dates. Most application forms can be downloaded from this database. For best results when searching the database, keep the search terms broad.
The office also welcomes enquiries from students and staff. Please contact us by email or drop in to 10 Kelburn Parade between 8.00am and 4.30pm.
Some subject relevant university scholarships
Anstiss-Garland Charitable Trust Postgraduate Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship is to support postgraduate students studying social justice in areas relating to rehabilitation and restorative justice. Students from any course of study which focuses on social justice are eligible but students studying Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Law and Restorative Justice are encouraged to apply.
Buchanan Scholarship in New Zealand History and Society
This scholarship will be awarded to a student currently enrolled or intending to enrol in a full-time Master's by thesis at Victoria University of Wellington and undertaking or intending to undertake research in New Zealand's history, cultures and society.
David Philp Scholarship
The scholarship will be awarded to a student undertaking or intending to undertake their Master’s or PhD within an area of study related to identity management. This includes, but is not limited to information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, public services, human/social impacts, data privacy/integrity/security and international/global (i.e., NZ’s place in broader global context).
Glenys Wood Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
Laurie Cameron Scholarship
The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
Lydia Wevers Scholarship in New Zealand Studies supported by The Stout Trust
The scholarship shall be awarded annually to a part-time or full-time Master's by thesis student.and is intended to assist with costs associated with pursuing a Master’s research degree in any research topic related to New Zealand/Aotearoa.
Raye Freedman Scholarship in Holocaust Related Studies
This scholarship is open to all students working towards a Master's by thesis at Victoria University of Wellington in issues related to the Holocaust or its impacts in contemporary life
Sarah Anne Rhodes Research Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to women graduates of any university in New Zealand, or of any other university, who during the tenure of the scholarship will be studying at Victoria University of Wellington in a course leading to a higher degree, which includes research in some field related to the general purpose of teaching or promoting the knowledge of home or domestic sciences such as Sociology, Psychology, Education or Science among the women of New Zealand.
Community Scholarships
There are many scholarships and awards offered to individuals through community groups. These are searchable through a database called givME. This is available through the library catalogue which includes instructions on how to access it.