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To encourage and promote professional development for Far North students, the Top Energy Scholarship Programme provides a one-off payment of $10,000 for a Far North school leaver wishing to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
The programme is open to school leavers intending to study at the beginning of the year following application, at the Universities of Waikato, Auckland or Canterbury, and will cover relevant holiday work where possible.
Subject to successfully completing the relevant degree, Top Energy may offer permanent employment.
The student must have a genuine interest and passion to study in the engineering field and continue working in that field upon completion of their studies.
Student eligibility
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants need to meet the following criteria:
- Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand who normally resides in the Far North, in Top Energy's lines distribution area.
- Be a school leaver intending to enrol in a four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree (Honours).
- Have achieved academic success (performed well in NCEA Level 3, IB or Cambridge examinations).
Students may hold other scholarships, prizes or awards, but these must be disclosed to the judging panel. Students planning on undertaking a gap year between years of study may not apply.
The application process
Applications for sponsorship commencing in the following academic year close in October in the year preceding the first year of tenure.
Applications must be accompanied by:
- A certified birth certificate and/or passport copy
- A recent passport-sized photograph
- A current CV (outlining academic achievement and any extracurricular science, engineering or technology activities)
- A certified copy of your latest academic transcript
- Details which demonstrate leadership and creative skills
- A signed endorsement from a referee
- A personal statement (no more than 1,000 words) outlining why you want to study engineering, future plans on completion of this degree and why this Scholarship is needed.
You can download an application form at the bottom of this page, or apply online below.
The selection process
A committee comprising the General Manager Network, an HR Advisor and a member of the Top Energy Management Team will review the applications. The candidates will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Academic ability based on your latest academic record.
- Cultural and sporting participation and achievement
- Community service and school contribution
- General character
- Motivation to study and succeed
Short-listed candidates will be contacted by telephone or email and required to attend an interview (or a tele-interview, depending on the circumstances) with the Committee. Candidates who are not short-listed will be informed by email that they have not progressed to the next stage of the application process.
The successful candidate will be notified in writing that they have been selected for a scholarship. The decision of the Committee will be final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. The Committee may refrain from awarding a scholarship if, in their opinion, there is no suitable candidate.
Terms and conditions
Applicants offered a Scholarship must formally accept the offer by signing a Contract drawn up by Top Energy. The holding of the scholarship will be conditional on the student being enrolled in a full-time programme at the University of Auckland, Waikato or Canterbury. Scholarship recipients who do not return for the second semester will be required to partially repay the scholarship on a pro-rated basis. The Scholarship may not be deferred unless there are exceptional circumstances, the approval of which will reside solely with Top Energy.
Top Energy may, at any time, suspend or terminate the Scholarship or require the partial repayment of the scholarship amount if the scholarship recipient does not diligently pursue their programme of study, has violated the University Statue of Conduct, or has failed to comply with any of the terms and conditions on which the scholarship was awarded.
The scholarship recipient may be required to contribute to Top Energy’s Community Sponsorship programme by participating in functions, prize givings or other events, including education scholarships.
Top Energy will endeavour to provide the scholarship recipient (upon their request) with a mentor to assist them through their programme of study. Assistance may also be provided at the discretion of Top Energy by the provision of employment both during vacations and on completion of the Honours degree study (offers of employment).
Payment of funds
Payment will be made in one instalment by direct credit to the student’s bank account as soon as practicable after the student has complied with the terms and conditions of the scholarship and disclosed any information requested.
Downloadable Application Form
Design and passion
Lauren Harrell, the latest recipient of Top Energy’s Engineering Scholarship is on a fast track to success
Find out more