Scholarships
Learn more about scholarships available to Speech New Zealand candidates.
Scholarships are offered based on grades, diploma and locations, or candidates can be nominated for excellence awards by their examiners.
Scholarships & Awards
Learn more about available scholarships
Grade scholarships
Closing date for applications is 31 December annually. Recipients will be notified by mid-February of the following year.
Please note: Scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply for a scholarship the following year.
Candidates applying for the below grade scholarships should apply through the website by going to: Apply Now
Grade Six |
Must have been awarded Honours or above for all modules to apply. | $200.00 |
Grade Seven |
Must have been awarded Honours or above for all modules to apply. | $250.00 |
Grade Eight |
Must have been awarded Honours or above for all modules to apply. | 350.00 to be paid to each recipient |
The Ciara O'Donnell Award for Grade Eight Speech and Drama OR Grade Eight Public Speaking and Communication | For students who have completed Grade 8. Any student completing grade 8 may apply for the annual draw. A single award will be awarded for Speech and Drama and a single award for Public Speaking and Communication. As a past student of Mary Flaherty, Ciara O'Donnell has established this award for students who have completed their Grade 8. Some of Ciara’s fondest memories of her time at Speech are of Mary’s annual after-exam afternoon teas and gas bags, which acknowledge the support and friendship of Mary (and all teachers) beyond the classroom. | $100 paid to the recipient $50.00 paid to the teacher for the student and teacher to share afternoon tea together. |
Diploma scholarships
Closing date for applications is 31 December annually. Recipients will be notified by mid-February of the following year.
Please note: Scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply for a scholarship the following year.
Candidates applying for the below grade scholarships should apply through the website by going to: Apply Now
Speech New Zealand Scholarship | Founders’ Scholarship | Award | ||
A scholarship will be awarded to an ASB candidate (either ASB or ASB advanced) who has completed their diploma and gained a distinction pass in all three practical modules.
Examiner-nominated awards
Entries are nominated by examiners and scholarships are offered annually. Please note: Scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply for a scholarship the following year.
Grade Five Speech and Drama | Free entry into Grade Six | |
| |
After first establishing this scholarship in 2021, the Balch family wish to rename the scholarship in honour of Helen to acknowledge the passion and dedication Helen gave Speech New Zealand. |
| |
To ensure an equitable opportunity, candidates whose reports are noted as displaying excellence in this area are submitted for an annual draw. |
|
|
Aotearoa Wide
Location Based Scholarships
Speech New Zealand and Geyser Community Foundation Scholarships
Available to Rotorua and Taupō residents only who want to enroll for Speech New Zealand examinations towards any of the following qualifications:
Associate of Speech New Zealand in Speech and Drama Performance
Associate of Speech New Zealand in Public Speaking and Communication Performance
Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand in Speech and Drama Performance
Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand in Speech and Drama Teaching
Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand in Public Speaking and Communication Performance
Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand in Public Speaking and Communication Teaching
Recipients are awarded scholarships to cover the Speech New Zealand examination fees for the three modules of Associate of Speech New Zealand or the four theory papers of Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand. Examination fees will be reimbursed on successful completion of each module.
Recipients who successfully complete their Associate of Speech New Zealand are welcome to apply for a scholarship to complete their Advanced Associate of Speech New Zealand.
Applicants who have already completed up to two modules towards Associate of Speech New Zealand are also eligible and will receive the examination fee for the modules that they have completed as well as for the modules they still have to complete. All payments of the scholarships will be made by direct credit to the scholarship holders' bank accounts.
Up to four scholarships are available each year.
The successful applicants will be required to be available for promotional interviews for the Geyser Community Foundation and for Speech New Zealand and information about their scholarships will be used in promotional material for the two organisations.
The successful candidates will be selected by a committee of the Board of Speech New Zealand.
How to apply:
To apply for a scholarship, please send a letter to info@speechnz.co.nz giving:
your name and contact details including your email address
the name of your speech teacher and your school, if applicable
your performance in previous Speech New Zealand examinations
your career ambitions and the ways in which your speech training will help you.
Rotorua Civic Arts Trust Scholarship
Awarded in the Rotorua examination centre to students who have been nominated by the examiners during the three tours held in Rotorua each year.
At the end of the year a selection is made of a Senior and Junior student from the nominations made.
Otago Speech Communication Scholarship
Applications for these scholarships close on 31 December.
This scholarship is available for students from the Otago region who want to enrol for Speech New Zealand examinations towards any of the following qualifications:
Licentiate of Speech NZ in Speech and Drama in Teaching Diploma
Licentiate of Speech NZ in Public Speaking and Communication in Teaching Diploma
The successful applicant will receive a $200 discount towards one module of their Licentiate.
The scholarship recipient will have two years to enter an appropriate module of their choosing.
Note: Applicants from other learning establishments are welcome to apply but their licentiate examinations must be taken with Speech New Zealand. The successful applicant will be required to conduct interviews and information about their scholarship will be used in promotional material. The successful candidate will be selected by a committee of the Board of Speech New Zealand.
How to apply
To apply for a scholarship, please send a letter to info@speechnz.co.nz giving:
your name and contact details including your email address
the name of your speech teacher and your school, if applicable
your performance in previous Speech New Zealand examinations or equivalent training establishment
your career ambitions and the ways in which your speech training will help you
