Bonded Merit Scholarship
The Bonded Merit Scholarship recognises academic achievement in a student's first year of a bachelor degree. From the second year of study a Bonded Merit Scholarship pays a maximum of $3,000 per year for course fees for up to four years, or $12,000 (over unlimited years) if you're approved limited full-time status.
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Bonded Merit Scholarship
From 2010 the Bonded Merit Scholarship is no longer available. This means that 2009 was the last year these awards could be made.
However, students who had already been awarded a Bonded Merit Scholarship continue to be entitled to receive their scholarship, as long as they continue to meet the Terms and Conditions of their scholarship.
How much you can get
The Bonded Merit Scholarship will pay up to $3,000 towards your compulsory fees each year for up to four years, or a maximum of $12,000 (over unlimited years) if you're approved limited full-time status. It will be paid directly to your education provider.
Terms and Conditions of the scholarship
The Bonded Merit Scholarship has certain Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions are applicable for the tenure of your scholarship. However, as part of the changes to the Bonded Merit Scholarship scheme, the Government has also decided to relax some of the Terms and Conditions of the Bonded Merit Scholarship.
We recommend you review the original Terms and Conditions of your scholarship taking into account the changes below. Make sure you review the Terms and Conditions relevant to the year in which you were awarded a scholarship.
Changes to Terms and Conditions of the Bonded Merit Scholarship
Bonding
The Government has removed your bond obligations. This means:
- If you have gained the qualification that your scholarship was paid for and are currently bonded, you can leave New Zealand without having to repay any of your scholarship.
- If you are currently studying to complete the qualification your scholarship has been awarded for, you won’t have an obligation to remain in New Zealand once you gain your qualification.
However, if you travel overseas while studying and this travel breaches the Terms and Conditions for continuing eligibility to the scholarship, you may lose your right to any future scholarship payments.
Repayment
The Government has also removed other repayment requirements in your scholarship agreement. This means that, if you breach any of the Terms and Conditions of your scholarship (with the exception of fraud), you won’t have to repay what’s already been paid. However, you might lose any entitlement to future scholarship payments, depending on the reason for the breach.
Postponement
The Government has removed the need for there to be special circumstances before we can approve a postponement of your scholarship. This means that you can apply for a postponement of your scholarship for any reason.
Your responsibilities
If you get a Bonded Merit Scholarship there are certain obligations you have to meet while you're studying.
Some changes in your circumstances may also impact on your ability to keep getting the Scholarship, so it's important you're familiar with these and that you talk to us if anything changes or you have any questions.
How we calculate your grade average
To ensure grades are calculated fairly, we use an EFTS weighted formula to assess ongoing entitlement to the Bonded Merit Scholarship. This uses information provided to StudyLink each year by the Ministry of Education, detailing the EFTS values for each paper.
For students who are awarded a Bonded Merit Scholarship, the same formula is used.
Each grade (A, B- etc) has a numeric value:
| Grade | Grade Value |
| A+, A++ | 9 |
| A | 8 |
| A- | 7 |
| B+ | 6 |
| B | 5 |
| B- | 4 |
| C+ | 3 |
| C | 2 |
| C- | 1 |
If your results are shown differently (for example your education provider shows results as a ‘Pass’ or a percentage mark), we’ll contact them to determine what the equivalent grade is.
The grade value for each paper is multiplied by its EFTS value. This is then divided by your total EFTS to give a Grade Value Average. For example:
| Paper | EFTS | Grade | Grade Value | EFTS x Grade |
| MATH101 | 0.200 | A | 8 | 1.6 |
| PHYS101 | 0.200 | A- | 7 | 1.4 |
| CHEM101 | 0.200 | B | 5 | 1 |
| PSYC101 | 0.175 | B | 5 | 0.875 |
| ENGL 101 | 0.150 | B- | 4 | 0.6 |
| Total | 0.925 | 5.475 |
In the above example the student’s grade is calculated as shown:
• (EFTS x Grades) / (Total EFTS) = Grade Value Average
or
• 5.475 / 0.925 = 5.92
This gives the student a 'B' average (as shown in the table above, a grade of 5 equates to a B). This student is then eligible to continue to receive the Bonded Merit Scholarship.
