Background Information:
The purpose of the scholarship for athletes is to enable emerging and talented New Zealanders to concurrently pursue tertiary study and elite level sport development.

Support through the Programme includes:

• Providing advice to assist recipients to effectively manage their lives in the pursuit of excellence;
• Financial contribution to academic fees and a financial contribution to living costs (if eligible).

Types of study / Qualifications
Athletes may enrol in any tertiary and vocational qualification that appears on the New Zealand register of Qualify assured qualifications found at www.kiwiquals.co.nz These qualifications have been approved by the relevant quality assurance body (New Zealand Qualifications Authority Committee on University Academic programmes or Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality).  Exceptions can be made by the NZAS for pre-requisite and co-requisite for a quality-assured qualification.

Scholarships will only be provided for study at an education provider that is registered in New Zealand and whose qualifications appear on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.  Exceptions may be made by NZAS for PEG's or Level 1 carded athletes.   

2009 Eligibility Criteria:
The applicant must satisfy all of the following criteria:

A) Be capable of impacting SPARC's High Performance mission, "More New Zealanders winning on the world stage".  Any athlete from any sport may be able to impact this mission.  Carded athletes in the supported sports and athletes receiveing PEG's are alrady recognised as being able to impact SPARC's High Performance mission.

B)  Submit a complete application
C)  Be endorsed by their NSO leading up to and during the scholarship
D)  Have met all athlete requirements whilst studying under scholarship in the previous 12 months, unless the NZAS agrees otherwise (athletes re-applying for a scholarship only)

The NSO (National Sporting Organisation) must satisfy all of the following criteria:

A)  Have no outstanding requirements in any of the four Prime Minister's Scholarship Programmes