Government Boarding Bursary information and criteria

Information

Boarding Bursary

Bursaries are awarded according to the School Boarding Bursaries Regulations 1972. Students are eligible who have to live away from home to attend school, provided that:

1. the applicant's home meets the distance criteria (see below);
2. there is no transport service which the applicant could reasonably be expected to use to attend school;
3. the attendance, progress and conduct of the student are satisfactory;
4. the student is not receiving any other Government bursary, scholarship or grant for educational purposes. Please contact the Ministry of Education if you are unsure. Phone 04-463 7695 or email boarding.bursaries@minedu.govt.nz.

Where the applicant is boarding privately, payment will be made by the Ministry of Education through the school board of trustees to the parent or authorised agent.

Where the applicant is boarding at the school hostel, payment will be made to the school board of trustees.

Payment will be made retrospectively at the end of each school term.

Deductions will be made for non-approved absences from school.

Travel assistance for students eligible for boarding bursaries

A refund may be made for the cost of travelling at the beginning and end of each term between home and the place of board where the cost is in excess of $10.00 per term.

This assistance is available on the following basis:

1. For students attending state schools - assessed on the distance between the home and the nearest state boarding school;
2. For students attending private schools - assessed on the distance between home and the nearest state boarding school or;
3. Private boarding school of the student's denomination, which ever is the nearest.

Assistance is payable based on public transport fares where available. Where no public transport fares are available, the assistance will be determined according to the current rate per kilometre. Please contact the Ministry of Education if you require confirmation of the current rate. Phone 04-463 7695 or email boarding.bursaries@minedu.govt.nz.

Privacy Act 1993

The information your provide on the application form will only be used by the Ministry of Education for the purpose of awarding a boarding bursary.

Criteria

There are three different types of boarding bursaries

1. School Boarding Bursaries

You are eligible for a School Boarding Bursary if you are a primary or secondary school student who meets the following distance criteria:

• a student under 10 years who lives 3.2 kilometres or more from the nearest state school or from the nearest bus stop, OR
• a student who is 10 years or older who lives 4.8 kilometres or more from the nearest state school or from the nearest bus stop.

Boarding bursaries may also be awarded to assist students who are seriously at risk in their educational, social or emotional development because of continuing, unsatisfactory features in their home or social environment.

2. Secondary School Bursaries

You are eligible for a Secondary Schools Bursary if you are a year 12 or a year 13 student who cannot obtain tuition in approved subjects at your local school.

3. Secondary School Technical Bursaries

You are eligible for a Secondary School Technical Bursary if you are a year 10 or a year 11 student who cannot obtain tuition in an agriculture or workshop subject at your local school.

Contact details

For more information about the Government Boarding Bursaries scheme, contact the Ministry of Education National office:

Phone (04) 463-7695.
Email boarding.bursaries@minedu.govt.nz

Ethnic codes (to complete ethnicity question)

Apply online or download the form from the Boarding Bursary application form page.