Area School Teachers' Study Award and Support Grant
Upskill and develop your teaching career with a study award or support grantArea School Teachers’ Study Award
An Area School Teachers’ Study Award gives you paid leave to complete part-time or full-time study in an educational priority area. It is a great opportunity to upskill and pursue an area of study you are interested in and passionate about. Each year, we offer 7 full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE) study leave opportunities, with 2 study awards reserved for studies in te reo Māori or Māori immersion learning.
Application period currently closed
Key study award information
- Complete a qualification.
- Improve an existing qualification.
- Study to obtain qualifications in a new or different curriculum or subject area.
- Undertake research or other study of relevance and value to education.
- Obtain practical knowledge and skill-related experience in your subject area.
To apply for an Area School Teachers' Study Award, you must be:
- employed under the Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement (ASTCA) or applicable individual employment agreement (IEA)
- permanently appointed
- a full-time or part-time teacher in a New Zealand state or state-integrated area school.
You cannot undertake a study award at the same time as being appointed to a Kāhui Ako | Community Teacher (across community/schools) role. However, you may apply for an award provided the study entitlement is only used once you have finished the Kāhui Ako | Community Teacher role.
Study plan
You will need to give details about the qualification you are intending to work towards. This includes the:
- name of this qualification
- tertiary institution
- level of qualification (NZQA)
- paper code(s)
- paper title(s)
- credits/points
Written statement
Describe your proposed study, purpose of study award and how this furthers the Ministry of Education’s priorities in education.
Benefits of study
Outline the benefits of the study or qualification to you personally and professionally, your students’ learning outcomes, your school, and the education sector, and how you might share your learning.
Recent study
Outline the recent study or professional learning you have done in the last 3 years and how this links to the application
Personal statement
Write a statement that includes how this study helps to address any major disadvantages you have experienced because of distance or professional isolation, the socio-economic status of your school or community, or specific requirements of your school.
You will have a 250-word limit to answer each question. You will also need to provide generic employment information.
Area School Teachers' Study Support Grant
A study support grant gives you a 4-hour time allowance per week so you can study or undertake research while continuing to teach. Each year, we offer 12 study support grants to fully registered area school teachers in state or state-integrated schools.
Application period currently closed
Key study support grant information
- A 0.16 full-time teaching equivalent (FTTE) is added to your school’s staffing entitlement for use during the year. This works out at around 4 hours per week depending on how you and your school structure your leave.
- You can apply for a reimbursement of up to NZD$500 toward your course fees, once you have successfully finished your course.
- When a course has time requirements (for example, a block course) the time allowance can be used flexibly in agreement with your school.
To apply for an Area School Teachers' Study Support Grant, you must:
- be employed under the Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement (ASTCA) or applicable individual employment agreement (IEA)
- be permanently appointed full or part-time teacher in a New Zealand state or state-integrated area school
- hold a full and current practising certificate.
Study plan
You will need to give details about the qualification you are intending to work towards. This includes the:
- name of this qualification
- tertiary institution
- level of qualification (NZQA)
- paper code(s)
- paper title(s)
- credits/points
Written statement
Describe your proposed study, purpose of study award and how this furthers the Ministry of Education’s priorities in education.
Benefits of study
Outline the benefits of the study or qualification to you personally and professionally, your students’ learning outcomes, your school, and the education sector, and how you might share your learning.
Recent study
Outline the recent study or professional learning you have done in the last three years and how this links to the application
Personal statement
Write a statement that includes how this study helps to address any major disadvantages you have experienced because of distance or professional isolation, the socio-economic status of your school or community, or specific requirements of your school.
You will have a 250-word limit to answer each question. You will also need to provide generic employment information.
Contact us
If you have any questions, we’re here to help.
Email: teacher.studyawards@education.govt.nz
Freephone: 0800 165 225
Looking for something else?
Try one of the links below.-
Ngā wā whakatā whakaako, ngā tohu ako me ngā tahua akoranga
Sabbaticals, study awards and study grants
We offer a range of sabbaticals, study awards and study support grants for primary, secondary and area school teacherseast -
Te Wā Whakatā Whakaako mō te Kaiako o ngā Kura ā-Rohe
Area School Teachers' Sabbatical
Reflect, rejuvenate and undertake professional learning with a paid sabbaticaleast