Post-Graduate Scholarships Changed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30269, 23 October 1963, Page 15

Post-Graduate Scholarships Changed

(N 2. Press Association; WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. The chairman of the University Grants Committee (Dr. F. J. Llewellyn) annonced today that the committee had decided to make a majofr change in the system of postgraduate scholarships for students of the New Zealand universities.

“The committee considers that the present system places too much emphasis on overseas study immediately after graduation, with the result that too many of our most able graduates leave New Zealand without any experience of the many avenues of useful research work that are available in this country. “There is then the problem of persuading them to return; many never do,” he said.

“The new system of scholarships and fellowships is aimed at encouraging as many as possible of our best young graduates to undertake research work in New Zealand before going overseas for further study and research.

"This will have the additional advantage of stimulating research in the New Zealand universities. and will help to build up strong research schools.” “The new scheme,” said Dr. Llewellyn, “provides for post-graduate scholarships valued at £650 a year to be awarded for study in New Zealand for PhD. degrees. “Under the scheme, a student will be able to complete a PhD. degree and then, if he has complied with certain conditions, he will be entitled to proceed overseas for a further year of study and research on a post-doctoral fellowship valued at £1000." "Some scholarships.” said Dr. Llewellyn, “may also be awarded to overseas students to study in New Zealand, and some may be awarde’ to New Zealand students for research which does not lead to PhD. degrees. “Awards for these last two purposes, however, do not

carry any right to post-doc-toral fellowship.

“The University Grants Committee recognises that research facilities in New Zealand in some fields may not be adequate, and has therefore made provision tor students in those fields to take up their scholarships overseas.

“Some of them may subsequently be awarded postdoctoral fellowships which would be tenable in New Zealand.

“In addition to one-year post-doctoral fellowships.” said Dr. Llewellyn, “there will be a number of twoyear fellowships, also worth £lOOO a year, awarded after competition among candidates who hold Ph.D. degrees of New Zealand or overseas universities. “An award made to a holder of a New Zealand degree will be tenable overseas unless he prefers to undertake further research here.

"But a fellowship awarded to the holder of an overseas degree will be tenable only in New Zealand.” be said. “The first awards under the new scheme will be made in December. said Dr. Llewellyn.