Step-Up Scholarship decisions delayed

7 May 2008 For Immediate Release

StudyLink General Manager Merv Dacre today apologised to students affected by delays in awarding Step Up scholarships for 2008.
“Our automated computer assessment process has failed. Unfortunately incorrect information on peoples’ success in being awarded a scholarship was posted in students’ StudyLink online accounts.”
“About 120 students accessed their StudyLink online account while the incorrect information was displayed. We have since rung all of these students to apologise personally.”
“In order to get the scholarship assessment completed correctly for the 1,100 applicants we are manually re-checking each student’s information,” said Merv Dacre.
“I am confident we can complete this in the next ten days. We have staff working overtime to ensure we get it done as soon as possible.”
“The delays shouldn’t impact on students’ financial situations at this stage as the money is paid directly to institutions for course fees and in most cases it effectively reduces their student loans. Nevertheless, I am very sorry that applicants have been kept waiting to hear whether they have been successful,” said Merv Dacre.

For further information: Bronwyn Saunders, Chief Media Advisor, ph 04 916 3447 or 029 916 3887.

Step Up Scholarships

What is a Step-Up scholarship?
This scholarship can help fund compulsory course fees.
The scholarship aims to assist capable young people from low income backgrounds to gain degree level qualifications in areas that are important to New Zealand and to retain such graduates in New Zealand after they have gained their qualification.

Who is eligible for a Step Up scholarship?
To be considered for a Step Up Scholarship applicants need to:

• be entitled to a Student Allowance when they start their course
  start their course at the start of first semester (usually between January and March) each year
• be under 25 years old when they start their course
  pay $1000 towards their course fees for each year that they receive the scholarship, and either,
• be entering tertiary education for the first time and starting a bachelor degree,

or

• have completed a tertiary qualification below bachelor degree, for example a certificate or diploma. They also need to be starting a bachelor degree that is targeted for Step Up Scholarships to help fill skill shortages in New Zealand.

There are a limited number of scholarships available so not all eligible applicants can be awarded a scholarship.
How many new people normally apply for a Step Up Scholarship each year?

2004/05	764
2005/06	1012
2006/07	956
2007/08	1739

In the last 4 years an average of 1117 new people per year have applied for a Step Up Scholarship.
Out of the 1739 new applicants in the 2007/08 year, 1104 met the current Step Up Scholarship criteria.

How many new people will be awarded a Step Up Scholarship in 2007/2008?
Numbers of new StudyLink scholarships awarded in 2008 have not yet been finalised.
In the previous 4 years the following number of new students have been awarded a Step Up Scholarship.

2004	213
2005	235
2006	362
2007	320

As Step Up scholarships pay for course fees for successful applicants across a number of years, current successful applicants continue to receive their scholarship whilst the new scholarships are awarded each year.

How much money will be given out to new successful applicants in 2008?
Approximately $2.7 million