Secondary School Leavers Scholarship
This scholarship is one of the new investments made through the CLNZ Cultural Fund. Brought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ), this initiative is designed to nurture the next generation of New Zealand writers.
Five grants of $2,000 each are available. These awards are split between the successful student and their school to provide a foundation for students transitioning from secondary school to a tertiary arts degree.
Eligibility
- Year 12 and 13 students planning to leave school at the end of 2026 and enroll in a Level 5 or above arts degree.
- Nominated students must submit an original short story or work of fiction (500–2,000 words).
- Applications must be submitted through the student’s school; each school is invited to nominate up to two candidates.
- Available to students attending schools holding a current copyright license with CLNZ. Your school can check if their copy licence is up to date here: https://www.getlicensed.co.nz/
| Applications open | 10am Friday 1st May 2026 |
| Applications close | 4pm Wednesday 1st July 2026 |
| How to apply |
Applications must be submitted through the student’s school; each school is invited to nominate up to two candidates Secondary School Leavers Scholarship Application Form |
About the Cultural Fund
The Cultural Fund derives its revenue from a 2% share of domestic licensing income and from overseas revenue that is non-title specific. The Cultural Fund invests in people and projects that meet its objectives to:
- Protect - writers and publishers’ ability to earn revenue from their works;
- Support – the creation and production of new works and assist the commercial success of New Zealand works;
- Grow – the number of works created and skills in the industry