French Scholarships, Awards, Assistantships
French Teaching Assistantships
Every year the French Ministry of Education gives New Zealand students and teachers the opportunity to be an 'assistant d'anglais' in a French secondary school. This involves taking 12 hours of English classes per week for about 6 months. Most are available in schools in France, but there are also some in New Caledonia, the Wallis Islands and French Polynesia. You have to pay travel costs yourself. The host school sometimes arranges accommodation and meals at reasonable prices. For up-to-date information about these assistantships, please consult the French Embassy in New Zealand website.
Applications are normally called for by the end of August. Applicants must have New Zealand citizenship and be between 20 and 30 years of age. Successful applicants take up their position in October the following year, except for New Caledonia, where the school year begins in March. This is one of the best ways of experiencing life in a French-speaking country.
John Connal Scholarships
Three of these scholarships are awarded each year by the University of Canterbury Faculty of Arts for second-year performance in certain subjects, including French. They are worth about $400 and are tenable for two years. Students do not need to apply for them. Departments nominate suitable students, and selection takes place at a December meeting of departmental representatives chaired by the Dean of Arts.
French Government Grants and Scholarships
Each year the French government awards varies grants and scholarships to New Zealand students who wish to pursue their studies in France. For detailed information please consult the French Embassy in New Zealand website.
National Centre for Research on Europe: University of Canterbury. Masters/doctoral scholarships and awards
Students working on a thesis on a European-related topic are encouraged to apply for scholarships and awards offered by the NCRE, which offers Domestic Fees Scholarships on a competitive basis and Research Awards to support bona fide research or conference expenses. Applications must contain a thesis proposal (1000 words for a Master's thesis, 2000 words for a Ph.D. thesis), and indication of support from the prospective supervising department, an official university academic record and a curriculum vitae. Applications normally close in September for the following year. For further information, contact the Centre's Director, Professor Martin Holland, and consult the Centre's web-page.