Victoria University of Wellington Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship 2025

Are you looking for a postgraduate scholarship opportunity at Victoria University of Wellington? If so, the Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship might be perfect for you. This scholarship is available annually, and applications should be made by 15 November or 15 March. All instrumentalists are eligible, with preference given to piano students.

The scholarship, sponsored by the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation, is worth $15,000. It is available to both domestic and international postgraduate students. The Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship was established in 2013 in memory of Therle by John Drake.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or international student fully enrolled in full-time study at the University. You must also be enrolling or have enrolled for postgraduate study at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music. The scholarship may involve attending a short course or concert/masterclass in Europe, North America, or Australia.

To apply for the Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship, submit an online application before the deadline of March 15, 2023. Make sure all required supporting documentation is also submitted by the closing date. For more information and to apply, visit the official website.

FAQs

What is the Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship?

The Therle Drake Postgraduate Scholarship is an annual award at Victoria University of Wellington, established in memory of Therle Drake by her husband John Drake in 2013. It supports postgraduate study in the field of music, particularly enabling classical performance students to attend short courses, concerts, or masterclasses overseas in Europe, North America, or Australia. While all instrumentalists are eligible, there is a preference for piano students. The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students and is administered by the New Zealand School of Music (Te Kōkī), part of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. The value is NZD 15,000, which may be split among recipients depending on need and available funds

Who is eligible to apply and what are the application deadlines?

Applicants must be enrolling in or already enrolled in postgraduate study at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music and must remain in good academic standing. The scholarship can support participation in international short courses or performance activities abroad. Applications are accepted twice a year, with closing dates on 31 March and 15 November (by 4:30 pm). All required supporting documentation, including references, must be submitted by the deadline or the application will not be considered

What are the application requirements and what materials must be included?

Applicants should submit a completed online application by 4:30 pm on the relevant closing date along with all necessary documents. Required materials include a personal statement outlining the proposed project and its relevance to the applicant’s career, a detailed budget, copies of any correspondence with overseas hosts (such as masterclass organizers), and a reference from the principal supervisor. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted

What are the selection criteria, conditions of tenure, and obligations of recipients?

The Scholarship is awarded by the NZSM Scholarships Committee, in consultation with Heads of Schools and Programme Directors. Successful applicants must be fully enrolled in a full-time (within Studylink-defined full-time) postgraduate program. The scholarship is tenable for one year, with the possibility of reapplying. Conditions include no deferment, full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and the requirement to act as an ambassador for the University, which may involve participation in university events or marketing. If the recipient withdraws or fails to maintain progress, partial repayment may be expected. Recipients are also required to write a letter of thanks to the donor and may be asked to submit a progress report at the end of the year. Engagement with the NZSM community—such as performing in ensembles or giving presentations—is also expected