The Louisa Roper Scholarships 2026

This round will open at 9:00am 25 September 2026 (NZST) for submissions.

The Louisa Roper Scholarships 2026

Important Information

Please read the information below carefully before completing your online application. Applicants should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and note that the criteria may be amended from time to time.

 

The Louisa Roper Scholarships are funded through a generous bequest from the late Myrtle Louisa Roper under the terms of her Will.

The purpose of the Trust is to provide scholarships in perpetuity to support undergraduate students pursuing tertiary education in the arts, with a particular focus on modern languages other than English.

Who is Eligible?

The Louisa Roper Scholarships are available to students who, during their final year of secondary school, attended:

  • Avonside Girls' High School, Christchurch
  • Papanui High School, Christchurch
  • Ashburton College, Ashburton

Applicants must intend to undertake a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in a modern language other than English, at a university in New Zealand.

Scholarship Value

Scholarships may be awarded for up to $5,000 per year for a maximum of three years.

Funding for the second and third years is subject to the recipient submitting a continuation application and receiving approval from the Trustee. Continued funding must relate to the same course of study.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Have attended one of the above named schools during any part of their final year of secondary education.
  • Intend to study at a New Zealand university in the arts, majoring in a modern language other than English.
  • Be enrolled in a course of study delivered by a recognised tertiary institution.
  • Undertake a course of study that is at least one year in duration.

Scholarship Terms and Conditions

  1. In most cases, scholarship payments will be made directly to the education provider upon confirmation of enrolment. If part of the scholarship is required for books, accommodation, stationery, or travel associated with the approved course of study, these costs must be clearly itemised within the application.
  2. The value of scholarships may vary from year to year and between recipients.
  3. Scholarship funds cannot be used towards the purchase of a motor vehicle or mobile phone.
  4. Public Trust reserves the right to vary or terminate any scholarship at its discretion.
  5. Recipients must promptly notify Public Trust of any changes to their approved course of study.
  6. Scholarships may be awarded for a period of one to three years. Ongoing funding beyond the first year is subject to annual Trustee approval. The Trustee reserves the right to amend the value of, or discontinue, any scholarship.
  7. Recipients seeking continued funding must reapply annually in accordance with the requirements advised at the time of award.
  8. The Trustee reserves the right to withhold scholarship payments in the event of misconduct by a scholarship recipient.

Application Requirements

Applicants must:

  1. Provide a copy of their photo ID (e.g. passport or drivers licence). If you do not have a passport or drivers license they will need to provide a copy of your birth certificate along with a letter from the school containing your photo to confirm your identity. 
  2. Provide full course details, including annual tuition and study-related costs.
  3. Supply at least one supporting reference.
  4. Provide academic records and/or evidence of other achievements where available.
  5. Submit an essay of no more than 250 words outlining:
    • The reasons for choosing the proposed course of study; and
    • Their career aspirations and how these relate to the chosen field of study.
  6. Be enrolled in the course of study described in their application if a scholarship is awarded.
  7. Provide confirmation of enrolment before any scholarship funds are released.

Important Dates

  • Applications open: 9:00 am, 25 September 2026
  • Applications close: 5:00 pm, 30 October 2026
  • Applicants notified of outcome: By 24 December 2026

Late applications will not be accepted.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Public Trust online grants management system SmartyGrants.

A complete application will require you to:

  • Complete all sections of the application form
  • Upload all required supporting documentation
  • Provide academic information
  • Outline your proposed course of study
  • Supply relevant financial information
  • Attach supporting references and other required documents

You may save your application and return to it at any time before submitting it. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on 30 October 2026.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding the scholarship or application process, please contact:

Public Trust
Email: funding@publictrust.co.nz

Assessment and Decision-Making

All applications will be considered by the relevant Scholarship Committee(s). Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by 24 December 2026.

The decision of the Committee(s) is final, and no correspondence or further discussion will be entered into regarding funding decisions.

 

IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

Step 1: Determine eligibility

  • Please ensure you have read the Trust’s criteria
  • If you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply please contact us by email: funding@publictrust.co.nz

Step 2: Register or login to apply online

  • First time users will need to register.

Note: Please store your login details in a safe place for future reference.

  • Once registered, you can login to the system and start your application.

Step 3: Complete your application

  • The application is best viewed/completed on a non-mobile device.
  • Complete all of the required questions – mandatory questions are marked with an *
  • Attach all required supporting documents.

Note: Our preferred format for attachments is PDF, Excel, Word or JPG.  Supporting materials cannot exceed 25MB in size, as files exceeding this will not upload.

Hint: Save your work regularly so it is not lost if you time out or lose your connection.

You can save your application at any stage and return to it later. Make sure the spell checker is switched on in your browser to prevent spelling errors.

Step 4: Review and submit your application

  • When you are satisfied with your application press the review button to ensure that all required sections of the application have been completed (you must do this before the submit button is enabled).
  • Submit your application.

  Note: Once you have submitted your application no further editing or uploading of supporting documents is possible.

Step 5: What happens next?

  • You will receive an automated email confirming your submission with a copy of your application attached and information about how/when your application will be assessed.  This will be sent to the email you used to register. 

If you do not receive a confirmation email then your application has not been successfully submitted (don’t forget to check your spam email folder when looking for the email).

  • We will contact you if we require any further information to consider your application.

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

If you have any technical difficulties using the online Smarty Grants portal email service@smartygrants.com.au  

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