MAS Here for Good Scholarship

MAS Scholarships

Like you, MAS is here to help and since 1921 we’ve been doing that by looking after the insurance and investment needs of New Zealand professionals. Many of our Members have joined us when studying so we know how important it is for students to have a financial provider they can trust and who is committed to supporting their achievement.

That’s why we offer a Here for Good scholarship for individuals studying in New Zealand who volunteer for a group, organisation, association or programme dedicated to the health and wellbeing of others. We also provide a grant for student-led volunteer groups and organisations whose initiatives are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of others.

Here for Good Scholarship

Students studying in New Zealand and who actively contribute or participate in a group, association, community activity or volunteer programme for the benefit of others can apply for one of two MAS Here for Good scholarships each quarter. The individual scholarship recipient receives $1,000 to help towards study or living costs, and the group scholarship recipient receives $4,000 to help towards operational costs.

How to apply

Students are asked to write up to 1,000 words detailing their volunteer activity and how this benefits them in life and in their chosen future profession as well as the impact their activities have on the people and the communities they’re supporting.

All applications must be received on time, before midnight on the application close date. Applications can be made by completing our online form, or by email to scholarships@mas.co.nz with the subject line “MAS Here for Good scholarship”. 

Please ensure your application meets all the entry criteria and you have read the terms and conditions carefully. If you have any questions regarding the entry criteria or difficulty in submitting an online application, please contact us at scholarships@mas.co.nz. We will reply within 3-5 working days.

Application Timing

Entry Criteria for all Here for Good Scholarships

By submitting an entry for this Scholarship, the applicant agrees that if they win they will be required to share their volunteer experiences by:

Writing a blog for MAS to share which must include photos and may include video if available. The blog should also include how the scholarship will help towards their personal and/or group development.

For applications to be accepted for judging, they must meet the following criteria:

To have a valid entry for any of the MAS Scholarships, entrants must:

• be signed up to Join the Conversation.
• be currently studying full time in New Zealand tertiary education.
• only one entry per person for the individual Here for Good scholarship, per quarter, will be accepted.
• only one entry per student-led volunteer group or association for the group Here for Good scholarship, per quarter, will be accepted.
• have demonstrated an active contribution or participation to a group, association, community activity or volunteer programme for the benefit of others during the scholarship period.
• agree to comply with the terms and conditions.
• Write an essay that:
  • answers the question stipulated by MAS;
  • is no longer than 1,000 words;
  • is the original work of the Applicant;
  • is emailed as a Microsoft Word document to scholarships@mas.co.nz with the subject line “MAS scholarship application” or submitted by completing our online form;
  • is typed, double line-spaced, with numbered pages and sources referenced using footnotes.

Footnotes must include:

• author, title of publication, publisher if available, date or internet URL wherever possible for source references if applicable.
• full name, year of study, place of study, name of programme, association, or group that you volunteer/ed with, email address and mobile number (if applying for the individual MAS Here for Good Scholarship).
• the student-led volunteer group name and the full name, year of study, place of study of everyone who is applying on behalf of the group, the group and individual email address and one main contact mobile number (if applying for the group MAS Here for Good Scholarship).

Entries that do not meet these criteria will not be read and are not eligible for the Scholarship applied for.

MAS and its judges are under no obligation to provide feedback on any entries, either during or after the competition.

Past application essays and blogs