Our scholarship programme recognises research with the potential to shape Aotearoa’s future through improved resource management

Opening Date early June

Scholarship applications open 1 June each year and are announced to the Membership via our weekly News Brief and other forms of communication.

Closing Date early August

Closing date for Scholarship applications is 1 August each year. Late nominations will be received at the discretion of the committee.

Announcement of successful applications early September

Successful applicants will be notified by early-September. Official announcement will be made at our annual conference mid-late September and via other forms of communication.

RMLA scholarships are designed to encourage graduate students from a range of disciplines (law, planning, engineering, geography, science, landscape architecture, urban planning and resource management), to focus their research theses or dissertations on topics related to the application of resource management in New Zealand.
The scholarships are also intended to promote the purposes of the RMLA, and to produce material for RMLA publications (see below).
The scholarship is open to any graduate student in a University (New Zealand or overseas) registered for a Masters (including an undergraduate Honours degree involving advanced levels of research and study at Masters degree level). Doctoral studies are not eligible. Preference will be given to applicants with an established record of independent research by dissertation, directed study, or research paper at Honours or Masters level, who are recommended for the award by the supervisor of their previous research. Where relevant a written recommendation from the supervisor should be submitted with the scholarship application.
Applicants for the scholarship must (1) be a New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident; and (2) have an excellent academic record (B+ or better).
Selection will be based on relevance of the proposed thesis or dissertation topic to advancing:
(a) the study of resource management (within the context of resource management legislation in New Zealand); and
(b) the objectives of the RMLA. The objectives of the RMLA are to promote within New Zealand:
(c) An understanding of resource management law and its implementation in a multi-disciplinary framework;
(d) Excellence in resource management policy and process;
(e) Resource management processes which are legally sound, effective and efficient and which produce high quality environmental outcomes.
In cases where there is no suitable candidate, no scholarship will be given.
One or more Masters scholarships per annum may be awarded out of an annual fund of $15,000. There will generally be three $5,000 scholarships awarded a year.
Awards may be made subject to acceptance into restricted courses. Any scholarship will be tenable for one year only. Commencement may be delayed to coincide with an overseas University academic year. Tenure will be for a year in which thesis or dissertation work is the major academic activity.
The RMLA may choose to pay the scholarship to the recipient in instalments.
Co-Tenure: The Scholarship may be held concurrently with other bursaries, awards, or scholarships, provided that the rules of the other award permit this.
Scholarship holders shall make a report of progress of their programmes to the RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee as required and must make a final detailed report to that body on the conclusion of the award.
Holders must, as a condition of the award, contribute at least one relevant academic article to the Resource Management Journal (RMJ) or New Zealand Journal of Environmental Law (NZJEL) (to the satisfaction of the Editor or Editorial Committee of that Journal) during or at the conclusion of the award. The deadline for submission to NZJEL is mid July and a link to its guidelines can be found here.
The scholarship will be awarded on the recommendation of the RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee. The RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee may require candidates to attend a personal interview as part of the selection process.
Applicants should apply for the scholarship by completing the application form. Applications must reach the RMLA by 1 August.
Download the application form here .
Applicants shall agree to cooperate with any public announcement of the award of the scholarship by the RMLA, which may include photographs of and interviews with the scholarship recipients.
A successful applicant shall, as required for publicity purposes, supply to the RMLA a memorandum containing appropriate biographical details and a statement of the applicant’s relevant future intentions.