Scholarships

Here we have gathered scholarship opportunities for female law students. These are not exhaustive lists, but are the main opportunities we have been made aware of. Please let us know if you are aware of any others that could be added to the lists.

CWLA Scholarships

Top Non-Honours Female Law Student

The CWLA’s scholarship honours the top non-honours female law student from the University of Canterbury following the completion of her degree. No application is required as the recipient is chosen by way of recommendation by the Law School. The scholarship is a one-off award of $500.

Lady Dorothy Thompson Scholarships

The Lady Dorothy Thompson scholarships were established by Lady Dorothy Thompson's family and are administered by the CWLA. You can read more about her legacy here.

Each year the top two women studying at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Christchurch are awarded with this scholarship. The current amounts are $500 for the top student and $300 for the runner up.

The scholarships are presented annually at the CWLA's annual general meeting.

Previous scholarship recipients include:

  • 2023: Meg Fulton and Madison Wotton

  • 2022: Kelly Stitely (top student) and Maddy Brownlee (runner up)

  • 2021: Beatrice Holman and Jordan Whitteker-Love (equal top students)

  • 2020: Elaina Pemberton, Tegan Wadworth and Leandra Feinnes (equal top students)

  • 2019: Emma-Jane Moore (top student) and Katrina Hope (runner up)

  • 2018: Julia Laing (top student) and Madeline France (runner up)

  • 2017: Rachel Pfahlert (top student) and Caroline Edwards and Holly Jamieson (runners up)

  • 2016: Josie Ganly (top student) and Kavinna Dhepyasuwan (runner up)

  • 2015: Marianne Dutkiewicz (top student) and Rebecca Cook (runner up)

  • 2014: Shelley Robotham (top student) and Aja Trinder (runner up)

Other Scholarship Opportunities for Women

University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury provides several scholarships specifically for women. These include:

  • New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Prize (For Women): The Trustees of the New Zealand Law Foundation established this scholarship to mark the centenary of the admission of Ethel Benjamin as the first female barrister.

  • Helen Macmillan Brown Bursaries (each year at least one must be offered to a woman): This scholarship was established by Emeritus Professor John Macmillan Brown, in memory of his wife, who was the first woman to graduate from the University of Canterbury. The amount is $2,500 per annum and the scholarship runs for 3 years.

  • New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women (Inc) Canterbury Branch Trust Board Scholarships: These scholarships are open to female students who are enrolled full-time for any Bachelor's degree programme at the University of Canterbury. The amount is $4,500 and the scholarship runs for 1 year.

  • Sir William Hartley Scholarship: The scholarship was founded by Mrs Clara Gabbat in honour of her father, the late Sir William Hartley. The scholarship is open to a woman who has been a student of the University of Canterbury for at least one year and who has obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher in a New Zealand university, and is capable of obtaining a Doctor's degree at an English University. The amount is $10,000 and the scholarship runs for 3 years.

  • Yvonne A M Smith Scholarship: This scholarship is for postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for women. The scholarship is for one year and the amount is $50,000.

For more information please refer to the University's scholarship website: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/scholarships

The New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes

The New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes provides scholarships specifically for women. This includes the Barbara Wood Memorial Foundation scholarship, which was established to commemorate the life and work of the late Barbara Wood. The scholarship offers financial assistance to provide training opportunities for students in New Zealand and the South Pacific region. The amount is $1,000 per annum and runs for 1 year, although successful recipients can apply again in any subsequent year.

For more information please refer to the Federation’s scholarship website: http://www.wi.org.nz/Site/Scholarships/

Zonta Club of Christchurch-Canterbury

The Zonta Club of Christchurch-Canterbury offers the Zonta International Canterbury Tertiary Education Scholarship. This scholarship was established to assist women completing a tertiary course of study. The amount is up to $3,000 and the scholarship can run for up to three years.

More information can be found here: http://www.cpit.ac.nz/study-options/scholarships/scholarships/zonta-international-canterbury-tertiary-educational-scholarship