All recipients of a Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarship (PMAS) are subject to the conditions set out in the Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarship Guide (the Guide) regardless of whether they have read the guide.

It is therefore very important that you read and understand the Guide. The latest version of the Guide can be downloaded from SPARC's webpage for Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships.

If you have any questions about how the Guide applies to you, please contact your Athlete Life Advisor or the PMAS Coordinator at your nearest NZ Academy of Sport (NZAS) Regional Operation. Although the Guide is the key document which applies in all circumstances, some of the main points of the Guide are highlighted below.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a PMAS, you must:

1. be capable of impacting SPARC's high performance mission, More New Zealanders winning on the world stage;
2. submit a complete application;
3. be endorsed by your NSO leading up to and during the scholarship, and;
4. have met all athlete requirements whilst studying under scholarship in the previous 12 months, unless the NZAS agrees otherwise (athletes re-applying for a scholarship only).

To be eligible, the qualification you are seeking must appear on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications, found at www.kiwiquals.govt.nz.

Scholarship Entitlements

A maximum of $10,000 per annum is available for academic fees. Tuition fees, student services fees, student association fees and building levy fees are eligible but not other fees such as late or penalty fees. Note: if successful the amount granted to you for 2010 will be up, but not exceeding, the amount you calculate in your application.

To be eligible for a living allowance you must be enrolled at all times in equal to or greater than 0.4 EFTS (equivalent full time study) per twelve-month period or 0.2 EFTS in a six-month period and comply with all athlete requirements (see below).

PM Athlete Scholarships are awarded for up to 12 months.

Payment Process

Once your PM Scholarship is granted, your academic fees will be paid directly to your education provider by the NZAS.

Once eligible, your living allowance will be credited to your nominated bank account.

SPARC Rights

SPARC reserves the right to:

• use images of recipients to promote the PM Scholarship programme at no charge, and;
• use recipients to promote the PM Scholarship programme at no charge (e.g. presenting certificates at a PM Scholarship awards ceremony).

Athlete Requirements

You must:

• pass all courses you are enrolled in;
• submit an electronic six-month progress report at the end of each six-month period (due 1 July and 1 December each year);
• attend a full Drug Free Sport NZ-approved anti-doping seminar in the first twelve months in which your PMAS is awarded and once in every alternate year thereafter whilst on scholarship, and;
• meet any tax and income declaration requirements.

Non-Compliance with Athlete Requirements

Failure to meet all athlete requirements during a 12-month PMAS period will deem you ineligible to apply for a scholarship for the next 12-month PMAS period in which you study, unless the NZAS agrees otherwise.

Failure to comply with one of the athlete requirements in the first six-month period will result in a deferred living payment situation. This means you will have your living allowance for the next six-month period (while studying through the programme) reimbursed retrospectively only if all athlete requirements are met in this period.

If the NZAS considers repeated or serious non-compliance with the athlete requirements has occurred you will be placed in a debt situation or removed from the programme.