" I am studying physiotherapy at AUT and was lucky enough to receive a health scholarship in 2009. This scholarship was a huge financial help for me as it paid all my fees for a whole year, so I would definitely recommend that you apply for a scholarship if you are eligible.

Applying for the scholarship seemed quite a lot of work at the time. I had to write a letter outlining what I was studying and why, as well as discuss my academic achievements, community involvement and financial situation. I also had to ask a referee to write a letter in support my application and include witnessed copies of my grades.

All of this information was due a couple of days after I finished exams, so the whole process was a bit rushed for me. To avoid this, I would recommend that you start the process early, especially if you need to include letters of reference in your application!

I think the most important thing that you can do is to proof-read your application form over and over, checking that it is relevant, clear and concise. It’s also important that the person you ask to be your referee knows you well. As I was applying for a health scholarship, I asked a registered nurse to be my referee.

I had never applied for a scholarship like this before and didn’t really know what to expect. I certainly wasn’t expecting to have to go in for an interview. Interviews aren’t the nicest of things, but provided you have been honest and accurate in your application form, you won’t have any trouble answering their questions. They mostly just asked me to expand on things I had written.

The hardest question they asked me in my interview was why I thought I should get the scholarship. This is a tough question to answer because no one wants to sound arrogant by going on and on about themselves. But at the same time, you wouldn’t be applying for the scholarship if you didn’t think you had a chance. So remember not to sell yourself short as you outline all your good qualities!"