Grants and Writing Resources for University of Canterbury
Ten University of Canterbury students and recent graduates shared $18,500 in prizes at the School of Product Design's 2025 Industry Evening, held at Tūranga Library in April 2025. The largest, the $10,000 Anna Wilson Design for Tomorrow Award, went to a recent conjoint product design and science graduate for a line of ostomy-care products.
Essay Prizes
Two of the UC Essay Prizes, the Ensom and the Ada Wells, set an essay subject. Undergraduates, current and recent, can enter the Macmillan Brown Prize for Writers, which recognises excellence in English composition and pays $2,000, $1,000 and $500 for the top three places. The Ensom Prize asks for an essay on constructive policy to promote and preserve international peace and goodwill; first prize is $1,500.
The Ada Wells Memorial Prize, open to students and recent graduates, asks for an exposition of a passage chosen from literature that has reference to social ideals. First prize is $1,000.
Scholarships for Research Students
UC says it offers over $20 million in scholarships and prizes each year. The core doctoral award, the UC Doctoral Scholarship, is worth $32,650 per 120 points plus tuition fees for thesis-only enrolment, for up to 360 points, and versions exist for Māori, Pacific and disabled students and for co-funded projects with outside agencies. The UC Commitments Doctoral Scholarship adds $5,000 for research expenses. The highest-ranked Core scholarship recipient also receives the Brownlie Scholarship, and the highest-ranked recipient with whakapapa Māori receives the Ngata Centenary Doctoral Scholarship, each adding $5,000 per 120 points.
Summer Scholarships are principally for current undergraduates. A few go to postgraduate and doctoral students.
Help With Writing
The Academic Skills Centre, Te Pokapū Pūkenga Ako, is free for students at every level from first year to PhD. Book a consultation with a learning advisor about a specific assignment, by Zoom or in person, or bring a quick query to the centre on Level 3 of Puaka-James Hight, the central library. Workshops and seminars cover critical thinking and writing. Students with English as an additional language can join 50-minute academic English classes at any point in the year.
Research students also have kaitoko at Te Kura Tāura, the UC Graduate School, who give tailored researcher development support at every stage of a thesis. Recordings of some sessions go up on the Graduate School's LEARN page.
Where Theses Are Published
The UC Research Repository holds original research by UC's postgraduate students and academic staff and makes it available online. Recent additions include 2026 theses.
When your draft is close and you want a careful last read, our editors are available. See our University of Canterbury dissertation and thesis editing page, or write to editors@editorsforstudents.com.
From Our Writing Guides
Compiled by James Peterson Brown, PhD, Managing Editor of Editors For Students. Links checked October 2026.
Editors For Students is an independent editorial service and is not affiliated with the University of Canterbury, and your faculty may endorse our services individually. We look forward to helping you bring your UC writing to its strongest, submission-ready form.