Awards, Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Trust supports research projects in the fields of agriculture, agritech and the study of rural society. The Trust will not usually fund capital items or the salaries of primary researchers.
Centennial Training Scholarship
This scholarship supports students with interests in agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness and animal science to undertake teacher training and become high school teachers.
Research Awards
For research projects in the field of agriculture, agtech and rural society.
Postgraduate Scholarships
For those enrolled in a masterate or doctoral programme in the fields of agriculture, agtech or the studies of rural society.
Fellowships
To cover travel to the the UK for researchers or scholars in the fields of agriculture, agtech, or the study of rural society
Māori Scholarships
Scholarships for Maori students.
*NEW*
Centennial Primary Sector Secondary Teacher Training Scholarship
The C Alma Baker Charitable Trust Centennial Primary Sector Secondary Teacher Training Scholarship supports students with interests in agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness and animal science to undertake teacher training and become high school teachers.
The C Alma Baker Charitable Trust was founded to further the science of agriculture and to advance education. The Trust recognises the current scarcity of high school teachers with a degree in one of the primary sector science areas. In its Centennial year, the C Alma Baker Trust has created this scholarship to help alleviate that shortage and encourage a new generation of high school students to consider careers in the primary sectors
The value of the scholarship is $45,000. The tenure is one year to align with the extended academic year.
Conditions of the scholarship
The scholarship will either be paid in two equal instalments in August and February if the awardee completes the Graduate Diploma in one year, or four equal instalments in August, February, August and February if the Graduate Diploma is completed over two years.
The C Alma Baker Charitable Trust Trustees reserve the right to not award the scholarship in the event of there being no suitable applicants, and their decision is final.
The scholarship may be held in conjunction with other scholarships, bursaries, and awards providing the other scholarships, bursaries and awards permit co-tenure.
Applications
Applications may be made online via the Centennial Training Scholarship form.
Applications close on 31 August 2026; late applications will not be accepted.
Applications are invited for C. Alma Baker Charitable Trust Research Awards in August each year. Conditions for awards are as follows:
Research projects in the fields of agriculture, agricultural technology and studies of rural society are considered.
Funds may be granted to provide technical, travel, consumables, sample testing, or other support for established researchers. The Trust will not usually fund capital items, pay the salaries of principal researchers, or cover institutional overhead charges.
The Trust expects to make a number of awards in the range of $10,000-$40,000.
The Trust is not able to approve project funding on a multi-year basis but will consider funding projects on an annual basis in response to a series of applications.
Postgraduate scholarships to cover student stipends are available through individual application, closing 1 February each year. See below for details.
Applications
Applications may be made online via the Research Awards form.
Applications close on 15 October; late applications will not be accepted.
The Trust reserves the right to make no awards in any given year. The award of scholarships will be based on academic achievement and relevance of the proposed research to the Trust's objective.
Scholarships are valued at a maximum of $13,000 a year for masterate students and $20,000 a year for doctoral students. For masterate students, funding will be for one year (normally for a course including a significant research component); for doctoral students, awards may be for up to three years subject to satisfactory progress and the provision of regular reports.
In awarding scholarships, the Trust will take into account other awards held by the candidates.
Candidates must be New Zealand citizens, and graduates of a New Zealand university; awards are available for those intending to undertake postgraduate research either in New Zealand or overseas.
At their discretion, the Trustees may make other educational awards from time to time.
Applications
Applications may be made online via the Postgraduate Scholarships form.
Applications close on 1 February; late applications will not be accepted.
Fellowships
Unfortunately, no Fellowships will be offered this financial year due to the extremely difficult financial conditions caused by adverse weather conditions, rising on-farm costs and declining farm product values.
Fellowships are offered to facilitate the travel between New Zealand and the United Kingdom of senior researchers or scholars in the fields of agriculture, agritech, or the study of rural society.
C Alma Baker Charitable Trust Fellowships awards are for a single grant of $NZ15,000 to cover travel, airfares and expenses for the duration of the Fellowship.
It is assumed that a short visit (up to one month) will be made and that the Fellow’s salary will be covered by other sources.
It is expected that benefits from the visit will accrue more widely than to a single institution. As well as being a contribution to the research/extension programme of the individual, a discernible benefit to agriculture and related fields (broadly defined) in the United Kingdom and New Zealand is expected.
The selection of Fellows is based on either an expression of interest from individuals or nominations from colleagues, appropriate institutions or professional societies in either country.
Nominations or expressions of interest are invited annually.
Applications
These Fellowship Awards / Scholarships are in abeyance for this financial year.
Alma Baker Maori Scholarship Awards are available to students enrolled in programmes in the fields of agriculture, agritech or the study of rural society.
The Award of scholarships will be based on academic achievement.
Candidates must be New Zealand citizens.
Applications
These Fellowship Awards / Scholarships are in abeyance for this financial year.
