PIF NZ members to RANZCP 2025 New Zealand Conference

All applicants for this scholarship must:

• Be a current RANZCP Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) member (or have their application pending), be based in New Zealand, and be currently enrolled as a New Zealand medical student, or are a New Zealand HMO or RMO
• Have not previously received a PIF or university scholarship to take part in the New Zealand Conference.
• Demonstrate an interest psychiatry and mental health.
• Demonstrate how the Conference will benefit and/or influence their medical career aspirations.
• Be able to seek provisional leave from work or study with relevant placement supervisor or university personnel to attend the full three-day Conference program. This is an important step as part of your application acceptance and agreement for your scholarship place.
• Commit to attending the full Conference days and the entire PIF program of activities, commencing with a welcome event in the evening on Tuesday, 7 September until 1pm on Friday, 10 September 2025*, including all other evening events and activities.

Applications for the scholarship will be assessed and awarded at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel. 

PIF members who have previously been awarded a PIF bursary or scholarship to attend another PIF or RANZCP organised conference or event are eligible to apply, however consideration may be given to those who have not previously received a PIF bursary or scholarship.

PIF members who have already registered for this Conference are eligible to apply for this scholarship, and if successful, will be refunded their Conference registration, and will receive financial support relating to their travel expenses (if required) as set out in these Terms and Conditions. 

Applicants are required to submit a written statement up to a maximum of 250 words addressing the eligibility criteria as follows:

• Why you would like to attend this Conference, including any Conference program highlights.
• Your interest and/or involvement in psychiatry and mental health.
• How attendance at this Conference may increase and/or influence your understanding of mental health and practice for Māori or Pasifika populations.

Please note that entries over the max length indicated may not be considered by the PIF Selection Panel.

The Conference program for the 2025 RANZCP National Conference is now available online. The program is subject to change at any time, without notice. Please check back in on this website to view the latest information. 

Applications must be submitted electronically via the RANZCP 2025 New Zealand Conference – PIF Scholarship online application form.

Applications will close on Sunday, 8 June 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

For local Dunedin-based applicants

Road travel using a private motor vehicle, related commute costs to/from Conference including mileage and parking costs will be covered. Proof of receipts (e.g., parking, train/bus ticket) will be required as evidence to claim reimbursement.**  

Accommodation support may be available at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel, based on the travel distance, and must be requested as part of the application form.

*If there are no suitable options for return flights on 10 September, an additional night of accommodation may be covered by PIF. This will be assessed and approved at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel. 

**If an applicant wishes to choose to travel by road, commuting to/from Conference via public transport or private motor vehicle, or another means, this will be covered by the scholarship. This request must be submitted as part of the application and will be assessed and accepted by PIF Selection Panel at its discretion.

All accommodation and flights must be booked via the dedicated RANZCP travel and conference organising agents.

Proof of receipts (e.g. taxis, airport shuttle) will be required as evidence to claim any reimbursement request.

Applicants acknowledge that: 

• incidental costs associated with travel and attendance at Conference, including additional baggage, will not be included and are the responsibility of the successful applicant to pay for. 
• any additional nights’ accommodation outside of the Conference dates (Check-in 7 September, check-out on10 September 2025) are entirely the responsibility of the scholarship recipient and will not be covered by the scholarship grant, unless otherwise agreed.
• meals and other in-hotel entertainment or other expenses outside of the Conference program (e.g. minibar purchases) will not be covered by the bursary grant and must be paid for by the applicant incurring the cost.

The PIF Selection Panel will assess the applications based on the application criteria and determine the successful applicants. Decisions of the PIF Selection Panel are final. 

Successful applicants will be notified via email later in July 2025 and are expected to confirm their acceptance of a scholarship in writing by the required deadline. Scholarship recipients are expected to obtain any necessary provisional approvals or leave they require from their university, employer or similar in order to attend the full conference program. PIF may request proof of provisional leave approval at the time of acceptance.

The PIF Selection Panel may award further scholarships, at a later time at its discretion.  

In the event that a successful applicant is unable to attend, or a successful applicant does not communicate their acceptance of the scholarship before the required deadline, the PIF Selection Panel may elect to award that scholarship to another eligible applicant.

By accepting a scholarship, the recipient provides their consent to the RANZCP to publicise the names of the successful applicants, their location and their university or workplace in RANZCP communications, including notifying a student’s university of the scholarship award. 

PIF scholarship recipients are advised to have appropriate insurance for their personal belongings, health or medical needs. The PIF scholarship does not provide any such insurance coverage. The RANZCP and the RANZCP New Zealand Conference Organisers accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard. 

Images and/or voices of attendees and bursary recipients may be recorded during the RANZCP 2025 New Zealand Conference program and in breaks for use in RANZCP website, communications, and media, including social media. If you do not wish for your image or voice to be publicised, please email pif@ranzcp.org.

All RANZCP 2025 New Zealand Conference PIF attendees will be required to participate in a compulsory pre- and post-activity evaluation as a condition of accepting the scholarship.