BRANZ Group is the New Zealand building industry's centre for science and research. We provide independent and impartial research, testing, consulting and information to the building industry. Our work enhances building performance and cost-effectiveness, contributes to the success of the building industry and the wider economy, and supports the development of a higher-quality built environment for all New Zealanders.

BRANZ Group combines both BRANZ Ltd and BRANZ Inc. The BRANZ Board controls the BRANZ Group, and the Chief Executive reports to the Board. BRANZ Inc administers the Building Research Levy and allocates funding to BRANZ Ltd and other research organisations.

The BRANZ Group's core values are as follows:

• Adding optimal value through our world-class research and information.
• Acting with trust and integrity and being accountable for outcomes.
• Delivering great customer service, responding to and delivering on the needs of our clients and stakeholders.
• Providing leadership and stewardship to the building and construction industry.
• Valuing our people, enabling them to excel and take pride in their work.

For more detail on BRANZ, view our media channel on You Tube.

Call for Scholarship Applications

BRANZ Inc allocates funds to assist students with outstanding academic credentials to undertake research in fields that are deemed to be of importance to the construction sector.

The BRANZ Industry Research Agenda for 2012 identifies industry's eight Priority Topics, which each correspond to one of the 2017 strategic focus areas from the roadmap

• Materials performance
• Moisture in buildings
• Maintaining and improving the performance of existing buildings
• Informing sustainability choices
• Urban form
• Productivity
• Defining performance and practice
• Automation, Industrialisation and New Technologies.

Further detail on each of the eight topics can be found in the 2012 Industry Research Agenda . BRANZ recommends that scholarship applicants read the 2012 Industry Research Agenda in full prior to preparing their application using the Application Template.

BRANZ is also interested in receiving applications for projects which align with the New Zealand Construction Industry Council research agenda. Proposals which do not fit with the BRIA topics must clearly demonstrate their alignment with the CIC strategy and how the proposed research will benefit the wider construction industry.

Please also be advised of the following:

• No funding to an individual student for a course will exceed three years.
• The research will be carried out in a New Zealand tertiary institution.
• Award recipients will usually be required to liaise with BRANZ Group and meet reasonable technology transfer requests about their work. Applicants should be careful before seeking BRANZ investment that they will be able to meet the expectations of wide transfer to the building and construction sector of the results of their research.
• A scholarship awarded under this scheme carries no connotation of employment by BRANZ Group during the period of the award or at its conclusion..

Allocations

Allocations at Masters and PhD level will generally be:

• Masterate - $20,000 for degree.
• Doctorate - $25,000 per year for up to three years.

BRANZ Group also operates some schemes for final-year undergraduate research projects. These are limited in scope and variable in payment. Prospective applicants should discuss their ideas with their course supervisor first, and the arrangement will be more likely to be with the tertiary organisation than with the student directly.

How to Apply

Applications are to be prepared using the guidelines provided in the Application Template.

BRANZ operates a dual application timeframe, as follows:

• BRANZ officially accepts applications from 1 August through to 30 November, and will advise applicants of the outcome in December. 
• BRANZ also accepts scholarship applications as they are received throughout the year. While BRANZ will consider out-of-cycle applications carefully, we envisage a sizeable proportion of the scholarship funding will be allocated in the August-November round, with instalments beginning in February of the following year. Applicants are therefore welcome to apply throughout the year, but encouraged to apply within the 1 August - 30 November timeframe wherever possible to maximise their chances of success.
• Candidates should ensure there is a month available to BRANZ for consideration before any closing date set by any co-funding agency.

If your application is successful, you will also be required to submit a project plan indicating proposed milestones at which payments will be made, which must be agreed by BRANZ before the first payment is made. Progress against this plan will need to be certified by your supervisor.

Each successful applicant will be allocated an appropriate industry supervisor.  This will give the successful applicant the opportunity to develop professional connections in their chosen research area, while helping to keep industry informed of their findings.

Send your application to the BRANZ Group Chief Executive.
For further information, contact branz@branz.co.nz.