University of Otago graduates have received a record five New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women Fellowships to support postgraduate study this year.
Otago graduates often receive two or three of these fellowships each year, but this was the first time five have been gained in a single year, NZFGW organisers said.
The fellowships went to Elyse Dunn, Kalinka Rexer-Huber, Naomi Johnstone and Ruth Cunningham to pursue Otago University doctoral studies in, respectively, microbiology, zoology, law, and public health; and to Melissa Hammer to pursue LLM studies abroad.
A total of 14 fellowships were awarded by the charitable organisation throughout the country for this year.
This year, scholars received funding ranging from $5000 to $15,000. A total of $150,000 was awarded around the country, with fellowships averaging about $10,700 each.
A sixth graduate with Otago links, Kjerstine Severinsen, received the Harriet Jenkins Award, which provides up to $3000 to support tertiary research.
Four of these awards were made throughout the country this year.
NZFGW Dunedin branch president Sue Cathro said gaining five fellowships was a ''fantastic'' achievement, which reflected the high quality of Otago candidates and growing awareness about the fellowship.