In an effort to attract Otago's best and brightest pupils, the University of Canterbury has written to all head boys and head girls of high schools in the region, inviting them to apply for scholarships.
The letters were sent as part of moves to attract future leaders to the institution, head girls and head boys across the country being targeted, a Canterbury University spokesman said.
Each head boy and head girl was invited to apply for a scholarship paying for up to $5000 of their tuition fees.
University of Otago doctoral and scholarships office manager Dr Chris Stoddart said the university was not concerned about head pupils in the Otago region being invited to apply for scholarships.
"For many years, most New Zealand universities had approached talented students. Many of these students will be head boys and head girls," Dr Stoddart said Canterbury University's initiative was just "one small example" of how competitive the enrolment environment was at the moment.
