Up to 400 University of Otago students could have guaranteed summer work and income this year.
Staff are in the process of finalising 400 research projects to take advantage of a new government-subsidised scholarship programme.
Under the terms of the scholarships, students carry out full-time research for a 10-week period and receive $5000, half paid by the university with which they are enrolled, and half by the Government.
Otago had had an "overwhelmingly positive response" to the scheme and staff across many departments were selecting students for research projects, research and enterprise deputy vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said in a statement.
"This scholarship programme is a welcome initiative that will benefit students and staff. The scholarships provide a great opportunity for promising students to gain valuable research experience and for staff to make the most of the precious research time that is available during the summer."
Students who had shown academic excellence and enthusiasm for research were being considered, she said. Recipients were expected to be confirmed in late November.
Most of the students would be based at University of Otago campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, but some students would conduct research with university collaborators in external research organisations, Prof Hayne said.
In August, the Government confirmed it would fund 1600 places throughout the country at a cost of $8 million.
Student Job Search (SJS) welcomed the scheme, the organisation's national marketing and communications manager Lorna McConnon said yesterday.
"Any extra jobs being offered in the tight labour market we have at the moment is fantastic."
Ms McConnon, who is based in Dunedin, said SJS placed about 2400 Otago and Southland students in work between November last year and February this year. More students had enrolled with SJS than usual this year, and she was expecting numbers to swell next month as the end of the academic year approached.
The research scholarships were good for students and for the university, she said.
