For Ava Atkinson-Barclay and Szeying Ooi (both 18), the scholarships offered the chance of a lifetime to gain high-quality education without a large student debt at the end.
Miss Atkinson-Barclay has won an Australian National Undergraduate scholarship worth more than $NZ16,000 each year, for up to five years of study.
She plans to study law, politics, philosophy, and "maybe some French if I can fit it in".
"They are all those subjects you dream about doing, but can't do at school. I'd like to go into civil service working for the government. Canberra's a good place to go for that.
"I'm not entirely sure what my dream job is yet, but I've got five years to work it out ... maybe the head of the United Nations would be good."
The 2010 Columba College proxime accessit won the scholarship after receiving NCEA level 3 endorsed with excellence last year.
When staff at Australia National University translated her NCEA results into the Australian format, she was placed in the top bracket of applicants with 99.95 points out of a possible 99.95.
Miss Ooi's Australian National Undergraduate scholarship is worth about $NZ8,500 each year, for up to four years of study at Australia National University in Canberra.
She too received NCEA level 3 endorsed with excellence and her marks translated to 99.7 points out of the possible 99.95.
She plans to study a Bachelor of Science majoring in immunology and microbiology, with the possible addition of computer science, statistics or chemistry. Eventually, she hopes to go into post-graduate medicine.
While Columba College principal Elizabeth Wilson was pleased with the girls' achievements, she was concerned high-paying scholarships from overseas universities were luring many of New Zealand's best and brightest off-shore.
"We are obviously delighted for the girls, and very proud of their achievements. It is significant to be granted undergraduate scholarships of this value to an overseas university straight from high school in New Zealand.
"On the other hand, I think it is something to keep an eye on, with regard to our own tertiary pathways and top level scholarship opportunities that we are offering within New Zealand."
Both students are due to leave for Canberra today, but said no matter where their careers took them, they would return to New Zealand.
