Angus Macdonald

Angus Macdonald will be saying adiós to New Zealand and 'hola' to Mexico in early 2017.

The Waikato Management School student is packing his bags courtesy of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America (PMSLA).

Angus, who is studying for a Bachelor of Business Analysis majoring in economics and supply chain management, will attend classes at Universidad de las Américas Puebla in Mexico.

He is one of 11 individual students selected in the second round of PMSLA scholarships offered by Education New Zealand. The programme is modelled on the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia, which has been sending students abroad since 2013.

"I've always wanted to go on a student exchange," says Angus. "When I saw the university had an exchange partner in Mexico, I began my application immediately for the PMSLA.”

He credits the university's School of Graduate Research for helping him write an application that set him apart, with a particular focus on how he could fulfil the goals of the scholarship. “This was crucial in my successful application,” he says.

Angus doesn’t speak Spanish, but that won’t be an issue. He has chosen to study papers taught in English, including international logistics, international trade agreements, project management and econometrics, all of which will be credited to his BBA degree at Waikato.

"“I hope to learn as much as possible about Mexico through these papers,” says Angus. “I also plan to learn Spanish while on the exchange to get the most out of the Mexican culture and help my job prospects following my graduation at Waikato.”

The PMSLA scholarship covers flights, accommodation, a living allowance and some extra curricular activities. He says the reduced financial burden will allow him to experience more of Latin America and have the flexibility to expand his network.

Want to study in Latin America and make amigos along the way? Check out the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America.