In a remarkable achievement for New Zealand's higher education landscape, 18-year-old Alston Yam from Auckland has been selected as one of 20 elite undergraduate Ellison Scholars by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), securing a fully funded scholarship valued at over $800,000 for four years of study at the University of Oxford. This prestigious award, backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, highlights the global potential of Kiwi talent nurtured in local colleges like Macleans College, where Yam excelled as dux and NZQA Premier Scholar.
The scholarship not only covers tuition fees estimated at around NZ$50,000 annually but also provides a comprehensive living stipend, travel allowances, personal technology setup, and paid 10-week summer internships at EIT labs. Yam, who will pursue Mathematics and Mathematics & Statistics at Somerville College starting October 2026, embodies the bridge between New Zealand's secondary education system and world-leading universities.
Alston Yam's Extraordinary Journey in New Zealand Education
Alston Yam's path to Oxford began at Macleans College, a top decile state school in Auckland's eastern suburbs renowned for its strong academic performance, particularly in STEM subjects. As Mansfield House Captain and prefect, Yam balanced rigorous studies with leadership, mentoring juniors in maths and coding clubs, participating in music, sports, and school productions. His humility and collaborative spirit earned widespread respect among peers and staff.
In 2025, Yam was named dux of Macleans College and received the NZQA Premier Scholar Award, topping the nation in Outstanding Scholarships for Calculus, Earth and Space Science, and Geography, alongside Scholarships in Chemistry, Digital Technologies, Physics, and Statistics. This feat placed him in the top 0.3% nationally across multiple disciplines, showcasing the depth of New Zealand's secondary education in fostering polymaths.
Macleans College consistently ranks among New Zealand's elite for mathematics, with students frequently medaling in national and international competitions. The school's emphasis on extracurricular challenges prepares students like Yam for global stages, addressing broader concerns in Kiwi maths education where participation rates have fluctuated but top talents continue to shine.
Conquering Global Maths Competitions: Yam's Competitive Edge
Yam's prowess was evident early; as a Year 11 student, he claimed first place in the junior section of the New Zealand Physics and Mathematics Competition. His team achievements peaked in 2025 with an Outstanding International Award (top two globally) at the International Mathematical Modelling Challenge (IMMC), tackling real-world problems in engineering and programming.
- Represented New Zealand at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025 on Australia's Sunshine Coast, scoring 9 points (5 on problem 1, 4 on problem 4), contributing to NZ's 38th placing with two silvers and three bronzes.
- Gold medal at New Zealand Mathematical Olympiad, securing IMO selection.
- Key role in Macleans teams winning global accolades in modelling challenges.
Beyond numbers, Yam founded the New Zealand Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (NZOAA), reviving national participation and leading the first team to international competition. These feats underscore how New Zealand secondary schools like Macleans cultivate Olympiad-level talent despite challenges in broader maths engagement.
The Ellison Scholars Programme: A Game-Changer for Global Talent
Launched in 2024, the Undergraduate Ellison Scholars Programme selects around 20 exceptional students annually from diverse countries for fully funded Oxford degrees. The rigorous process begins with applications featuring essays, references, and videos on real-world problems, followed by Oxford admissions testing, interviews, assessment days, and final review by Larry Ellison himself.
Scholars engage year-round with EIT through conferences, collaborative projects, and internships tackling humanity's grand challenges. For Yam, part of the 2026 second cohort from 15 countries, this means blending Oxford's rigorous academics with practical innovation.Learn more about the programme
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Larry Ellison's Vision: EIT and the Drive to Solve World Problems
Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and one of the world's richest individuals, established EIT in Oxford with a £1 billion commitment to accelerate breakthroughs in health, climate change, AI governance, and food security. The Oxford campus serves as a hub where scholars like Yam will intern on cutting-edge projects, such as clean energy modelling—aligning perfectly with his interests.
Ellison's support for Donald Trump underscores his influence in tech-policy spheres, but his philanthropy prioritizes merit-based talent pipelines. For New Zealand, EIT represents an avenue for STEM students to access resources beyond domestic universities.EIT official site
From Kiwi College to Oxford: What Mathematics Studies Entail
At Oxford's Somerville College, Yam will dive into a Mathematics course emphasising pure maths, applied maths, statistics, and computation. Oxford's tutorial system fosters deep one-on-one guidance, preparing graduates for research, finance, tech, or policy roles. New Zealand students at Oxford, though few (Rhodes Scholarships award 3-4 annually), often excel, with alumni in global leadership.
This pathway counters NZ's STEM challenges, where engineering shortages loom at 2,300 annually, and maths participation dips. Scholarships like Ellison's could stem brain drain by building international networks.
Macleans College's Role in New Zealand's Higher Education Pipeline
Macleans College exemplifies how New Zealand secondary institutions feed top universities. Consistently top-ranked for NCEA and scholarship results, it boasts multiple IMO participants and global modellers. Principal Steven McChesney notes such successes inspire broader STEM uptake amid national concerns over declining algebra enrolments.
Yet, NZ higher education faces hurdles: limited scholarships for Oxford/Caltech-tier unis, funding pressures on domestic STEM programmes. Yam's win spotlights the need for more targeted investments in maths prodigies.
Challenges Facing STEM Talent in New Zealand Universities
New Zealand universities like Auckland and Otago lead in maths research, but face lecturer shortages and funding gaps. STEM scholarships (e.g., Toloa for Pacific students, Genesis for women) exist, yet international opportunities like EIT fill voids. With IMO teams mid-table globally, nurturing Yam-like talents requires enhanced olympiad support and university bridges.
Photo by Kevin Mueller on Unsplash
- Initiatives: NZ Mathematical Olympiad Training Week, university summer schools.
- Stats: NZ IMO average rank ~35-40; top schools produce most medallists.
Implications for New Zealand Higher Education and Brain Drain
Yam's scholarship signals hope amid brain drain, where 20% of top graduates emigrate. Returning scholars bolster unis like Auckland's maths department. EIT's model—academia + internships—could inspire NZ programmes, enhancing employability in clean energy, AI.
The Future for Alston Yam and Kiwi Maths Prodigies
Yam aims to apply maths to clean energy transitions, potentially revolutionising NZ's renewable goals. His story motivates students eyeing scholarships; applications for 2027 EIT cohort open now. For NZ HE, it's a call to amplify STEM pathways, ensuring more Auckland teens reach Oxford.
McLean College: "Alston's dedication inspires us all." As NZ grapples with STEM needs, such successes affirm local education's strength.