The timing could not have been better for Alexander Lea.

Just as the government announced it would be scrapping the fees-free tertiary education scheme, the first-year University of Otago computer sciences student was awarded the inaugural University of Otago/Dunedin City Council Entrance Scholarship, worth $15,000 yesterday.

The Dunedin 18-year-old said it meant he would be ‘‘one of the lucky ones’’ who would be able to graduate without the financial burden of his studies hanging over him for several years after he finished his studies.

‘‘Winning this scholarship is quite an honour, to be honest.…