Today there are approximately 2,500 university graduates in the 38 Government Departments that come under the Public Service Commission. One hundred and seventeen hold doctorates conferred by overseas universities or by the University of New Zealand.

The Commission awards each year bursaries for full-time university study in Engineering, Architecture, Science, Arts, Commerce and Accountancy. It also offers post-graduate study bursaries for Masters' Degrees in several disciplines, for the Diploma of Social Science at the School of Social Science, and for the Diploma of Public Administration at the School of Public Administration.

At the technical level awards arealso made for full-time study for diplomas issued by the two Agricultural Colleges.

In addition a great many young public servants attend university lectures as part-time students in one or other of the disciplines.

For the university graduate a career in the Public Service offers the priceless opportunity of specialising in his or her chosen field. Graduates in economics find scope for their talents as research officers, or investigating officers in the Treasury or in the Department of Industries and Commerce. Arts and law graduates for whom international affairs held an attraction, may find an outlet for their ability in the Department of External Affairs. All three Departments frequently send officers to posts overseas. This is also the practice in the Audit Department, where specialists in accountancy learn to become "Watchdogs of the Public Purse".