Table of Contents
- Top 10 New Zealand Scholarships for International Students
- Overview Table for Scholarships to Study in New Zealand
- Detailed Breakdown of the Top 10 Scholarships in New Zealand
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Education in New Zealand usually comes at a high cost for international students. Scholarships have become the silver lining to many who want to overcome financial challenges. International students can apply for various studies in New Zealand based on their academic merit and financial needs.
Let’s understand and explore the top 10 New Zealand scholarships for international students. The list includes fully funded scholarships to study in New Zealand and partially funded options. Here are the top scholarships for studying in New Zealand.
Top 10 New Zealand Scholarships for International Students
In New Zealand, international students can explore diverse scholarships offered by the government, universities, and non-governmental organizations. Studying in New Zealand scholarships can help with educational and living costs.
Overview Table for Scholarships to Study in New Zealand
The table below shows an overview of the top scholarships for masters in New Zealand and undergraduate and research funding options for international students.
| Scholarship | Benefit/ Amount | Application Deadline |
| AUT International Scholarships – Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Undergraduate Programmes | 3,800 – 11.700 NZD (5,000 – 7,000 USD) | 19 May 2025 (Semester 1)15 – 30 September 2025 (Semester 2) |
| New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) | 320,000 NZD (195,000 USD) | 15 October 2025 (tentative date for Semester 2) |
| Ah Nua Scholarship | 5,000 NZD (3,000 USD) | 31 October 2025 |
| Vice Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship for India | 15,000 NZD (9,000 USD) | 28 December 2025 (Semester 1 & 2) |
| New Zealand – Global Research Alliance Doctoral Scholarship (NZ-GRADS) | 78,000 NZD (46.645 USD) | 30 September 2025 (tentative date for Semester 2) |
| AUT International Scholarships – Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies | 3,800 – 11.700 NZD (5,000 – 7,000 USD) | 19 May 2025 (Semester1)15 September 2025 (Semester 2) |
| Dean’s Asia Scholarship in the Faculty of Business and Economics | Tuition fee + Health cover | 21 November 2025 (Semester 2) |
| University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship | 10,000 NZD | 23 October 2025 (for 2026 intakes) |
| Victoria University of Wellington Tongarewa Scholarship | 10,000 NZD | 01 November 2025 (for 2026 intakes) |
| University of Canterbury International First-Year Scholarship | 15,000 NZD | August – October 2025 (depends on your program) |
Detailed Breakdown of the Top 10 Scholarships in New Zealand
Let’s explore each New Zealand scholarship, and you can check your eligibility as we discuss them in detail.
AUT International Scholarships – Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Undergraduate Programmes
Auckland University of Technology offers scholarships to international students enrolled in undergraduate programs in the faculties of business, economics, and law. Around 40 students are selected for the scholarship every year.
Eligibility:
- Get admission to the Auckland University of Technology
- Be an undergraduate student
Deadline:
19 May 2025 (Semester 1)
15 – 30 September 2025 (Semester 2)
Amount/Benefits:
3,800 – 11.700 NZD (5,000 – 7,000 USD)
New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA)
The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) are funded by New Zealand universities and Education New Zealand (ENZ). These awards include scholarships sponsored by New Zealand universities for Indian students. This scholarship covers undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Eligibility:
- Be an Indian citizen residing in India
- Get an unconditional offer letter from any of the scholarship-funding universities
Deadline:
15 October 2025 (tentative date for Semester 2)
Amount/Benefits:
320,000 NZD (195,000 USD)
Ah Nua Scholarship
If you are an international student at the University of Canterbury, you can apply for the Ah Nua Scholarship. Every year, one student is selected and gets funding of 5,000 NZD (3,000 USD).
Eligibility:
- Be a full-fee-paying student
- Be a citizen of eligible countries such as India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Singapore, etc.
Deadline:
31 October 2025
Amount/Benefits:
5,000 NZD (3,000 USD)
Vice Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship for India
This scholarship assists Indian students who are beginning their studies in undergraduate or postgraduate programs at the University of Waikato for the first time. The beneficiaries will receive a funding of 15,000 NZD (9,000 USD). Academic merit is the primary selection criterion.
Eligibility:
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of India
- Be a fresh applicant to the University of Waikato
- Get an offer letter to study undergraduate or postgraduate programs at the University of Waikato for eligible courses
- Obtain a minimum GPA equivalency of B+ in the qualification used to gain entrance to the University of Waikato
Deadline:
28 December 2025 (Semester 1 & 2)
Amount/Benefits:
15,000 NZD (9,000 USD)
New Zealand – Global Research Alliance Doctoral Scholarship (NZ-GRADS)
NZ-GRADS is a doctoral scholarship (PhD) designed for science students from developing nations, enabling them to pursue their PhD studies at a university in New Zealand. This is a fully-funded scholarship for up to 3 years. This scholarship annually offers 10,000 NZD (6,000 USD) for the tuition fee, 40,696 NZD (24,230 USD) for the living costs, 700 NZD (400 USD) for medical insurance, 1,000 NZD (600 USD) for visa, 6,000 NZD (3,500 USD) for return flight, and 1,500 NZD (890 USD) for books and thesis.
Eligibility
- Study for PhD in New Zealand in science
- Be an international student from a developing country
Deadline:
30 September 2025 (tentative date for Semester 2)
Amount/Benefits:
78,000 NZD (46.645 USD)
AUT International Scholarships – Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies
International students in the faculty of Design and Creative Technologies at the Auckland University of Technology can apply for the scholarship. Around 80 scholarships are available every year.
Eligibility:
- Be a fresh applicant to the Auckland University of Technology
- Be a citizen of any of the eligible countries
Deadline:
19 May 2025 (Semester1)
15 September 2025 (Semester 2)
Amount/Benefits:
3,800 – 11.700 NZD (5,000 – 7,000 USD)
Dean’s Asia Scholarship in the Faculty of Business and Economics
The University of Auckland offers these scholarships to Asian students enrolled for undergraduate courses in business and economics. Beneficiaries will be selected based on their academic merit, financial need, and demonstrated potential to be business leaders. The funding is available for 3 years.
Eligibility
- Be an Asian student
- Get admission to a business or economics undergraduate program at the University of Auckland
Deadline:
21 November 2025 (Semester 2)
Amount/Benefits:
Tuition fee + Health cover
University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship
The University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship benefits up to 50 international students. The primary objective of the scholarship is to welcome international students from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds.
Eligibility:
- Be an international student of the Summer Start International Program
- Recive a conditional or unconditional offer letter
- Have at least 6.00 GPE
- Pay the tuition fee after 2 semesters of entering AUT
Deadline:
23 October 2025 (for 2026 intakes)
Amount/Benefits:
10,000 NZD
Victoria University of Wellington Tongarewa Scholarship
The Victoria University of Wellington Tongarewa Scholarship is an undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship for international students. It typically lasts one year.
Eligibility:
- International students who are paying full international fees
- A holder of an unconditional or conditional Offer of Place for an eligible programme at Victoria University of Wellington
- New students to Victoria University of Wellington
- selected by the scholarship award panel (upon scholarship application)
Deadline:
01 November 2025 (for 2026 intakes)
Amount/Benefits:
10,000 NZD
University of Canterbury International First-Year Scholarship
The University of Canterbury International First-Year Scholarship is for international first-year undergraduate students. Each scholarship has different eligibility criteria and deadlines.
Eligibility:
- Be a first-year student to the University of Canterbury
- Have academic merit
Deadline:
August – October 2025 (depends on your program)
Amount/Benefits:
15,000 NZD
Conclusion
With a scholarship, studying in New Zealand is more affordable to international students. Explore your scholarship options right when you begin your New Zealand study process. Note down your options and apply for them timely.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students get full scholarships in New Zealand?
Yes. International students can explore scholarships in New Zealand funded by the government, universities, and non-profit organizations.
Are there scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students?
There are scholarship options for Indian students in New Zealand. These scholarships are available for diverse programs and usually cover the tuition fees, living costs, and related expenses.
Is New Zealand affordable for Indian students?
New Zealand could be costly for the average Indian but can be affordable with the help of education loans and scholarships. The average cost of living in New Zealand varies from 20,000 to 25,000 NZD per year.
What types of scholarships are available in New Zealand?
Government scholarships, university-funded scholarships, and those offered by other organizations are the types of scholarships available for international students. These scholarships can be fully or partially funded.
How much is the percentage required for scholarships in New Zealand?
Your academic scores play an important role in determining your scholarship eligibility. Typically, scores of 70% – 80% are required for scholarships in New Zealand. However, there are scholarships available for students with 50% or above scores.
Are there age restrictions for scholarships in New Zealand?
Typically, there is no age restriction for scholarships in New Zealand. Anyone enrolled in relevant academic programs can apply for scholarships in New Zealand.
