Scholarships in New Zealand for UG, Masters and PhD Programs

new Zealand is one of the world class countries offering a unique experience of studying abroad. With plenty of growing scholarship programs for international students the country is focused on offering the maximum number of scholarships to the overseas candidates. Around 90,000 international students are attracted by the top study programs in New Zealand every year.

The average annual expenses for those planning to study in New Zealand, ranges around 10,62,000 to 27,00,000 INR. These expenses are hard to bear for some students and can be waived off by the involvement of various scholarship programs available in the country for overseas students.

However, the Government of New Zealand is setting their eyes on doubling the number of international students in the country by 2025. To advocate for international students studying in New Zealand, lots of scholarship programs, including some 100% fee coverage plans are being implemented at present by the following organizations:

• New Zealand Government
• Other Governments
• Institutions
• Philanthropists

Scholarships in New Zealand: Government Scholarships

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade takes care of the scholarship programs for the international students. Here are the details of the government scholarships available for the international students.

International Tertiary Students Scholarships in New Zealand

This is a government scholarship program of New Zealand offered to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The scholarships are provided to applicants from six parts of the world based on their country region:

1. Pacific Countries
2. Asian Countries
3. African Countries
4. Carribean Countries
5. Latin American Countries
6. Commonwealth Countries

The Indian students are eligible to avail these scholarships as a part of the Asian countries. Here are the details of the requirements, grants and time frames of the scholarships:

• Eligibility: The student must be a resident of any of the the eligible countries, the applicant must be willing to apply for an undergraduate degree, postgraduate diploma or certificate, masters degree or PhD
• Application Deadline: Mid August
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: Entire course span
• Award Amount: Expenses for living and accommodation in New Zealand of up to 25,000 NZD (equivalent to 13,50,000 INR) and health insurance cost of up to 600 NZD (equivalent to 33,000 INR) per year.

Note: The scholarship program is currently on hold due to the outspread of Covid-19.

New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships

The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships are segments of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. The principal perspectives of the program are:

• Promotion of mutual cooperation between the Commonwealth countries in the field of education.
• Being available all across the Commonwealth
• Handpick the best candidates to promote and recognize the highest level of intellect

The details of the Commonwealth scholarship in New Zealand program are as follows:

• Eligibility: The student needs to be a citizen of the eligible countries, the student needs to have excellent previous academic records
• Application Deadline: The student should be a citizen of any of the eligible countries including Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Malaysia
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: Total course time
• Award Amount: Full tuition fees, one time establishment allowance of 3,000 NZD (equivalent to 1,62,000 INR), followed by a living allowance of 491 NZD (equivalent to 26,465 INR).

Scholarships in New Zealand: New Zealand Excellence Awards

The New Zealand Excellence Awards is a scholarship program specially designed for the Indian students. The award is funded jointly by the New Zealand universities and Education New Zealand. Here’s a list of the universities in New Zealand offering excellent courses to the Indian students:

1. Lincoln University
2. Massey University
3. AUT University
4. Victoria University of Wellington
5. The University of Waikato
6. University of Otago
7. The University of Auckland

Here are the details of the scholarship:

• Eligibility: The applicant must be at least 18 years of age while applying for the scholarship, the applicant should have a citizenship of India and should not have a
• Application Deadline:
• Number of Scholarships: 28 PG scholarships and 3 UG scholarships
• Duration: Entire Course
• Award Amount: One-time payment of 5000 NZD (equivalent to 2,70,000 INR) for PG and 10,000 NZD (equivalent to 5,40,000 INR) for UG.

University Scholarships to Study in New Zealand

Majority of the New Zealand universities offer sufficient scholarships to the meritorious students. These scholarships are mostly merit based or need based. Here are a few university scholarships available for the international students:

University of Otago Undergraduate Scholarships

The University of Otago offers a range of scholarships in New Zealand for the international students. The students applying for these scholarships must not be enrolled in the university previously. The undergraduate programs in New Zealand require good academic scores and English language proficiency test scores like IELTS and TOEFL iBT.

Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for International Students

• Eligibility: The student should be aspiring to study for a full-time UG or PG course.
• Application Deadline: Mid December for semester 1 and late April for semester 2
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: 12 months
• Award Amount: 10,000 NZD (equivalent to 5,40,000 INR) for tuition fees

New Frontiers Scholarship

• Eligibility: The students from New Zealand and other countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship
• Application Deadline: Early March for semester 1
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: One-time payment
• Award Amount: Between 2,500 to 5,000 NZD (equivalent to 1,35,000 to 2,70,000 INR) based on the scores of the applicant

Postgraduate Scholarships in New Zealand by University of Otago

For those planning to study postgraduate programs in New Zealand with scholarships, the candidates must have excellent performances in their undergraduate and prior courses.

Otago International Excellence Scholarships

• Eligibility: The student needs to have the citizenship of outside New Zealand, the student should be admitted to a master’s degree, postgraduate diploma or honours degree course by staying in New Zealand or online
• Application Deadline: December for semester 1 and April for semester 2
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: 12 months
• Award Amount: 10,000 NZD (equivalent to INR 5,40,000)

University of Otago International Master's Research Scholarship

• Eligibility: The student must not have a citizenship of New Zealand, the student must pursue a master’s study program, the student must be pursuing a thesis based master’s, the applicant should have excellent academic merit and potential for research
• Application Deadline: Any point of time of the year
• Number of Scholarships: 8
• Duration: Maximum 1 year
• Award Amount: Stipend of 15,000 NZD (equivalent to 8,10,000 INR)and tuition fee waiver for one year

Note: The aforementioned scholarships are only few of the wide variety of scholarships provided by the University of Otago.

University of Canterbury Scholarships in New Zealand

The University of Canterbury administers numerous undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for the needful and meritorious students. Here are some of the finest scholarships offered by the university:

Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship

The Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship is an undergraduate scholarship program offered by the University of Canterbury. The scholarship is offered to international students from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

• Eligibility: The student must have a citizenship of any of the chosen Asian countries, the student must not be a citizen of New Zealand and must not have an Aotearoa New Zealand residence visa
• Application Deadline: March 31
• Number of Scholarships: Variable
• Duration: One-time payment
• Award Amount: Tuition fee of 15,000 NZD (equivalent to 8,10,000 INR)

Alison MacGibbon Fund

The Alison MacGibbon Fund is a need based scholarship program of the University of Canterbury. This is a unique program which offers the grant to all the eligible applicants.

• Eligibility: International students who are unable to continue their studies in the university or are challenged physically or mentally are eligible for the grant
• Application Deadline: March 31
• Number of Scholarships: Same as number of eligible candidates
• Duration: One time payment
• Award Amount: 300 NZD (equivalent to 16,200 INR)

University of Auckland Scholarships in New Zealand

The University of Auckland offers a number of scholarships in New Zealand for international students. Here are some of the best scholarships offered by the institution:

University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship

The program is focused on the development of the new international undergraduate and postgraduate students. The application date opens around six weeks before the closing date.

• Eligibility: The student must be a new, full fee paying international candidate, the student must pursue an undergraduate course, a postgraduate masters course of 120 points and more (except masters for thesis)
• Application Deadline: October 10 to November 21 for semester 1 and March 09 to April 20 for semester 2.
• Number of Scholarships: Up to 50
• Duration: 1 year
• Award Amount: Up to 10,000 NZD (equivalent to 5,40,000 INR) bi-anual payment for undergraduate and postgraduate students

Note: The scholarship is currently suspended due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

University of Auckland International School Leaver Scholarship

The main objective of the University of Auckland International School Leaver Scholarship is to provide international students with financial resources. The trust is aimed to attract outstanding students from around the world leaving New Zealand schools towards the New Zealand universities.

• Eligibility: The applicant must be a New Zealand school leaver, the student should take admission to an undergraduate degree commencing in semester 1
• Application Deadline: December 05 to January 18
• Number of Scholarships: Up to 10 scholarships per year
• Duration: One year
• Award Amount: Tuition fees of up to NZD 20,000 (equivalent to 10,74,000 INR) per year

Note: The scholarship is currently suspended due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

Non-Government Scholarships to Study in New Zealand

Apart from the scholarships provided by the Government and the universities, there are a number of non-government organizations who grant scholarships to meritorious students from across the world. These are mostly merit based scholarships and are offered to the students with good academic scores and good results in exams to study in the New Zealand. Here are some of the best non-government scholarships:

Scholarships in New Zealand: NZ-GRADS New Zealand Global Research Alliance Doctoral Scholarship

The program is completely funded by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions. PhD students from developing countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and many more are allowed to avail this scholarship. The program allows the applicant to get a student visa for New Zealanda for themselves and bring their spouse to New Zealand to apply for the New Zealand open work visa until the duration of the studies of the applicant.

• Eligibility: Any student from a developing country aspiring to complete their PhD in a topic around greenhouse gas emissions can apply for the scholarship
• Application Deadline: August 01
• Number of Scholarships: 6
• Duration: 3 years
• Award Amount: Annual tuition fees and associated costs of 10,000 NZD (equivalent to 5,40,000 INR), tax free annual living stipend of NZD 28,000 (equivalent to 15,09,000 INR), health insurance covers of up to 700 NZD (equivalent to INR 38,000), Visa applications cost of up to 1,000 NZD (equivalent to 54,000 NZD), return flight cost to New Zealand of 6,000 NZD (equivalent to 3,24,000 INR) and allowance for book and thesis preparation of up to 1,500 NZD (equivalent to 81,000 INR)

Scholarships in New Zealand: SEG Scholarships

The Society of Exploration Geophysicist sponsors this scholarship program throughout the world. The scholarship encourages the study of geophysics and geosciences in universities around the world including New Zealand.

• Eligibility: The student must be a high school senior aspiring to attend college or is already studying an undergraduate or graduate college course, the candidate must have a good academic record which is above average, the student is planning to pursue a curriculum leading towards a career in geophysics
• Application Deadline: November 01 to March 01
• Number of Scholarships: Variable, depending upon the sponsors
• Duration: Entire course span
• Award Amount: Ranges from 695 NZD to 14,000 NZD (equivalent to 38,000 to 7,55,000 INR) per year

Note: The above mentioned scholarship programs are only a few among lots of scholarships available for international students in the country.

Scholarships in New Zealand: Application Requirements

Generally the international applicants in most of the scholarship programs at New Zealand opts the online application process. The students need to apply to study in New Zealand before applying for the scholarship programs. The necessities for the online application process are given below:

• The applicant must provide scanned copies of the transcripts or mark sheets of previous academic courses
• Scanned copy of letter(s) of recommendation are required from authorized personnel
• A copy of self written essay is required
• Copy of passport/ student visa
• Copy of English proficiency test results
• Scanned copy of the CV of the applicant is required
• Photos of the applicant

Besides, some scholarship organizations require some additional documents for the application process like sports certificates and other certificates in extra curricular activities.

Selection Process for Scholarships in New Zealand

The selection process for each of the scholarship programs for studying while living in New Zealand are different. However, the basic steps of selection in New Zealand scholarship programs are given below:

• Screening: The documents provided are verified and judged
• Feedback 1: The status of the application is updated to the student
• Psychological Tests: The students have to go through abstract reasoning and personality tests
• Interview: The students are asked to attend one or more interviews (mostly online) and their potential and leadership quality is judged based on the interview

Scholarships in New Zealand: Student Loan

The student loans are offered to the meritorious students. All the popular schools of New Zealand offer student loans to the eligible candidates. The conditions when candidates get student pans are listed below:

• If the student is at secondary school and willing to go to the college
• If the student is bankrupt

Depending on the student’s circumstances, they can get student loans for:

• Tuition fees
• Course related fees
• Living expenses

These loans are interest free and cover tuition fees and living expenses of the student.

The educational atmosphere and good work opportunities after study in New Zealand attracts the international students towards the scholarships in New Zealand.

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