Scholarships, grants and awards
Find out about different types of scholarships, grants and awards.
What's on this page?
- What types of scholarships, grants and awards are there?
- Scholarships from universities, polytechnics and wānanga
- What does Fees Free mean for my scholarship?
- What does Fees Free mean for my New Zealand Scholarship?
- Scholarship information for Māori and Pasifika students
- Scholarships, grants and awards provided by government, industry or interest groups
- Find scholarships online
- Find out more
What types of scholarships, grants and awards are there?
To get a scholarship, you need to meet certain criteria, which can be based on things like:
- area of study
- academic merit
- community service or involvement
- ethnicity
- financial hardship
- the industry or trade
- leadership
- the region you grew up in, or where you plan to study.
Scholarships can apply to different education levels, such as a diploma or Master's degree, and can also vary in what they cover. For example, some scholarships may cover tuition fees only, while others cover all course costs and some of your living expenses.
There are thousands of scholarships, grants and awards so take a good look at what you could apply for. There may be more opportunities than you think.
Scholarships from universities, polytechnics and wānanga
Many universities, polytechs and other education providers offer their own scholarships, grants and awards. There's often a scholarships officer or career adviser who can tell you what scholarships you may be eligible for (whether they're offered by the university or by someone else).
Tertiary education providers may also have a list of scholarships on their websites, including eligibility criteria and application forms. Check out the education providers listed below – the list isn't exhaustive, but it's a good place to start.
Universities
- Auckland University of Technology website - scholarships and awards information
- Lincoln University website - browse the scholarships database
- Massey University website - scholarships and awards information
- University of Auckland website - search for scholarships and awards
- University of Canterbury website - scholarships information
- University of Otago website - scholarships information
- University of Waikato website - scholarships and awards information
- Victoria University of Wellington website - scholarships information
Polytechnics and institutes of technology
- Ara Institute of Canterbury website - scholarships and fee reductions
- Eastern Institute of Technology website - scholarship information
- Manukau Insitute of Technology website - student financial assistance
- Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology website - scholarship information
- Otago Polytechnic website - scholarship information
- Southern Institute of Technology website - scholarship information
- Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology website - scholarships and grants
- Universal College of Learning website - scholarship information
- Unitec Institute of Technology website - scholarships and awards information
- Waikato Institute of Technology website - scholarship information
- Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki website - scholarship information
- Wellington Institute of Technology website - scholarship information
What does Fees Free mean for my scholarship?
Contact your scholarship provider directly to discuss your situation. You may be able to use the scholarship for living or course-related costs or use it in your second year of study instead.
What does Fees Free mean for my New Zealand Scholarship?
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) awards New Zealand Scholarships to the top students who undertake the Scholarship assessment for an approved subject. You will still be granted the award money for any New Zealand Scholarship you get when you are enrolled in your first year of tertiary study in New Zealand.
NZQA website – eligibility requirements for New Zealand Scholarships
Scholarship information for Māori and Pasifika students
Scholarships, grants and awards provided by government, industry or interest groups
Funding from government
Government agencies offer and administer a large number of scholarships, grants and awards. The New Zealand Government website is a good place to search, as it covers all government departments and agencies.
Funding from industry or interest groups
If you're interested in training in a specific industry area, you should check whether that industry has an industry training organisation (ITO). ITOs usually provide training and job information to hands-on industries such as agriculture.
Some also offer scholarships, or have information about where you can get scholarships related to that area of work.
Some of the links below relate to a specific types of jobs or areas of study and some are also for graduate students.
- Fulbright New Zealand website - information on postgraduate study and research awards to the US
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment website - information on investment and funding
- Ministry of Primary Industries website - information on forestry and forest engineering scholarships for Māori or female students
- Royal Society of New Zealand website - information on funds, medals and competitions
- TeachNZ website - information on scholarships for students wanting to train as teachers
- Workbridge website - information on support funds for people with disabilities to participate in open employment
Find scholarships online
StudySpy scholarships
Use the StudySpy website to explore scholarship opportunities in New Zealand.
givME scholarships
Use the Generosity New Zealand givME platform to explore scholarships and grants.
You can use givME for free at:
- Citizens Advice Bureaux
- public libraries
- selected secondary schools, universities and polytechnics
- selected community centres.
Where else can I go for help?
- Talk to your careers adviser, they can tell you what scholarships, grants and awards you might be eligible for. They can also help you with application forms.
- Talk to education providers, course co-ordinators and lecturers about options if you are already studying.
- Check with sports, community, religious and other interest groups you’re involved in, or that are active in your area.
Find out more
- What are the costs? Find out what costs you need to factor in if you're going to study
- Student loans, allowances and other ways to pay for your study
- Sorted website - information and calculators to help you with budgeting and setting financial goals
- StudyLink website - find out how you could get help with study costs
- Moneyhub website - information about scholarships available to all school leavers
Updated 24 Jan 2019