Scholarships, grants and awards

Could you study for free? It's worth finding out

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.

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

Wānanga

• Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi website - scholarship information

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.

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 

• Scholarships, grants and awards for Māori students
• Scholarships, grants and awards for Pasifika students

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.

• New Zealand Government website - education scholarships, grants and awards

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.

• Workplace and industry training contacts

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

Look up scholarships on the givME database

givME (formerly BreakOut) is a searchable database with information on more than 4,000 funding schemes covering study, professional development, research, travel, arts, sport, and community projects.

The database is provided by Generosity New Zealand.

You can use givME for free at:

• about 240 secondary schools
• most universities and many polytechnics
• public libraries
• some community centres.
  
  
• Generosity New Zealand website - find out about givME scholarships

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.