10 New Zealand Universities Scholarships 2027 Entry Based Admissions for Higher Education

New Zealand continues to punch well above its weight as a destination for internationally mobile students, and the 2027 admissions cycle offers some of the most structured scholarship pathways the country has seen in recent years.

All eight of the country’s public universities now operate dedicated international scholarship streams—several of them automatically assessed at the point of admission—alongside the New Zealand Government’s flagship Manaaki programme, which channels fully funded places through all eight institutions and select polytechnics. What follows is a university-by-university breakdown of what is actually available, what the awards are worth, and what applicants need to know before they commit.

1# University of Auckland – 170+ Awards Across All Levels

New Zealand’s highest-ranked institution offers more than 170 distinct scholarships at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral level. For 2026 entry, the university’s International Student Excellence Scholarship provides up to NZ$10,000 towards tuition fees, with up to 50 awards made annually to students enrolling full-time in bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, or master’s programmes. A separate India High Achievers Scholarship raises that ceiling to NZ$20,000 for Indian nationals, while the ASEAN Scholarship offers up to NZ$10,000 specifically for students from Southeast Asian member states.

School leavers who have completed secondary education in New Zealand can access the International School Leavers Scholarship, also worth up to NZ$20,000. At the doctoral level, Auckland participates in the Asian Development Bank–funded ADB Scholarship, which covers full tuition, living costs, travel, and health insurance for candidates from ADB member countries pursuing a master’s degree. Scholarship applications for Semester 2 2026 opened on 18 February 2026, with a closing date of 1 April 2026; applications for Semester 1 2027 intake are expected to open in September 2026. A minimum Grade Point Equivalent (GPE) of 6 is required for most awards.

2# University of Otago – Automatic Assessment and Doctoral Stipends

Otago has streamlined its international scholarship process significantly. Postgraduate coursework applicants—enrolling in eligible master’s or diploma programmes for 2026—are automatically assessed for a scholarship during the admission process, meaning no separate application is required. The university’s International Academic Excellence Scholarship and Global Scholarship (worth NZ$15,000) both operate on this automatic-assessment model, and it is possible to hold multiple awards simultaneously: a student could, in theory, stack a Global Scholarship with an Academic Excellence Scholarship for a combined value approaching NZ$65,000.

For doctoral candidates, the University of Otago advertises around 200 doctoral scholarships each year, open to both domestic and international applicants. Stipend values for the international master’s scholarship sit at approximately NZ$17,172, while the doctoral scholarship provides around NZ$30,696. Undergraduate applicants who studied at a New Zealand high school or a New Zealand-based foundation programme apply through the same entrance scholarship round as domestic students, with a single application window running from 1 July to 15 August via eVision. The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship for International Students sits among the awards considered through that single application.

3# Victoria University of Wellington – NZ$28 Million+ in Annual Scholarship Funding

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington distributes more than NZ$28 million in scholarship funding each year. For international students entering in 2026–2027, the principal awards are the Tongarewa Scholarships: up to 10 awards of NZ$10,000 are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, plus up to 9 awards of NZ$5,000 for postgraduate recipients. A separate master’s-level scholarship offers up to NZ$15,000. Assessment is competitive and based on academic excellence, with admission deadlines falling on 1 May, 1 September, and 8 December 2026.

At the doctoral level, the Wellington Doctoral Scholarship provides full tuition coverage and an annual stipend of NZ$29,500–$32,000 for up to three years. The university also participates in the China Scholarship Council (CSC) joint programme and the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships. Students are assessed for scholarship eligibility upon application for their programme; no separate scholarship application form is required for the Tongarewa Scholarship, although shortlisted candidates may be asked for additional documentation.

4# University of Canterbury – NZ$20 Million Pool and Country-Specific Awards

The University of Canterbury (UC) distributes over NZ$20 million in scholarships and prizes annually. International first-year undergraduates who completed their qualifications overseas or through UC International College (UCIC) are considered for the UC International First Year Scholarship, with values of NZ$10,000, NZ$15,000, or NZ$20,000. Country-specific awards include a dedicated Malaysia Scholarship (NZ$20,000), an India High Achievers Scholarship (NZ$5,000–$10,000), a Southeast Asia Scholarship (NZ$5,000), and an Engineering International Scholarship (NZ$15,000).

At doctoral level, the UC Doctoral Scholarship provides an annual stipend of NZ$28,000 (2024 value) plus domestic-rate tuition coverage. Doctoral candidates are automatically considered for the scholarship when they apply for enrolment in a doctoral degree programme. Applications for 2026 first-year undergraduate scholarships have now closed; 2027 scholarship details are expected to be updated by April–May 2026. Canterbury also participates in the CSC joint doctoral programme for Chinese postgraduate students.

5# Auckland University of Technology (AUT) – Region-Specific Merit Scholarships

AUT runs a structured suite of region-specific international scholarships for its 2026 intake. The AUT International Scholarships for South Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia, and Europe are designed for high-achieving students beginning undergraduate or postgraduate study, with Semester 2 2026 applications actively being processed. Applicants from South Asia (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives) are eligible for dedicated awards, as are students from ASEAN nations and North Asian countries including China, Japan, and South Korea.

The AUT–NCUK Scholarship offers two awards of NZ$10,000 each for students who have completed an NCUK pathway programme and are enrolling in a programme of at least 120 points at undergraduate level or above. AUT also participates in the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships panel and maintains a reciprocal agreement with Mexico’s SECIHTI for Mexican government-funded students. Prospective scholarship recipients must hold a confirmed offer of place at AUT in their chosen programme before a scholarship can be finalised.

6# University of Waikato – Over 120 Listed Awards

The University of Waikato maintains one of the largest scholarship databases in the New Zealand system, with over 120 awards listed for international and domestic students across school-leaver, undergraduate, postgraduate, and research categories. The International Excellence Scholarship provides tuition fee credits of up to NZ$15,000 for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and is assessed on academic merit. The Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship targets high-achieving new students enrolling for face-to-face study on campus.

Waikato also offers the Excellence Scholarship for Asia, aimed at students from China, India, and other selected Asian countries at pre-degree, undergraduate, and taught postgraduate levels. Application timelines are rolling, though the university recommends submitting at least 8–12 weeks before the intended course start date. Doctoral candidates have access to the university’s PhD scholarship programme, which is assessed alongside the admission application.

7# Lincoln University – Compact Campus, Tiered Merit Awards

Lincoln—New Zealand’s specialist land-based university—offers a tiered set of international scholarships. The International School Leavers Scholarship provides NZ$10,000 towards tuition for recent high school graduates enrolling in an undergraduate programme. The International Undergraduate Scholarship offers NZ$3,000 for students meeting academic and English requirements, while the Undergraduate Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship steps up to NZ$5,000 for high-achieving new students. At the postgraduate level, the Taught Master Merit Scholarship provides up to NZ$15,000 and is assessed automatically—no separate application is required.

Lincoln also participates in the CSC joint doctoral scholarship programme for Chinese students, covering up to four years of study including tuition, living costs, and research support. Lincoln’s smaller campus in Canterbury provides a close-knit research community with direct links to agricultural and environmental science facilities. Scholarship values range from NZ$3,000 to NZ$15,000 depending on programme and merit, and up to 50 awards are made annually.

8# Massey University – Multi-Year Undergraduate Awards and Doctoral Funding

Massey stands out for offering multi-year undergraduate scholarship support. The International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship provides up to NZ$30,000 over three to five years of study, awarded on the basis of academic merit and character. A letter of recommendation from a school principal, teacher, employer, or community leader is required, and multiple awards are made each year. The International Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship supports new master’s-level students on similar criteria.

For 2026 Semester 2, the Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarship is open to new international students enrolling full-time in their first 120 credits of an undergraduate degree. Applicants must hold the equivalent of a New Zealand B grade or higher in their preceding qualification. Massey also administers Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships and provides pastoral care to Manaaki scholars, with the 2026 application window running from 1 March to 10 April 2026. US and Canadian students may also access US federal loans and veterans’ benefits through Massey’s financial aid office.

9# Manaaki New Zealand Government Scholarships – The Fully Funded Route

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship remains the single most generous funding package available for international students in New Zealand. Funded through the New Zealand Aid Programme and administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with Education New Zealand, the scholarship covers full tuition fees, a living allowance of NZ$615 per week, an establishment allowance of NZ$3,000, medical insurance, return international travel, home leave travel for programmes exceeding 1.6 years, and a reintegration allowance of NZ$1,000 upon return to the home country. Research and thesis costs are also covered for postgraduate students.

Manaaki scholarships are available at all eight New Zealand universities and three institutes of technology. However, eligibility is restricted to citizens of specific developing countries in the Pacific and parts of Asia—including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam, among Pacific Island nations. Applicants must be at least 18 when the scholarship begins, demonstrate relevant work experience (one year full-time or two years part-time for postgraduate applicants), and commit to returning to their home country for at least two years after completion. The 2026 tertiary application window opened on 1 March 2026 and closes at midday on 10 April 2026.

10# New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS)

For PhD-level applicants who fall outside the Manaaki eligibility criteria, the New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) offer a government-funded alternative. The programme provides a stipend covering full tuition and living expenses for up to three years, and is available at any of the country’s eight universities. Selection is based strictly on academic excellence and research potential, and the programme is designed to strengthen New Zealand’s global research profile by attracting top international doctoral candidates.

Applicants should contact prospective supervisors at their chosen university before submitting a formal application, as evidence of supervisor engagement is typically required. Deadlines vary by institution, and candidates are encouraged to check each university’s doctoral scholarship page for the most current timelines. The NZIDRS is particularly well suited to applicants from countries not covered by the Manaaki programme—including much of Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas—who seek a fully funded PhD pathway in New Zealand.

What Applicants Should Know?

Several features of the 2026–2027 cycle deserve attention. First, automatic scholarship assessment is now standard at multiple institutions—Otago, Canterbury, and Lincoln all consider applicants for merit scholarships as part of the admission process, removing the need for a separate application. Second, stacking is permitted at some universities; Otago, for instance, explicitly allows students to hold a Global Scholarship alongside an Academic Excellence Scholarship. Third, country-specific awards have expanded significantly at Canterbury, Auckland, and AUT, meaning applicants from India, Southeast Asia, and Malaysia should check for dedicated funding streams beyond the headline awards.

Finally, deadlines vary considerably. Manaaki applications close on 10 April 2026 for study beginning in early 2027. Auckland’s scholarship window for Semester 2 2026 closes on 1 April 2026, with Semester 1 2027 applications expected from September 2026. Canterbury’s 2027 first-year scholarships will be updated by mid-2026. The common thread: early preparation is non-negotiable. Applicants who begin assembling documentation, securing references, and engaging with prospective supervisors well before deadlines will have the strongest chance of converting their admission into a funded place.