New Zealand University Scholarships: Merit, Doctoral and Faculty Awards

Scholarships run by the universities themselves

Each of New Zealand's universities funds its own scholarships from its own budget, separate from government schemes such as the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships. For most international students, these university awards are the most accessible form of help because they are tied to admission to that institution rather than to a country list.

The range typically includes international merit entrance awards, doctoral (PhD) scholarships, and faculty or subject-specific awards. Values, conditions and selection methods are set by each university, so the authoritative source is always the scholarships page on the relevant .ac.nz website.

International merit entrance awards

Merit entrance scholarships reward strong academic results and are aimed at new international students starting a programme. They are often awarded as a reduction on tuition fees for the first year, and sometimes for the duration of the degree if conditions are met.

Some are automatic, applied when your admission results meet a stated threshold; others are competitive and need a short application. Because the number of awards is limited, apply early and confirm whether a separate form is required on the university's official page.

• Reward academic merit for incoming international students
• Usually a tuition-fee reduction, occasionally renewable
• May be automatic or require a separate application
• Number of awards is limited — apply early

Doctoral and research scholarships

Doctoral scholarships are a major feature of New Zealand universities and a key reason research students choose the country. Many universities offer PhD scholarships that can include a stipend (a living allowance) and a fee component. A notable feature of the New Zealand system is that, at many universities, international PhD students are charged tuition at the domestic rate — this can vary by university and programme, so confirm the current policy on the specific university's official page.

Doctoral funding is competitive and usually requires you to first secure a supervisor and admission to the research programme. The award is decided on academic record and research potential, so a strong proposal and the right supervisor match matter greatly.

• Often include a stipend plus a fee component
• Require a supervisor and admission to the research programme first
• Selected on academic record and research potential
• Confirm fee status and stipend on the official university page

Faculty, equity and how selection differs from government schemes

Beyond the headline awards, individual faculties, schools and departments run their own prizes and scholarships, and many universities offer access or equity funds for students facing barriers. These are smaller and more specific, so they are easy to miss — browse the faculty pages of your intended programme.

The key difference from government schemes is the basis of selection: university awards are decided by the institution mainly on academic merit, research fit or defined need, and are open by admission rather than by nationality. Government schemes are targeted by country and policy priorities. We do not list amounts here because they change each intake — verify current values and deadlines on the official sites.

How to apply

Apply for admission to the university and programme first, since most scholarships depend on an offer or, for research, a confirmed supervisor. Then check the scholarships and faculty pages for any awards you may qualify for and note each deadline.

Keep transcripts, English-test results and references ready, and write any required statement clearly and specifically. This is general guidance — always confirm the current criteria, value and closing date on the university's official .ac.nz scholarship page before relying on them.

• Secure admission (and a PhD supervisor for research awards) first
• Check both the central scholarships page and faculty pages
• Track each deadline — automatic and application-based awards differ
• Confirm value and conditions on the official university page