Each year, many international students arrive in New Zealand on a Manaaki scholarship. These fully funded awards have given learners around the world the chance to achieve their study abroad dreams in the country for generations – and you could be next. With opportunities at every degree level, there is a lot to explore. Read on as we explain the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, including how to apply.
What are Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships?
The Manaaki scholarship programme is a long-established package of funding opportunities offered to international students by the government of New Zealand. These have been awarded to people looking to study in the country at vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate level for more than 70 years.
Most notable are the Manaaki New Zealand Tertiary Scholarships, which are offered to students from numerous countries each year. If you aim to earn a degree at one of the country's top universities, these could be a fantastic option.
What do they offer?
Manaaki New Zealand Tertiary Scholarships offer a broad range of funded support for the duration of your studies. They cover:
- Tuition fees
- Travel to and from New Zealand
- Establishment allowance (a one-off payment to get you started)
- Living expenses allowance
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Private tutoring
- Research allowance (in some cases)
- Reintegration allowance for when you return home
While the scholarship is intended to cover basic living expenses, you may still want to budget carefully. Get started with our guide to the cost of living in New Zealand.
Who can apply?
International students from a range of developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region are able to apply. The Philippines, Malaysia and Nepal are some of those included.
In addition, there are a few more basic eligibility requirements. Notably, you must have lived in your home country for at least the past two years, and intend to return there for at least two more after your studies. A key aim of the scholarship is for you to contribute to its development.
In some cases, there are also work experience requirements. Applicants at postgraduate level must have at least one year of full-time or two years of part-time experience in an area linked to their study subject. This can be paid or unpaid. For undergraduate applicants, there are no such requirements.
What can I study?
There are no total restrictions on the subjects that you can study with a Manaaki Tertiary Scholarship. However, your application is unlikely to be successful unless your choice appears on the list of those recommended for your region. These are designed to match its social and economic needs.
All applicants can apply to study for a postgraduate certificate or diploma, master's degree, or PhD. Only those from Timor-Leste and the Pacific region are able to apply at undergraduate level.
How do I apply?
You must apply via the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships website. After registering, you can begin completing the online submission form. As part of this, you must provide various pieces of information.
These include:
- Personal details
- Preferred courses (up to two)
- Educational history
- Work experience
Additionally, you will need to answer several questions in the manner of a personal statement. These are crucial to your chances of receiving a scholarship, as they are used to understand exactly why you want one, and what you plan to do with it.
The questions cover:
- Development
- How your chosen courses relate to one of the recommended subjects for your home country or region
- The skills and knowledge you hope to gain from studying in New Zealand
- Why these are important to the development of your home country
- Your intentions upon returning to your home country
- How you will use your skills and knowledge to contribute to the development of your home country
- Interpersonal skills
- An example of a time that you developed a new relationship in your work or study
- Self-motivation
- An example of a time that you had to drive yourself to achieve something, without any prompting
- Studying abroad
- Why you want to study in New Zealand
- How you will prepare for moving, living and studying abroad
If you would like some advice on how to answer these questions, take a look at our scholarship application tips.
When should I apply?
Applications are open from February 1 each year for courses beginning at the start of the next year. You can apply throughout the month, with the window closing on February 28, at 12:00 (New Zealand time).
However, it is worth noting that applications from some countries can close sooner. The Manaaki programme say this could happen if a large volume are received from there at an early stage. Given this, they recommend completing your application as soon as you are able.
How are applications assessed?
If you meet the basic eligibility requirements, your application will be assessed in detail with respect to the selection guidelines. While this is happening, you will be invited to complete an online reasoning test. At some point after this, you will be informed of whether or not you will progress to the next stage: an interview.
After providing evidence of your English language test score, this will take place at some point between May and July. You will be interviewed either in person, by phone or by video call by two Manaaki representatives. Over the course of 40 minutes, they will ask you six questions.
These will cover:
- Your preferred courses, and how they link to the development of your home country
- Your motivation for and commitment to developing your home country
- How you cope with challenges
- Times when you have shown resilience
If you are a PhD applicant, you must also be able to explain your research topic, and what you have done to find a supervisor.
In previous years, fewer than 10 per cent of applications for a Manaaki Tertiary Scholarship have been successful. The selection process is very competitive, and judged on clear criteria. These are some of the most important things that assessors look for:
- Strong academic ability
- Commitment to the social and economic development of your home country
- Choice of courses that match the recommended subjects
- Choice of courses that are at a more advanced level than your highest current qualification
- Desire to encourage good relationships with New Zealand
- Applicants aged under 40 by the time the scholarship begins
- A balance of male and female recipients
For some recommendations on getting through the later stages of the process, read our guide to preparing for interviews.
When will I be told the outcome of my application?
Manaaki Scholarship application results are confirmed to interviewees within a few months, in advance of the coming academic year. You will receive an email informing you of whether you are a preferred candidate or reserve candidate, or were unsuccessful.
If you are a preferred candidate, you have been chosen to receive a scholarship, and will be encouraged to apply for your preferred courses and a student visa. If you are a reserve candidate, you may still be selected if others withdraw. All unsuccessful candidates are able to re-apply in future.
Have the scholarships changed?
In 2025, fewer countries are eligible for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships than in earlier years.
Previously, applications could be made from 80 different countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific region. This year, only around 20 of those remain eligible. Countries that have been excluded include Nigeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
We know this may be disappointing, but don't lose hope. Scholarship rules and regulations can change from year to year, so the removed countries could return in future. In addition, there are a number of other great scholarships in New Zealand that may be right for you.
What other scholarships are available in New Zealand?
There are many more large scholarships for international students in New Zealand, including others awarded as part of the Manaaki programme.
These include Thematic Short Term Cohort Training Scholarships. With this award, professionals from developing countries around the world are funded to complete short courses in New Zealand or online. The subjects covered are in the areas of governance, and climate change and resilience.
If you wish to study for a degree, your university is also likely to have scholarships available. Some of these can be substantial. For example, the University of Otago's International Academic Excellence Scholarship is valued at NZD 35,000. Covering one year of accommodation and two years of tuition fees, it is open to applications from all new international undergraduates.
At postgraduate level, you should also have options. The University of Auckland's International Student Excellence Scholarship is worth up to NZD 10,000 to master's students, while Massey University's Master's Research Scholarship is worth up to NZD 15,000. For doctoral students, the figures can be even higher. The Massey University Doctoral Scholarship can be worth up to NZD 90,000 over three years.
You can find even more opportunities like these on our list of the top scholarships in New Zealand. Alternatively, you could explore ones elsewhere in the world. There are several more government programmes like the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships in our guide to fully funded scholarships for international students.
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