Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

Supports students from eligible developing countries with scholarships to pursue education in New Zealand.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are full-cost scholarships funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and delivered by Education New Zealand, enabling citizens of eligible developing countries to study at New Zealand tertiary institutions. The scholarship package covers tuition fees, a living stipend, return airfares, and health insurance for the duration of study. The programme operates on an annual cadence; the 2026 tertiary round is closed, and the 2027 round is expected to open in March 2027. Four scholarship types are available: Tertiary (undergraduate and postgraduate full study at a NZ institution), Thematic Short Term Training, Vocational Short Term Training, and English Language Training for Officials (ELTO). The programme is classified as ODA and is explicitly aimed at building long-term connections between New Zealand and partner countries.

Individual citizens of eligible developing countries across the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean may apply; corporate, institutional, and government-body applicants are ineligible. Applicants must have resided in their home country for at least two years immediately before applying and must be at least 18 years old at the time of accepting an offer, with preference given to applicants under 40. For postgraduate tracks, one year of full-time or two years of part-time relevant work experience is required, though this may be waived for applicants who have progressed directly from secondary school. All scholars must return to their home country for a minimum of two years following completion of their programme, as the scholarship is intended to contribute to home-country development.

Applications open in March each year, with country-specific opening and closing dates published at nzscholarships.govt.nz. Eligibility by country is confirmed at nzscholarships.govt.nz/check-eligible-countries/. Competitive applicants demonstrate strong academic performance, a clear plan for applying their New Zealand study to development outcomes in their home country, and — for postgraduate tracks — relevant professional experience aligned to their proposed field of study.