New Zealand does not offer many fully funded awards to Indian students, but its universities run a wide range of partial tuition scholarships, and several are aimed at students from India. Most are worth a few thousand to 15,000 New Zealand dollars off your first year's fees, and many need no separate application. This guide lists the scholarships we could verify on official university and government pages at the time of writing, explains who qualifies and shows how to time your application.
- Victoria University of Wellington currently offers NZD 15,000 to new international bachelor's students and NZD 10,000 to new master's students, with no separate application
- The University of Canterbury's India High Achievers Scholarship is worth NZD 5,000, and Waikato's Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship for India is worth up to NZD 15,000.
Which Scholarships Can Indian Students Get in New Zealand?
Indian students mainly rely on university scholarships and the New Zealand Excellence Awards, a joint programme of Education New Zealand and the universities. Most awards are partial tuition credits for the first year, ranging from NZD 5,000 to NZD 15,000, or a share of one year's fees at the University of Auckland.
| Scholarship | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship | Bachelor's | NZD 15,000 off first-year tuition |
| VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship | Master's or PG Diploma | NZD 10,000 off tuition |
| Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship | Master's | 25% of one year's tuition |
| Waikato Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship for India | UG, taught and research PG | Up to NZD 15,000 off tuition |
| New Zealand Excellence Awards (Waikato) | UG and PG | NZD 7,500 to 15,000 |
| Canterbury India High Achievers Scholarship | First-year students | NZD 5,000 in the first year |
| UC International First Year Scholarship (Offshore) | Bachelor's | NZD 15,000 off tuition |
All values are as per each university's official page at the time of writing. They are paid as a credit against tuition, not as cash for living costs, and most last for one year only. Always read the regulations linked from the scholarship page, because these set the exact conditions.
What Are the New Zealand Excellence Awards for Indian Students?
The New Zealand Excellence Awards are partial scholarships for Indian students, run by Education New Zealand together with the country's universities. At Waikato, the award is worth NZD 7,500 to 15,000 for undergraduate or postgraduate study, needs no separate Waikato application, and closing dates are set by Education New Zealand.
Waikato's page sets out the academic bar. For undergraduate study, ISC students need an average of 75 percent across their best four academic subjects with at least 60 percent in English, and students from other state boards need 80 percent with at least 65 percent in English. Postgraduate applicants need a recognised bachelor's degree with a B-minus to B average and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
Each university runs its own share of the awards, and the rounds open and close at set times, so check the Study with New Zealand awards page for the current round before you plan around it.
How to get a scholarship to study abroadRead →Which University Scholarships Are Open to Indian Students?
Victoria University of Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato all publish awards that Indian students can receive. Wellington's are automatic, Auckland invites eligible master's students to submit a short form, Canterbury runs an India-specific round with fixed closing dates, and Waikato reviews its India scholarship applications monthly.
- Victoria University of Wellington: NZD 15,000 for new international bachelor's students and NZD 10,000 for new master's or postgraduate diploma students paying full international fees; assessed when you apply for your programme, with the result shown in your Offer of Place
- University of Auckland: 25 percent of one year's tuition for new international master's students; eligible students with an offer by the cut-off are invited to complete a supplementary form, and offers are made twice a year
- University of Canterbury: India High Achievers Scholarship of NZD 5,000 paid in the first year, plus the International First Year Scholarship (Offshore) of NZD 15,000 for school leavers
- University of Waikato: Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship for India, up to NZD 15,000, for undergraduate and postgraduate study
Other universities, including AUT and Lincoln, publish scholarships for international or South Asian students too. Guides list amounts for these, but we could not open their official pages in full, so check the AUT and Lincoln scholarship pages directly for the current value and dates.
Is There a Fully Funded Government Scholarship for Indian Students?
Not for most Indian students. The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, New Zealand's main government awards, are for citizens of listed developing countries, and India does not appear on the eligible-country list at the time of writing. Indian students therefore depend mainly on university awards and the New Zealand Excellence Awards.
Some guides still list older government schemes or doctoral awards that have changed. If an agent promises a fully funded New Zealand government scholarship for Indian citizens, ask for the official page and check it yourself on the government scholarships site.
Who Is Eligible for New Zealand Scholarships?
Most awards need an offer of place, strong marks and new full-fee international student status. Wellington requires an Offer of Place for a bachelor's or master's programme. Waikato sets minimum Class XII percentages and a B-minus to B degree average. Australian and New Zealand citizens and residents are excluded from Wellington's international awards.
- Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible programme
- Be a new student, not already enrolled at that university
- Pay full international tuition fees
- Meet the academic average set in the regulations
- Meet the English test score for your programme
How Do You Apply for Scholarships in New Zealand?
For many awards you simply apply for your course early, because the university assesses you automatically. Where a form is needed, as at Auckland and Waikato, you complete it online after you have an offer or an application number. Apply for admission first, then watch your email and student portal for scholarship invitations.
- Shortlist universities and read each scholarship's regulations
- Apply for admission well before the scholarship cut-off
- Upload transcripts, English test results and a CV
- Complete any supplementary form or portal application
- Accept the offer and pay the balance of tuition by the deadline
At Waikato, new students must first submit an enrolment application, then log in to the MyWaikato portal and choose the scholarship from the Scholarships tab.
Application process for universities in New ZealandRead →When Are the Scholarship Deadlines in New Zealand?
Deadlines follow the intake. Canterbury's India High Achievers round for a first-semester start closes on 23 October and the mid-year round on 30 April. Waikato needs India scholarship applications by 30 November for its first trimester and 15 May for its second. Wellington's awards share the programme deadline.
| University and award | First-semester start | Mid-year start |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury India High Achievers | Closes 23 October | Closes 30 April |
| UC International First Year (Offshore) | Closes 31 October | Closes 15 April |
| Waikato VC Excellence for India | By 30 November | By 15 May |
| VUW international scholarships | Same as programme deadline | Same as programme deadline |
These dates are from each university's page at the time of writing. Auckland sets an offer cut-off in October for its master's scholarship, so apply for admission early if you want to be considered.
Do Scholarships Reduce the Money You Must Show for the Visa?
A scholarship can count as evidence of funds, because Immigration New Zealand accepts scholarship award letters. But most New Zealand awards are tuition credits, so you still need NZD 20,000 for each year of living costs and must pay or show the rest of your tuition.
Several universities, including Wellington and Auckland, ask you to pay full tuition first or apply the scholarship as a credit later. Read the payment rules so your bank balance is ready on time.
Most families combine a partial scholarship with savings or an education loan. Work out your full first-year cost, subtract the scholarship only once it appears in your offer, and arrange the rest before you lodge the visa. A scholarship letter strengthens your file, but it does not replace clear evidence for the remaining tuition and living costs.
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Apply early, because many awards are limited and assessed as applications arrive. Aim above the minimum marks, take IELTS or PTE before you apply, and choose programmes where your grades are strong. Write a clear personal statement where one is asked, and apply to more than one university to widen your options.
- Apply in the first weeks after applications open
- Keep your Class XII and degree marks above the stated minimum
- Send complete documents so your offer is not delayed
- Check whether awards can be combined before accepting one
- Use only official pages for amounts and dates