NZDS – New Zealand Development Scholarship

These Scholarships provide the following financial support:

Note: Partners of students are eligible for a work visa that allows them to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of their partner’s study. The recipient’s family also gets access to New Zealand health care, as well as primary and secondary education for the children.

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

Am I Eligible to Apply?

Applicants from all eligible countries must meet the following conditions to be eligible for a New Zealand Scholarship:

  1. Be at least 18 years old at the time one starts the scholarship
  2. Be resident in a country that is on the list of eligible countries
  3. Be a citizen of the country he/she is living in
  4. Have lived in this country for at least the last two years (unless one is a member of the diplomatic corps or a dependent of a member of the diplomatic corps)
  5. Not currently serving in the military
  6. Wants to study in New Zealand
  7. Wants to study in the Pacific and is from Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu
  8. Wants to study at a level that is listed as available for one’s country for the scholarship that one intends to apply for
  9. Meets immigration requirements for a student visa to New Zealand or the Pacific (i.e. medical checks, etc.).
  10. Meets the academic entry requirements (including English language ability) to get into one’s preferred program of study
  11. Have not been previously terminated from a New Zealand Government Scholarship because of poor academic performance or personal conduct
  12. Demonstrates that the study one wants to do will enable him/her to contribute to the sustainable development of his/her home country and relates to one or more of the country’s priority areas
  13. Be committed to returning to one’s country for a minimum of two years at the end of the scholarship to contribute to his/her country’s development
  14. Have at least two years of work experience (part time or full time, paid or voluntary), unless applying straight from school or in one’s first year of tertiary study (for countries offered undergraduate study)
  15. Not have permanent residence or citizenship of the following countries; Australia, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Qatar, Japan, New Zealand or any European Union country.
  16. Demonstrate a strong academic ability and leadership qualities
  17. Be committed to the development of one’s home country
  18. Be 39 years or younger when the scholarship starts

How do I Apply – Next Steps

For online applications:

  1. Confirm your eligibility – Take the online eligibility test. If successful, you will receive a number that you will use during registration.
  2. Create a Real Me Login – you will be given a login name and password to be used throughout the application process.
  3. Register with New Zealand Development Scholarships online – registration allows you to set up an application account.
  4. Complete your application – Once applications are formally opened, you can begin the application process. Note that you must fill out and submit the application before the country deadline.

For paper applications:

  1. Confirm eligibility – Check the scholarship requirements to make sure that you qualify
  2. Get a copy of an application form from the New Zealand embassy or High Commission in your country
  3. Complete your application
  4. Submit your application to the local Embassy or High Commission or directly to MFAT before the deadline.

Attach the following supporting documents to your application

  1. Verified copies of your:

2. Contact details of your most recent employer and the 2 most relevant other employers

3. A copy of your IELTS test report form (TRF) or original copy of a TOEFL result form.

Closing Date

How do I get more information?