The New Zealand Government scholarship that is also known as Manaaki New Zealand scholarship provides Full funding to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students.

With this fully funded scholarship, you can fulfill your dream to study abroad in New Zealand.

You will get all the benefits to study at any top-ranked University in New Zealand. It is available for different regions including Asia, the Pacific, Africa, Caribbean nations and Latin America.

This ultimate guide will not only teach you how to apply for the scholarship step by step but will also help you prepare all the required documents.

The Frequently asked questions, in the end, contain everything you need to know about Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.

Hop on to know more about this exciting opportunity!

 

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New Zealand Government Scholarship

 

1. Benefits of New Zealand Government Scholarship

2. Eligibility criteria for New Zealand Government Scholarship

3. Documents required for New Zealand Government Scholarship

4. How to Apply for New Zealand Government Scholarship

5. Important things for New Zealand Government Scholarship

6. Deadlines for New Zealand Government Scholarship

7. Selection Process and Success Rate

8. Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Benefits of the New Zealand Government Scholarship 

• Full tuition fee is covered
• Living allowance of NZ$ 531 every week (310 euros, 332 USD) 
• Establishment allowance of NZ $3000 (1755 euros, 1876 USD) 
• Medical insurance
• Travel cost (From home country to New Zealand, in return New Zealand to home country)
• Research and thesis allowance 
• Tutoring Stipend up to NZ $1000 (585 euros, 625 USD)  
• Students can get a work permit along with the scholarship in New Zealand  

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2. Eligibility criteria for New Zealand Government Scholarship 

• Applicant must have age 18 to 44 years during the application 
• Applicant must have proficiency in the English Language (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Cambridge Academic English) 
• Must meet the criteria of an institution or university (you can research institutions and courses related to your academic background
• Applicants must meet the Visa requirements for a Student visa in Newzealand.  
• Must be a citizen of eligible countries which includes the following table.

2.1. Table of Eligible countries for New Zealand Government Scholarship

 

Region	Country	Offered Programs
Asia	Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Jordan, Lao PDR, Cambodia	The offered programs are the same for all countries. Undergraduate (3-4 years)  Post-Graduate Certificate (6 months)     Post-Graduate (1 year)  Master’s Program (1-2 years)  Doctoral Program (3.5 years)
Africa	South Africa, Angola, Algeria, Senegal, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Egypt, Djibouti, Eswatini, Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho
Caribbean countries	Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname.
Latin America	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
Pacific	Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji (postgraduate only), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Note: Pakistan, India, and other South Asian countries are not eligible for Manaaki New Zealand scholarship However, you can check other scholarships in New Zealand for International students. 

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3. Documents required for New Zealand Government Scholarship

3.1. Academic Documents

3.2. Passport & National ID card

3.3. English Proficiency Proof (IELTS/TOEFL)

3.4. Recommendation letter

3.5. University admission letter

3.6. Hope certificate (If applicable)

3.7. Research proposal/plan

3.8. Statement of Purpose or Motivational Letter

3.9. CV/Resume

3.10. Proof of Previous Work Experience

3.11. Portfolios or workshop

3.12. Acceptance from Supervisor

 

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3.1. Academic documents

This includes all your certificates & academic record like

A: Bachelor’s transcript & certificate

B: Master’s transcript & certificate (if the student is applying for 2nd Masters or fellowship)

C: Metric & FSC transcripts (10-12th Grade) (A level) (DMCs) and certificates (Supporting academic documents)

D: Course summary (to explain your courses & how your previous courses & studies resemble your future studies in which you are applying)

NOTE:
In order to apply for New Zealand Scholarship for International Students, You do not need the academic documents to be attested by a higher authority. However, after getting shortlisted you must attest it from respective boards & ministries. The respective university must attest university documents.

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3.2. Valid passport, Birth certificate & NIC

The passport of the applicant must contain at least one full blank page on both sides.
The passport must be valid at the time of visa application and on arrival to New Zealand.

A birth certificate or national ID card is also important to attach.

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3.3. English Proficiency proof for New Zealand government scholarship (IELTS/TOEFL)

International students can meet the requirements of English proficiency by filling one of the following criteria.

For postgraduate:
IELTS must be above 6.0 to 6.5,
TOEFL must be 90 and writing must be a minimum 21
PTE with 58 overall and communicative skills of at least 50

For Undergraduate:
IELTS with 5.5-6.0,
TOEFL with 60 scores and
PTE with a minimum 50  

 

 

3.4. Recommendation letters / Letters of References

The applicants must provide 2-3 letters of recommendation from the previous university, (Depending upon courses).

It is advised to provide a letter of recommendation from the HOD (Head of the department or Relevant course head) who should be a PhD.

The referees need to write their contact details (Email, phone number) at the end of the letter.

The letter must include an official letterhead, signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date.

Ask your Referees to write about your academic achievements & discuss their confidence in you that you are fully compatible with the project or course you wish to pursue.

The referees must also mention how long they know the applicant & when was the last time they came in contact with the applicant.

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3.5. University admission letter

Applicants must select a university offering courses related to their interests and background.

Remember, In order to get New Zealand government scholarship, the applicant must get the admission letter first.
They must have knowledge of the institutions and courses offered by these institutions.

 

 

3.6. Hope certificate (If applicable)  

If the final transcript isn’t ready then students can apply with a Hope certificate from their university.

However, they must be graduated before their arrival in New Zealand.

(Please make sure you contact your university in this regard )

What is Hope’s certificate?
In simple words, It is a certificate based on the previous semester’s performance, that indicates that the candidate will pass the final exams with excellent results.

 

 

3.7. Research proposal (for PhD and Masters by Research)

If the applicant is applying for a PhD, their proposal must meet the requirement of their country’s development.
The official website of New Zealand Government scholarship contains specific courses related to each developing country.

Your research proposal should be a brief description of your research goals and objectives, the methods with which you wish to process that research, the outcomes you desire, the timeline and budget you have estimated, and the area of study you wish upon exploring.

It shall be a brief document yet explain the entire vision to the reader so that those analyzing your application could know of your objectives and grant you the scholarship if they match the program’s criteria and eligibility.

Taking help from an external party is strictly prohibited and violation in this regard could lead to your disqualification no matter how incredible your proposal is.

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3.8. Statement of purpose or Letter of Motivation for New Zealand government scholarship

Remember, SOP or LOM can be asked during university admission.

Technically SOP or LOM are the same things.

It’s a Short biography to tell the panelist about yourself:

Letter of motivation or SOP could be a tricky part while selecting your course in New Zealand universities.

In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course & scholarship.

The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.

 

How to write a perfect letter of Motivation

If you are interested in writing your LOM on one page concisely, then follow this exact method.

LOM consists of three parts.

 

3.8.1.  Introduction (one paragraph)

3.8.2.  Body (3 paragraphs)

3.8.3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Let’s explain these three things one by one.

 

3.8.1. Introduction:

Introduction is the gateway to the rest of the letter. Try to capture their interest in first few sentences. Be original & creative.
Make it personal & full of enthusiasm.

TIP: Try to initiate a story about yourself relevant to the scholarship you are applying & then expand it to the first paragraph of the body.

 

3.8.2.  Body:

In the first paragraph of the body, try to tell about your relevant academic & experienced background to the course.
And your professional goals attached to the New Zealand & university. Share your expectations of the scholarship.

In the 2nd paragraph be more precise & focus on the specific achievement related to the scholarship & course.

In the 3rd paragraph expand on what you are currently doing & the interesting things you look forward to.

 

3.8.3. Conclusion:

Tell them why you are the best candidate for the Course/scholarship. Don’t sound needy or use pompous language instead focus on why you deserve it.

Tell them how this scholarship will help you or the future of your community.

 

 

3.9.  CV

The Cv must contain all the latest & relevant information about your occupation & interests.
A perfect CV must be hand signed.
Europass CV can be easily made here.

 

 

3.10. Experience letter

Applicant must provide an Experience letter of the previous jobs & Internships.
Try to customize the work experience letter with future studies.

Mention your job descriptions, work projects & the skills you learned through time.

The letter must be signed & verified by the Head or CEO of the company.

The work experience could be Paid,
Unpaid,
full-time,
part-time, or voluntary.
It could be done before, during, or after graduation.

 

 

3.11. Portfolios or workshop

It’s optional. But students can attach portfolios or workshops to support their cases for university admission or scholarship.

 

 

3.12. Acceptance from Supervisor

For PhD applicants, it is needed to acquire acceptance from the supervisor whom they are interested to work with.
It can be a letter or email communication (as evidence).

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4. How to Apply for New Zealand Government Scholarship

If you want to apply for New Zealand Government Scholarship, You need to follow these steps:  

 

Procedure shortcuts include:

Check country eligibility> Go to the online application system >Register email >required information >answer questionnaire >submit application  

 

4.1: Check Country Eligibility

You can apply for an international scholarship in New Zealand if you are a citizen of an eligible country. You can test your country’s eligibility here 

Check the screenshot

After filling in your country name and birthdate, the system will ask for basic information regarding your residence and prior Manaaki awards detail. 

  

If you are eligible for the scholarship, you will get an eligibility code (the code will be used during the application process)

Check the screenshot

 

4.2: Setup Account  

Now, You can register your account on the online portal. The online application system will require your email address. You can reset your password and email address after registering the account.  

 

Note: Your email address must be valid and you must check it daily.

 

4.3: Fill in basic information   

The application form asks for the basic information  

• Name  
• Email address  
• Birth date 
• Residential Address 
• Previous academic qualification  
• Prize/awards or achievements 
• Course and Institution preference
  
  

4.3.1 How to select Institution and Course for New Zealand Government Scholarship 

This fully funded scholarship in New Zealand asks for a preferred Institution in which you are willing to study and courses related to your academic background.   

You can research courses and programs on the basis of these indicators;

• The program must be available in your country of residence ( bachelor’s, master or PhD) 
• The program must be at a higher level than your previous degree ( e.g. You couldn’t apply for another graduate program if your latest degree is graduate) 
• The courses that you select must be essential for your country’s development  
• Courses must be essential for your professional growth
• You can select any institution from 11 officially approved institutes 

 

Officially listed University for Newzealand Scholarship	Officially listed Institutes of Technology
University of Auckland	Southern Institute of Technology
Lincoln University	Unitec Institute of Technology
Auckland University of Technology	Wintec Institute of Technology
University of Canterbury
Massey University
University of Otago
University of Waikato
Victoria University of Wellington

  

 

4.4. Answer the Questionnaire

It is the core section of the Application process, your academic and professional evaluation will be based on this section.

• Essay questions on previous work experience and its link with your current course preference 
• It will be asked why your skills and course learning are important for your country’s social and economic progress 
• Why do you want to study in New Zealand (provide strong points here) 
• What are the changes you made at your workspace or at the community level  

 

There will be other situational questioning linked to the study and scholarship in New Zealand. These questions will make your profile stronger. You must work on it priorly.

 

 

4.5. Submit  

 After reviewing your application, click on the submit button. 

 You can not revise after submitting your application. 

 Note: At the time of application form submission you don’t need to provide documents except Academic transcripts. Only students who get shortlisted will be asked to submit documents.   

 

5. What are the Important things for Applying to New Zealand Government Scholarship
 

New Zealand scholarship for international students requires a systematic way to apply. You need to keep some important things in mind before applying for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship 

• Your country must be eligible for the Scholarship 
• You have to provide Academic transcripts in English or translated copy in English. 
• The application contains conceptual questions that should be answered concisely
• Your email address must be valid 
• The application must be filled in English
• Bring innovative and creative ideas to implement in the development of your home country 
• Must have a stable internet connection during the application process 
• Must prepare your essay question before filling out the form 
• Submit your application before the last day of the due date

 

 

6. Deadlines for New Zealand Government Scholarship

 

Application forms for each eligible country open in February every year.

The applications for New Zealand Government Scholarship for the 2024 intake are now open. The deadline is 28th February 2023. 

 

 

7. Selection Process and Success Rate of New Zealand Government Scholarship

The selection process is quite long and many factors are involved in it. The selection board will assess your application, preference for courses, and psychometric testing (will be provided through email). 

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and get awards through the final selection.  

Note:  

• The selection board receives 11000 applications every year. Only the best applicants get selected.  
• The applicants will be contacted at each stage of the selection process through email 
• The applicants will be shortlisted for interviews between May to July. 

 

 

8. FAQs about New Zealand Government Scholarship

 

Can I apply without IELTS/TOEFL for Manaaki New Zealand Government Scholarship?

  

IELTS/TOFEL is very important for the New Zealand government scholarships. International students can meet the requirements of English proficiency by filling in one of the following criteria.

For postgraduate:
IELTS must be above 6.0 to 6.5,
TOEFL must be 90 and writing must be a minimum 21
PTE with 58 overall and communicative skills at least 50

For Undergraduate:
IELTS with 5.5-6.0,
TOEFL with 60 scores and
PTE with a minimum 50 

 

 

How much Stipend will be provided in New Zealand Government Scholarship? 

 New Zealand Government scholarship provides a stipend of N$531 weekly. It is approximately 332 USD and 310 euros. The monthly stipend will be around NZ$ 2,124 (1508 USD, 1290 euros).

 

 

Can I work along with a Scholarship grant in New Zealand? 

Yes, the New Zealand Study Visa allows you to work for limited hours. (Mostly 20 hours a week). However, students can work more in summer or holidays. (Mostly full-time)

 

 

Will I need to return to my home country after my Scholarship completion?  

 Yes, You need to return to your home country. The main objective of the New Zealand Government Scholarship is to enhance sustainable development in partner countries. You have to incorporate your learning and skills into your country’s progress.

 

What courses are available for New Zealand Scholarship for International Students?  

You can select any of the courses available at affiliated universities. The official list of universities and institutions is given above in this guide. However, you must check the program eligibility for your country.

 

 

We try to cover each & everything, but if you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.