Fully Funded Scholarship in New Zealand: 10 Proven Options for International Students

If you’ve been searching for a genuine fully funded scholarship in New Zealand, you’ve probably noticed the same problem we saw before writing this guide: most articles either recycle outdated deadlines or bury the two or three programs that actually pay 100% of your costs under a pile of partial tuition waivers. This guide fixes that.

Every fully funded scholarship in New Zealand listed below has been checked against official government and university sources, and we’ve flagged exactly what “fully funded” means for each one so you don’t discover a funding gap after you’ve already committed.

New Zealand is one of the few English-speaking study destinations where a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand isn’t the only way to make a degree affordable — the country’s PhD fee policy alone (more on that below) already puts postgraduate research within reach of far more international students than in the UK, US, or Australia. Combine that with the government’s flagship Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships and a strong bench of university-funded doctoral awards, and you have a realistic, well-funded pathway to study in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What Counts as a Fully Funded Scholarship in New Zealand?

Before you shortlist a single program, it helps to define the term, because New Zealand universities use “scholarship” loosely on their websites. A genuine fully funded scholarship in New Zealand typically includes:

• Full tuition fees — not a partial tuition credit or a “contribution toward” fees
• A living stipend large enough to cover accommodation, food, and daily expenses without a part-time job
• Health and travel insurance for the duration of study
• Airfare or a travel allowance, common with government-funded awards, less common with pure university scholarships
• An establishment/settling-in allowance in some government-funded programs

Scholarships that only waive tuition, without a stipend, are tuition waivers — useful, but not a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand in the strict sense. We’ve labeled every program below accordingly so you know exactly what you’re applying for.

Quick-Answer Summary

There are ten realistic funding routes covered in this guide to a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand, split between one flagship government program (Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships) and nine university-funded doctoral and postgraduate scholarships at New Zealand’s eight universities. Most fully funded scholarship in New Zealand application windows for government funding open in March each year, while university-funded doctoral scholarships are assessed on a rolling or quarterly basis — always confirm current-cycle dates on the official pages linked throughout this guide, since New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade adjusts the exact calendar annually.

Why New Zealand Is Unusually Generous to International Postgraduates

Here’s a fact most scholarship blogs bury: under a New Zealand Government funding policy, international PhD students who reside in New Zealand for the duration of their doctorate pay the exact same domestic tuition fees as New Zealand citizens — currently around NZ$8,500–9,500 per year at most universities, versus NZ$30,000–45,000+ at the international rate charged in the UK, US, or Australia. This single policy is why New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the most accessible countries for doctoral study, even before you add a scholarship stipend on top.

That means a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand for PhD study doesn’t need to cover an enormous international tuition bill the way scholarships in other countries do — it just needs to cover a modest domestic-rate fee plus a living stipend, which is exactly what most university doctoral scholarships listed below are structured to do. The condition: you generally need to live in New Zealand for the length of your PhD (short research trips and conference travel are allowed, capped at roughly 12 months cumulative absence) to keep this domestic-fee eligibility.

1. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (Government-Funded)

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are the flagship fully funded scholarship in New Zealand for eligible international students, funded through the New Zealand Aid Programme and jointly administered by Education New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). If you want the single most comprehensive fully funded scholarship in New Zealand, this is it.

What it covers:

• Full tuition fees at a New Zealand university or institute of technology
• A weekly living stipend
• An establishment allowance to help with arrival costs
• International return airfare
• Full travel and health insurance
• Research and thesis costs for postgraduate scholars

Who it’s for: Citizens of eligible developing countries across the Pacific, ASEAN Southeast Asia, and selected countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, applying for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, or diploma study. Eligible fields are prioritized around each partner country’s development needs — usually agriculture, health, education, business, and public sector fields.

Applications typically open: Early March each year, with country-specific closing dates that vary (recent cycles have closed anywhere from late March to mid-April, so treat this as a working window rather than a fixed date). Because this fully funded scholarship in New Zealand cycle moves annually, bookmark the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships portal rather than relying on any third-party date.

Official application page: nzscholarships.govt.nz

2–10: University-Funded Fully Funded Scholarships in New Zealand

Beyond the government’s Manaaki program, every one of New Zealand’s eight universities runs its own doctoral and postgraduate funding, and because of the domestic-fee PhD policy explained above, several of these effectively function as a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand once you combine the stipend with the already-subsidized tuition rate.

2. Victoria University of Wellington Doctoral Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka) offers one of the most reliable fully funded scholarship in New Zealand pathways for PhD candidates, covering full tuition (at the domestic-eligible rate for international residents) plus an annual living stipend for up to three years. We’ve already broken this one down in full — eligibility, stipend amount, timeline, and application tips — in our dedicated guide: Wellington Doctoral Scholarship: Fully Funded PhD Secrets.

3. University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship

The University of Otago runs one of New Zealand’s largest doctoral scholarship programs, open to both domestic and international PhD applicants, with a stipend in the region of NZ$32,000–34,000 per year plus a tuition fee waiver at the domestic rate for up to 36 months. Applications are assessed in quarterly rounds (typically March, June, September, and November) rather than one annual deadline, which makes this a flexible fully funded scholarship in New Zealand option if you missed the Manaaki cycle.

Official scholarship page: otago.ac.nz — Doctoral Scholarships

4. University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship

The University of Auckland — New Zealand’s highest-ranked university globally — offers a competitive doctoral scholarship covering a living stipend on top of the domestic PhD fee rate already available to international candidates. Auckland also partners with the Asian Development Bank on scholarship pathways for students from ADB member countries pursuing development-focused master’s study, making the university one of the strongest combined sources of a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand at the postgraduate level.

Official scholarship page : auckland.ac.nz — Scholarships for International Students

5. University of Canterbury Doctoral Scholarship

University of Canterbury’s doctoral scholarships provide a living stipend and a domestic-rate tuition waiver for eligible PhD candidates, with rolling applications tied to your programme start date. Christchurch’s lower cost of living relative to Auckland or Wellington makes this fully funded scholarship in New Zealand stretch further for students budgeting carefully.

Official scholarship page: canterbury.ac.nz — Scholarships

6. Massey University Doctoral and Manaaki-Administered Scholarships

Massey University both administers Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships for eligible applicants and runs its own doctoral scholarship scheme, providing a living stipend (currently around NZ$615/week under Manaaki-administered awards) plus an establishment allowance and tutoring support. Massey’s applied focus in agriculture, veterinary science, and business makes it a strong match if your intended research area lines up with New Zealand’s development priorities.

Official scholarship page: massey.ac.nz — Scholarships and Awards

7. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Scholarships

AUT administers Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships directly for its own programmes and also offers a smaller set of university-funded doctoral scholarships. If your target field is business, creative technologies, or health science, AUT is worth shortlisting alongside the more research-intensive universities for a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand.

Official scholarship page: aut.ac.nz — Scholarships and Awards

8. Lincoln University Doctoral Scholarship

Lincoln University, New Zealand’s specialist land-based university, offers doctoral scholarships in agriculture, environmental science, and land management, combining a living stipend with the domestic PhD fee rate. It’s a niche but genuinely fully funded scholarship in New Zealand option if your research sits in these applied science fields.

Official scholarship page: lincoln.ac.nz — Scholarships

9. University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship

Waikato’s doctoral scholarship scheme provides a living stipend alongside the domestic-rate tuition benefit, with a particular strength in environmental research, education, and Māori and Indigenous studies. This is one of the more consistently available fully funded scholarship in New Zealand routes for candidates in these fields.

Official scholarship page: waikato.ac.nz — Scholarships

10. Victoria University of Wellington / University of Otago Master’s Research Scholarships

Beyond doctoral funding, both Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago offer research-based master’s scholarships that combine a stipend with a tuition waiver for one year — a genuine, if shorter, fully funded scholarship in New Zealand for students who aren’t yet ready to commit to a three-year PhD.

Official scholarship page: otago.ac.nz — International Master’s Research Scholarship

Full Comparison Table: Fully Funded Scholarship in New Zealand Options {#comparison-table}

Stipend figures change with each university’s annual review — always confirm the current amount on the official page linked above before you budget around it.

How to Apply for a Fully Funded Scholarship in New Zealand: Step-by-Step

Applying for a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand rewards early, organized applicants far more than last-minute ones. Use this framework:

1. Check the domestic-fee PhD policy first if you’re going the doctoral route. Since international PhD candidates already pay domestic fees, your scholarship search only needs to close the stipend gap, not a huge tuition bill — this changes which programs are realistically “fully funded” for you.
2. Confirm your country’s Manaaki eligibility early. Not every country qualifies for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, so check the official eligible-countries list before building your application around it.
3. Secure a supervisor before applying for a university doctoral scholarship. Nearly every New Zealand PhD scholarship application requires evidence that a supervisor has agreed to take you on — start emailing academics 6–9 months ahead.
4. Build one master document bank — transcripts, two to three references, CV, and a base research proposal or personal statement you can tailor per scholarship.
5. Apply to more than one fully funded scholarship in New Zealand simultaneously — a Manaaki application and a university-funded doctoral scholarship are not mutually exclusive, and running both increases your odds.
6. Track each institution’s rolling or quarterly deadlines centrally, since unlike Manaaki’s single annual window, most university scholarships in this guide accept applications several times a year

• 60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
• Wellington Doctoral Scholarship: Fully Funded PhD Secrets
• Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships: 70+ Best Options
• Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships: 50+ Best Picks
• Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS: 20+ Best Options
• Browse All PhD Scholarships and Browse All Master’s Degree Scholarships

People Also Ask

Does New Zealand offer fully funded scholarships to international students?
Yes — the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are the main government-funded route, covering tuition, a living stipend, flights, and insurance for eligible applicants, and New Zealand’s domestic-fee PhD policy means many university doctoral scholarships function as a genuine fully funded scholarship in New Zealand once combined with a stipend.

Which universities in New Zealand offer full scholarships for international students?
The University of Otago, University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, Massey University, AUT, Lincoln University, and the University of Waikato all offer doctoral scholarships that pair a living stipend with the domestic-rate tuition fee available to international PhD candidates.

Is a PhD free in New Zealand for international students?
Not free, but heavily subsidized — international PhD candidates who live in New Zealand for the duration of their doctorate pay the same domestic tuition fee as New Zealand citizens (roughly NZ$8,500–9,500/year), and a scholarship stipend on top of that can cover living costs, making it one of the most affordable fully funded scholarship in New Zealand routes globally.

How do I apply for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship?
Check your country’s eligibility on the official nzscholarships.govt.nz portal, complete the online eligibility questionnaire once applications open (typically March), then submit your full application with transcripts, references, and a study plan before your country-specific deadline.

Can I bring my family on a fully funded scholarship in New Zealand?
Some programs, including Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, allow a partner to apply for an accompanying work visa and dependent children to attend New Zealand schools at the domestic rate — check the specific scholarship’s benefits page, since not every university-funded scholarship offers the same dependent support.

Related Posts

• 60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
• Wellington Doctoral Scholarship: 7 Fully Funded PhD Secrets
• Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships: 70+ Best Options 2027
• Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships: 50+ Best Picks
• Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS: 20+ Best Options
• University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship
• ACU Research Scholarship: 5 Fully Funded Pathways to a PhD

Final Thoughts

A fully funded scholarship in New Zealand is genuinely within reach if you target the right program for your level and nationality: Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships if your country qualifies, and a university-funded doctoral scholarship stacked on top of the domestic PhD fee policy if you’re pursuing research study. Shortlist two or three from the comparison table above, secure a supervisor early if you’re applying for a PhD, and build your document bank now rather than during application season.

For continuously updated official information straight from the source, always cross-check current cycle dates and eligible countries on the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships portal before submitting anything — and subscribe to the LicensureHub newsletter so new fully funded scholarship in New Zealand opportunities land in your inbox the moment they open.