Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and administered by Education New Zealand, for students from eligible countries in the Pacific and Asia.

The award covers full tuition, a living allowance, an establishment allowance for accommodation and textbooks, travel at the start and end of study, and medical and travel insurance. Scholars on longer programmes also get reunion travel home, with more trips the longer the programme runs, and tutoring costs are met where extra academic support is needed. A reintegration allowance helps with set-up costs back home, and many postgraduate scholars also get help with research and thesis costs. The published pages describe what is covered without giving dollar amounts.

Two conditions matter for applicants: one before applying, one after finishing. Applicants normally must have lived in their home country for the two years before applying. Exceptions apply to applicants enrolled in study overseas and those serving their home country abroad on a diplomatic assignment, including their dependants. Every scholar signs up to return home for at least two years after finishing, to contribute to their country's development.

Eligibility is set country by country, including whether you may study in New Zealand or at a Pacific university, and whether undergraduate or postgraduate study is on offer.

Eligibility verified on 19 September 2026 against the Manaaki eligible countries and levels.

The Asian country requirements confirm that Timor-Leste applicants can pursue undergraduate or postgraduate study, including PhDs.

Home-residency exceptions verified on 19 September 2026 against section 04 of the official eligibility criteria.

Work-experience exemptions verified on 19 September 2026 against section 02 of the official eligibility criteria, which explicitly includes applicants currently in paid or unpaid employment.

What It Covers

Tuition
Living stipend
Housing
Books & materials
Travel
Health insurance
Other

Full tuition fees, a living allowance for basic expenses, an establishment allowance towards accommodation, textbooks and study materials, outbound travel at the start and return travel at the end, medical and travel insurance funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and tutoring costs where extra academic support is needed. Scholars on programmes of 1.6 years or longer also receive reunion travel home, with more trips for longer programmes. A reintegration allowance helps with set-up costs on return home, and many postgraduate students also receive help with research and thesis costs.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the receiving institution's entry requirements, including English at about IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0 for postgraduate study and IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for undergraduate study. Postgraduate applicants normally need one year of relevant full-time work experience or two years part-time. The official eligibility page lists exemptions for applicants in their final year of secondary school, those applying in the academic year immediately after completing secondary school, and those currently in paid or unpaid employment. Applicants normally must have lived in their home country for the two years before applying. Exceptions apply to applicants enrolled in study overseas and those serving their home country abroad on a diplomatic assignment, including their dependants. Scholars must return home for at least two years after finishing to contribute to its development. At least 18 when signing the scholarship letter, except Samoa Foundation intake applicants who may be 17 when their scholarship begins. There is no upper age limit, though the provider states a preference for candidates under 40.

Eligible Countries

citizenship: Citizens of eligible Pacific and Asian countries. Fiji is postgraduate only. Among Asian countries, only Timor-Leste offers undergraduate study; Timor-Leste also offers postgraduate study. The Cook Islands runs a separate scheme and Tokelau qualifies for short-term training only.

🇫🇯 Fiji🇫🇲 Micronesia🇮🇩 Indonesia🇰🇭 Cambodia🇰🇮 Kiribati🇱🇦 Laos🇲🇭 Marshall Islands🇲🇾 Malaysia🇳🇨 New Caledonia🇳🇵 Nepal🇳🇷 Nauru🇳🇺 Niue🇵🇫 French Polynesia🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea🇵🇭 Philippines🇵🇼 Palau🇸🇧 Solomon Islands🇹🇭 Thailand🇹🇱 Timor-Leste🇹🇴 Tonga🇹🇻 Tuvalu🇻🇳 Vietnam🇻🇺 Vanuatu🇼🇫 Wallis & Futuna🇼🇸 Samoa

Application Routes and Dates

Manaaki postgraduate applicant portal

Check provider

Master's, PhD

The next tertiary round has not been announced. The provider states that tertiary applications have closed and gives no reopening date. Scholars normally begin in Semester 1 of the year after applying.

Manaaki undergraduate applicant portal

Check provider

Bachelor's

🇫🇲 Micronesia, 🇰🇮 Kiribati, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, 🇳🇨 New Caledonia, 🇳🇷 Nauru, 🇳🇺 Niue, 🇵🇫 French Polynesia, 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea, 🇵🇼 Palau, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste, 🇹🇴 Tonga, 🇹🇻 Tuvalu, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, 🇼🇫 Wallis & Futuna, 🇼🇸 Samoa — citizenship — Eligible Pacific countries except Fiji, plus Timor-Leste.