External scholarships

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) offer fully-funded Master’s scholarships to Commonwealth citizens. Successful applicants can travel to a different country in the Commonwealth, where they can study one of a variety of courses and benefit from the expertise provided by leading universities. Developing new skills, gaining a qualification and experiencing life in another country benefits both the individual and their home country.

Zonta Science Award

The aims of the Zonta Science Award are to:

• encourage women to pursue a career in science
• recognise women in scientific fields
• acknowledge the valuable contribution of women scientists.

The award recipient receives:

• $ 20,000 to fund travel, education, materials, and/or activities to advance her research career.
• a commemorative medal
• a certificate of achievement.

• Future Forest Scholarship
  Up to two scholarships available for postgraduate research.
• Otago Southland Award
  One or more awards available to to assist or enable a project of relevance to forestry in the Otago-Southland region.
• University Undergraduate Scholarship
  Open to students enrolled for a forestry or forestry related degree at a New Zealand University.
• Frank Hutchinson Postgraduate scholarship
  Open to students enrolled for a forestry or forestry related postgraduate degree at a New Zealand University

New Horizons for Women Scholarships

Annual awards to support women in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are four categories of award:

• Education Awards: to help with study or living expenses for women engaged in tertiary study or trade training.
• Research Awards: to assist with costs associated with undertaking a research project that benefits women/girls in Aotearoa.
• Project Awards: specific purpose awards that support initiatives and programmes.
• Personal Growth Awards: provide the opportunity for awardees to gain confidence and leadership experience at Outward Bound in Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds.

Āheitanga Thesis Scholarship

Motu Research in Te Whanganui-a-Tara offers a one-year $10,000 scholarship pool to university students of Māori descent who are working on (or are planning to work on) an Honours, Masters or PhD thesis.

On Farm Support Science Scholarships

The On Farm Support Science Scholarships were launched in 2023 and are worth $5,000 each.

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• studying at a university or an institute of technology listed on the above webpage
• studying agriculture, horticulture, or viticulture science in one of the approved degrees listed on the above webpage
• genuinely interested in joining the primary industry advisory sector
• a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and
• have completed their first year of study before the start of the 2025 academic year.

Eastland Generation Engineering Scholarship

Eastland Generation is thrilled to announce the Eastland Generation $5,000 Scholarship for 2024, exclusively for aspiring engineering students.

To be eligible, students must be enrolled as a tertiary student or a high school graduate preparing to start university in the upcoming academic year, pursuing a relevant engineering degree with a keen interest in the geothermal industry, and come from the Kawerau or Whakatane area.

BOC Sciences Chemistry Scholarship Program

$1,000 for students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or other chemistry-related sciences.

The scholarship is awarded based on:

• Academic record and study/research plan
• Leadership ability
• Participation in school activities and community services

Deloitte Tiheru Scholarship

The scholarship is best suited to first & second year tertiary students who are:

• Of Māori descent
• Completing or intending to complete a tertiary qualification ranging from Business, Commerce, Computer Science, Data Analytics, and engineering to name a few
• Wanting insight into a professional services environment and/or develop their future skills to support their Iwi/Hapū

What is on offer:

• $5000.00 of financial support
• $1000.00 tech voucher
• Direct and ongoing support from Hourua Pae Rau members throughout the duration of their tertiary study, including professional development and skill development workshops
• Opportunities to connect with the Hourua Pae Rau community through local wānanga and noho marae
• Paid summer internship in their penultimate year

The Patrick Shannon Scholarship

Open to Honours or Masters students working in mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, science, animal breeding, genetics or machine/analytical learning that aligns with Livestock Improvement.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Students who plan to pursue a PhD who are seeking an overseas experience in Hong Kong. The broad fields of study include Sciences, Health Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Social Science and Commerce / Business Studies.

Kauri Museum Mervyn Sterling Scholarship

Applicants should have a strong affiliation with the old Otamatea County area and should be studying or researching environmental conservation, ecology, natural heritage and Northland history (especially Otamatea County).

Kitchener Scholarship

Open to past or present members of the armed forces, or their children, who are undertaking an agriculture course.

KiwiRail Group Undergraduate Scholarship

Open to undergraduates that have a parent who is a permanent employee of KiwiRail. Applicants should be studying in an area that promotes KiwiRail's core values. For example, commerce, tourism, engineering.

Maritime Union Scholarship

Open to students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study, and either be a member, or be the child or grandchild of a member of one of the following:  Maritime Union of New Zealand Inc., and/or of the New Zealand Seafarers Union Inc., and/or of the New Zealand Seamen's Union Industrial Union of Workers, and/or of Waterfront Workers Union, and/or of the Waterside Workers Federation/Association.

Sullivan Scholarship

Students of the Roman Catholic Faith who plan to attend medical school.

Toloa Tertiary Scholarships

Scholarships to support Pacific students to pursue studies in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The scholarship covers tertiary tuition fees and compulsory course related fees.

The Frank Sydenham Scholarships

Scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students hailing from the Bay of Plenty undertaking postgraduate studies in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship for Life Sciences Research

For Cambridge University MSc., MLitt, Or PhD applicants from New Zealand

Transport Research and Educational Trust Grants

An award to support the attendance of a conference in Australasia to present the results of a thesis in a field of transport, logistics, or supply chain, plus the opportunity to make a presentation to a CILT event or meeting.

Yvonne A M Smith Charitable Trust Scholarship

Open to women of all ages undertaking postgraduate studies in subject areas of political studies, economics, business and law. The scholarship can also be held in conjunction with other awards.

NASA Internships and NZ Space Agency Scholarships

The NASA International Internship Programme is an opportunity for tertiary students from around the world to work collaboratively on research with a NASA mentor. The scholarship covers specified costs relating to an internship at NASA in California.

ASPIRE Aotearoa
Master's and PhD top-up postgraduate research scholarships for Māori and Pacific students.

The scholarships will provide supplementary funding to students who are awarded University of Otago PhD or Masters scholarships. The amount of the supplement is $15,000 per annum (or $7,500 for part-time students) for PhD students or $8500 over 1 year (or the equivalent pro-rata amount part-time) for Masters students. The supplement will provide an additional stipend and fund some research-related expenses. To be eligible, applicants will need to develop a research proposal (ASPIRE Aotearoa members will be able to assist with this work) that aligns broadly with ASPIRE Aotearoa’s aims and research interests. These include:

• Research on smokefree and related policies couched with Māori or Pacific worldviews,
• Investigation of smoking and vaping determinants, beliefs and behaviours – particularly as these relate to inequity and priority groups,
• Research to inform and advance smokefree goals for Māori or Pacific peoples.