Top 6 Scholarships in New Zealand for International Students 2026

Published On: April 2, 2026 12:18 AM

Hey, if you’re planning to study in New Zealand in 2026, you’re picking an awesome spot. New Zealand has stunning nature, top-quality education, safe campuses, and a very welcoming vibe for international students. Tuition for non-EU/EEA students (including Pakistanis) is usually NZ$30,000–NZ$45,000/year for undergrad and NZ$35,000–NZ$50,000 for Master’s, but scholarships can cover most or all of it — plus living costs in many cases.

Most scholarships are university-specific or through the New Zealand government (Manaaki program). English-taught programs are everywhere, and many waive IELTS if your previous degree was in English. Here are the **top 6 scholarships** for 2026 intake (mostly starting February or July 2026 — New Zealand has two main intakes).

1. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (Best Government Scholarship)

This is the flagship scholarship from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs — fully funded and very prestigious.

Coverage: Full tuition + living allowance NZ$491/week + travel allowance + health insurance + establishment allowance
Who can apply: Citizens of developing countries (Pakistan included) for Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
Fields: Priority: climate change, agriculture, renewable energy, disaster risk, private sector development
Application period for 2026: Usually February–April 2026 (check manaaki.nz in early 2026)

Super competitive — strong academics + clear development impact in Pakistan = best chance. Pakistan has good allocation every year.

2. University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship

Auckland is NZ’s #1 university (global top 100) — this is their top scholarship for internationals.

Coverage: Up to NZ$10,000 per year (partial tuition waiver) — can be renewed
Who can apply: Non-NZ citizens for undergraduate or postgraduate (taught Master’s)
Application: Automatic consideration during admission (deadlines: April/May 2026 for July intake, Oct/Nov for Feb 2027)

Auckland is a vibrant city with lots of Pakistani community — great for networking and jobs after study.

3. University of Otago International Excellence Scholarships

Otago (in Dunedin) is beautiful, historic, and very student-focused.

Coverage: NZ$10,000–NZ$30,000 per year (tuition reduction) + some full waivers for top applicants
Who can apply: International students for undergraduate or postgraduate
Application: Separate form or automatic (deadlines vary — usually April–November 2026)

Dunedin is cheaper to live in and has a strong research focus — perfect for sciences, health, humanities.

4. Victoria University of Wellington Tongarewa International Scholarships

Wellington (capital city) — great for policy, law, film, creative arts.

Coverage: NZ$10,000–NZ$20,000 tuition reduction (one-time or renewable)
Who can apply: New international students for undergraduate or Master’s
Application: Separate application during admission (deadlines: June 2026 for Trimester 3, Oct/Nov for 2027)

Wellington is artsy, windy, and full of government/international orgs — good for internships.

5. University of Canterbury International First Year Scholarship

Canterbury (Christchurch) — strong in engineering, sciences, business.

Coverage: NZ$10,000–NZ$20,000 for first year (renewable in some cases)
Who can apply: New international undergrads (high academic merit)
Application: Automatic during admission

Christchurch is rebuilding and modern — lower living costs, great outdoor lifestyle.

6. Lincoln University International Taught Master Merit Scholarships

Lincoln (near Christchurch) is the specialist land, agriculture, environment university.

Coverage: Up to NZ$10,000–NZ$20,000 tuition reduction for Master’s
Who can apply: International students in taught Master’s (agriculture, environment, food science, tourism)
Application: Automatic or separate (deadlines vary)

Perfect if you’re into agriculture, sustainability, or food tech — Lincoln has excellent industry links.

Quick Comparison (2026 Intake)

Rank	Scholarship / University	Coverage	Monthly/One-time Help	Deadline (2026 intake)	Best For
1	NAWA Banach / Manaaki NZ	Full tuition + stipend	€350–450/month	Feb–Jun 2026	Developing countries
2	Poland My First Choice	Full tuition + stipend + relocation	€450/month	May–Jul 2026	Master’s & PhD
3	University of Warsaw	50–100% tuition	Up to €220/month	Feb–Jul 2026	Social sciences, law
4	Jagiellonian University	Full/partial tuition	Up to €350/month	Spring–Summer 2026	Prestige, humanities
5	Warsaw University of Technology	30–100% tuition	Up to €450/month	Jan–Jul 2026	Engineering, IT
6	Lincoln University	Up to NZ$20,000 tuition reduction	—	Varies	Agriculture, environment