Scholarships
There are dozens of scholarships available for international students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Featured scholarships
Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship
The purpose of the Vice Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship is to support high achieving new undergraduate international students to study at Victoria University of Wellington in 2023. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Scholarships are valued at $10,000 for the first year of study which will be put towards tuition fees.
Tongarewa Scholarship - for Excellence
The Tongarewa Scholarship celebrates the University's commitment to our international student community. Each year we award a range of these scholarships, worth $5,000 or $10,000, to international students entering their first year of an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree at Victoria University of Wellington.
Global Alumni Graduate Fees Waiver
The Global Alumni Graduate Fees Waiver is available to Victoria University of Wellington international alumni transferring to a full-time undergraduate degree or postgraduate programme, including study abroad students and those returning for a full duration postgraduate programme. Eligible students receive a 15–20% reduction on their first year tuition fees.
Latin American Academic Achievement Scholarship
The Latin American Academic Achievement Scholarship awards $5,000 for fees to Latin American students who want to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at our university.
Study Abroad Scholarship
The Victoria University of Wellington Study Abroad Scholarship is open to international students who plan to experience New Zealand culture through the Study Abroad programme at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship awards NZ$1,000 to each successful applicant as a one off payment towards the student's Study Abroad tuition fee.
Scholarships for graduating New Zealand high school students
There are several scholarships available for students who are graduating from New Zealand high schools:
Wellington International Excellence Scholarship
The Wellington International Excellence Scholarship awards $20,000 over three years to high-achieving undergraduate international students currently studying in New Zealand and continuing their study at Victoria University of Wellington.
New Zealand International School Leaver Grant
The New Zealand International School Leaver Grant awards $2,000 to cover fees, and is intended for undergraduate international students currently studying at a secondary school in New Zealand who are continuing their study at Victoria University of Wellington.
Wellington Tangiwai Scholarship - for Equity and Support
The Tangiwai Scholarship is for graduating high school students in New Zealand who are continuing their studies at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship awards up to 600 students who meet academic and leadership criteria $5,000 to help cover accommodation and living costs.
Wellington Kahotea Scholarship - for Outstanding Achievement
The Kahotea Scholarship is for graduating high school students in New Zealand who are continuing their studies at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship awards a select few students up to $35,000 over three years, to fully cover accommodation and provide a stipend.
Wellington Raukaraka Scholarship - for Leadership
The Raukaraka Scholarship recognises the University's commitment to supporting school leavers who demonstrate leadership qualities. Scholarships are valued at $5,000 - $10,000, which can be put towards accommodation costs at a Victoria University of Wellington hall of residence, or (for students not in a hall) as a contribution towards your first-year living costs.
Postgraduate scholarships
Wellington Graduate Award
The University offers Wellington Graduate Awards to domestic and international students intending to embark upon an Honours degree or a Master's degree Part 1. The scholarship value is NZ$5,000 and will be paid directly towards tuition fees. Applicants must be fully enrolled at the University in a full-year programme by the start of Trimester 1 in the following year of application.
Wellington Graduate Award
Duration: 12 months
Fees scholarship: NZ$5,000
Master of Engineering Practice paid industry or research project
All international students in the Master of Engineering Practice programme undertake a paid industry or research project. International students will receive NZ$10,000 for this part of the programme, which is part of the final trimester of study. The project involves either working in an industry setting or conducting industry-focused research at the University.
Master of Engineering Practice
Duration: 12 months
Paid industry or research project: NZ$10,000 (only applied to final trimester of study).
Automatic Master’s scholarships
The below Master's degrees provide NZ$10,000 towards tuition fees for all international students who meet the entry requirements. These are 180-point taught Master's programmes with a duration of one to one and a half years.
Master of Conservation Biology
Fees scholarship: NZ$10,000
Master of International Trade
Fees scholarship: NZ$10,000
Master of Marine Conservation
Fees scholarship: NZ$10,000
International Taught Master Scholarships
The University provides NZ$10,000 (per scholarship) towards tuition fees for up to 25 new international students who start their study in Trimester 2 or 3, 2023 in the below taught Master's programmes. To be considered you need to have unconditional offer of study in one of these programmes and send an expression of interest in this scholarship to international@vuw.ac.nz
Master of User Experience Design
Master of Software Development
Master of Laws (by coursework)
Faculty of Law International Students LLM Fee Scholarship
The Faculty of Law International Students LLM Fee Scholarship is to assist with the high costs for international students associated with the Master of Laws (LLM) degree.
Explore our scholarships database for more postgraduate scholarships.
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships programme
Students from eligible countries, including Commonwealth countries, can apply for fully funded study at Victoria University of Wellington through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships programme. This programme is open to students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Receiving a scholarship from Victoria University of Wellington not only made my dream [of studying abroad] come true but also brought me to beautiful New Zealand.
Linh Tong
Graduate, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Linguistics
Scholarships database
Search our scholarships database to find scholarships you can apply for. You can narrow your search to scholarships for international students.
It's likely you are eligible for other scholarships as well. Always check the criteria closely—you’re eligible to apply for all scholarships that do not specify that you would be ineligible.
Application forms are found through the database.