School-leaver scholarships

We offer hundreds of university scholarships each year, celebrating school leavers with different strengths and backgrounds. Find the one that’s right for you.

Our school-leaver scholarships have been developed to support students who embody the key attributes that the University values—excellence, leadership, diversity, sporting achievement, sustainability, and commitment to community. Offering much more than just financial assistance, our scholarships are designed to create communities of students who share the same ambitions, goals, backgrounds, and values.

Our scholarships for school leavers

Kahurangi Māori Student Scholarship

For Māori students.

Valued at $5,000, $10,000, or up to $30,000.

Mana Pasifika Scholarship

For Pasifika students.

Valued at $5,000, $10,000, or up to $30,000.

Mātātoa Sports Scholarship

For sporting achievement.

Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Pakohe Sustainability Scholarship

For efforts in sustainability.

Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship

For leadership.

Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Tangiwai Excellence Scholarship

For academic excellence.

Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Totoweka Equity Scholarship

To support all students to have access to education.

Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Kahotea Outstanding Achievement Scholarship

For outstanding achievement. No application necessary.

Valued up to $35,000.

Guaranteed accommodation

All scholarship recipients who apply for accommodation at a university hall of residence are guaranteed a place. This means you can use your scholarship funding to live in one of our eight central city halls of residence—make new friends, benefit from additional support, and live in an environment that encourages your academic success, plus have some fun, of course.

Explore our halls of residence

Study overseas during your degree

As well as applying for a scholarship, if you’re interested in studying overseas, you can apply for a spot on our Wellington Global Exchange programme before you start university—and you could receive a grant for your tuition fees. These grants can be held alongside one of our other school-leaver scholarships.

Learn more about our International Experience Grant.

More scholarship opportunities

Check out our scholarships database to find more awards for school-leavers and first-year students, funded by faculties and generous donors.

You can also search for scholarships offered by other New Zealand organisations.