How to Apply: New Zealand Government Scholarships 2023 / 2024

Additional Information & Application Method

Scholarship selection process and typical dates

This page describes the selection process. How long the selection process takes, depends on the number of applicants we get for each country.

Applicants must check their email frequently for progress updates during the selection process.

• We screen applicants: We assess applicants against our eligibility criteria and our selection guidelines. We compare the preferred courses of each applicant with our recommended study subjects. 
• We advise you of our decision: We email applicants to advise them if they will continue to the next selection stage or if their application has been unsuccessful. Note for PhD applicants: if you are advised that your application will progress to the next selection stage, you must start contacting suitable PhD supervisors, if you have not already done so. Scholarship applicants may apply to undertake doctoral studies in any of the identified sectors. They must, however, be able to show that there are employment opportunities on their return that require them to undertake unsupervised post-doctoral research, or to teach at degree level. They must also be able to show how their proposed research proposal will benefit the country. 

• We assess applications in more detail: We carry out a detailed assessment of the applications against our selection guidelines.
• You do psychometric testing: While applications are being assessed we mail applicants an email containing a link to the abstract reasoning test. Applicants must do this test within 10 days of getting the email. If you do not receive an email with the link to the psychometric test within 3 days of being advised that your application has moved through to the assessment/psychometric stage you should contact us immediately.
• We advise you of our decision: We email applicants to advise them if they will continue to the interview stage, or if your application has been unsuccessful. 
• You prove your English competency: Candidates are required to provide an indication of their English language level during the selection process. For most Pacific countries we pay for IELTS testing, and if shortlisted, this occurs after the interview stage. Applicants from all other countries may provide evidence of a current IELTS or TOEFL test score at any time during selection. If an applicant has not passed an IELTS or TOEFL test to the required level within the last 12 months, they must sit an IELTS or TOEFL test at their own cost. Click here and see Academic and English requirements for scholars for further information on IELTS testing.
• We interview applicants: Each applicant will be interviewed at the New Zealand Embassy, New Zealand High Commission, or a third party location in the applicant’s own country, or by phone or online video conference (e.g. Skype). Interviews take place typically in May/July. For further information, visit How to prepare for your scholarship interview. Note for PhD applicants: Prior to the interview, applicants must provide evidence that they have a PhD supervisor or are close to confirming a PhD supervisor.
• We advise you of our decision: We email applicants to advise them if they are a preferred candidate, or a candidate on the reserve list, or if their application has been unsuccessful.
• Preferred candidates apply for admission to their preferred courses and apply for a student visa

Guidelines we use to select applicants

We use these guidelines to select applicants with very good character, ethics and abilities.

In general, we want scholars with these attributes:

• They have strong academic abilities.
• They show commitment to the social and economic development of their country.
• They are 39 years or younger when the scholarship starts.
• They choose courses that align with our recommended subjects.
• They want to encourage positive relations with New Zealand now and in the future.
• They are seeking to undertake a qualification that progresses on from their highest qualification.

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