Scholarships for Indian Students in New Zealand: Top 2025 Opportunities

Global Ed
September 12, 2025


Planning to study in New Zealand universities in 2025, but worried about the costs? Well, that’s not the case anymore. Nowadays, there are many top scholarships for Indian students in New Zealand to make the study abroad dream an affordable reality.

So, it’s not surprising that the country is becoming one of the best places for Indian students to get their undergraduate, graduate, Master’s, and PG diploma degrees. According to Education New Zealand (ENZ), over 10,640 Indian students enrolled in New Zealand between January and August 2024. That’s a 34% increase in just one year.
Let’s have a look at the top scholarship for Indian Students in New Zealand (2025) that’s fueling this growth, their eligibility criteria, benefits, and even some tips on how to secure them.


Top Government Scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students


If you’re an Indian student planning to study in New Zealand universities, government-funded scholarships are one of the best ways to save money.

These scholarships are backed by official organisations, so they usually pay for tuition, living expenses, and sometimes even travel.

Let’s check out some of the best scholarships to study in New Zealand and what they offer.

1. New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA)


Application Timeline: March – April

The New Zealand Excellence Awards are tailor-made for Indian students and jointly funded by Education New Zealand and select Kiwi universities. It’s available to both undergraduate and post-graduate students. Students can get up to NZD 20,000 off tuition fees.

Fun Fact

New Zealanders are called ‘Kiwis’ after their national bird, the flightless kiwi, which became a proud national symbol during World War I.

Eligibility

  • Must be an Indian citizen of at least 18 years of age
  • Have an unconditional offer for a full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, master’s, or PG diploma program at one of the eight partner universities
  • Must meet the health, character, and financial requirements for a New Zealand student visa

 

Did You Know?

At an event hosted at IIT Delhi, the New Zealand PM personally announced the 2025 round of NZEA, a NZD 260,000 scholarship package just for Indian students. It shows how strongly New Zealand wants you on their campuses!
You can apply for it directly through the universities along with your admission application.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship


Application Timeline: February & August

Manaaki is a fully funded New Zealand government scholarship that’s available to students from more than 80 partner countries in the Pacific and Asia. They are intended to help students from developing countries get a top-notch education and contribute to the growth of their home countries.

Eligibility

  • Must be a citizen of an eligible partner country (80+ countries in the Pacific and Asian regions)
  • Be at least 18 years old when starting the scholarship
  • Before you apply, you must have lived in your home country for at least two years
  • Meet the health, character, and English language requirements of the New Zealand student visa
  • Candidates for post-graduate programs must have one year of full-time or two years of part-time relevant work experience
  • Must have chosen the study subjects that are best for your country’s development needs
  • Make a promise to go back to your home country for at least two years after you graduate so you can help with national development

 

Fun Fact

‘Manaaki’ is a Māori word meaning ‘to care’. That’s exactly the true spirit of these scholarships, also. It brings together scholars from all over the world and helps them stay in touch with each other and New Zealand after graduation.

Benefits

  • Covers full tuition fees for your entire program
  • Establishment allowance to help with initial setup costs
  • Weekly living allowance for all expenses
  • Complete travel costs from your home country to New Zealand and return
  • Extra travel allowance for students who have been studying for more than 1.5 years to return
  • Research and thesis allowance for postgraduate students
  • Reintegration allowance to help settle back home after graduation

The application process is entirely online and can be broken down into a few simple steps. First of all, you need to take the online eligibility test on the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships website. If you are eligible, you will get an eligibility code that you can use to sign up for an account.

Now, you can fill out the application form with all the details about the courses you want to take, your work experience, and how your studies will help your home country’s development. Upload all the required documents to prove your eligibility.

If shortlisted, you will take a psychometric test in 10 days and then have an interview over the phone or video call. Feeling nervous about the test?

To ensure you’re fully prepared, you can also purchase a psychometric assessment from The Chopras – TC Global. Just contact your nearest branch, and an expert will guide you through the process.

After being chosen by the scholarship committee, candidates can then apply directly to the New Zealand university of their choice.

Top University Scholarships for Indian Students in New Zealand


Apart from the Government, university-specific scholarships are available for Indian students to study in New Zealand in 2025. Most of these are directed towards reducing the tuition fee. Let’s have a look at the best university scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students:

1. Waikato University International Excellence Scholarship


Application Timeline: Open year-round and close four weeks before the start of each trimester

Scholarship Highlight

Get your tuition fees slashed with credits of up to NZD 15,000 for undergraduates and NZD 10,000 for postgraduates!
The Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship is for highly talented and eligible Indian students pursuing postgraduate and undergraduate programs in New Zealand. It covers a massive portion of the tuition fee, and recipients also have the valuable opportunity to represent the university as global ambassadors.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Apply to the University of Waikato as a new international student for a full-time undergraduate or graduate program (except for a PhD or MPhil)
  • You have a conditional or unconditional offer from the University of Waikato
  • Have a GPA of at least B+ (or the same) in previous qualifications
  • At the time of application, you are not currently enrolled in, have paid fees for, or have a visa for Waikato programs
  • Not studying through a sponsoring body, a guaranteed credit arrangement, or an exchange agreement

 

Fun Fact

The University of Waikato hosts the Balloons Over Waikato festival every March, where giant hot-air balloons light up the night sky and attract visitors from across the region. It’s one of the most popular annual events on campus

Benefits

  • Tuition fee credit of up to NZD 15,000 for undergraduates or NZD 10,000 for postgraduates
  • One-time payment in the first trimester for tuition costs
  • Official Scholarship Offer Letter to support student visa applications
  • Chance to be a global ambassador for the University of Waikato

You can apply for the International Excellence Scholarship through the university application portal at the time of the admission process. You may need to upload your offer of place and a short statement about how you will represent Waikato internationally.

Within 8-12 weeks, you will know the scholarship application results via email. Accept your offer within 14 days and use the Official Offer Letter to apply for your visa.

2. Lincoln Global Leaders Scholarship


Application Timeline: During Admission Time

Scholarship Highlights

Get 50% tuition fee reduction for one year!

Lincoln Global Leaders Scholarship is one of the most prestigious in New Zealand for Indian students, as it offers an opportunity to be part of a community of future leaders and innovators at a university that is ranked in the top 1.5% worldwide for its global outlook.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Hold an offer of place at the University of Lincoln for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate program
  • Demonstrate high academic merit. Undergraduates need at least 128 UCAS points. And postgraduates need to have an Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1 degree classification)
  • Be an overseas (international) fee-paying student

 

Did You Know?

Lincoln University is home to New Zealand’s most epic bug collection and the country’s only university entomology museum. You can see over 250,000 pinned insects!

Benefits

  • 50% tuition fee reduction for one year of study
  • Invitation to special scholar events and award ceremonies for networking
  • You can apply to be an International Student Ambassador at the University of Lincoln and share the spirit of the community

But in order to apply, you need an offer from the University of Lincoln for the intake you want. Once you receive it, go to the scholarships page and download the Global Leaders Scholarship Application Form. Fill it out. By the round deadline, send in the form, your offer letter, and your academic transcripts.

Candidates are selected based on personal, academic, and extracurricular merit. Decisions are sent by email within ten business days of each closing date.

Victoria Doctoral Scholarship


No Separate Application Required

Scholarship Highlights

Get a stipend of NZD 32,000 per year to cover your expenses in New Zealand.

The Victoria Doctoral Scholarship supports PhD students who undertake full-time doctoral studies at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and research potential to attract the best international talents to contribute to the research efforts in any field.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a full-time international student at Victoria University of Wellington or plan to do so
  • Published record of high-quality journals that show the academic merit and research potential
  • Have an unconditional offer of admission to the university’s doctoral program or be already enrolled
  • Meet the health and visa requirements for New Zealand

 

Fun Fact

Victoria’s Antarctic Research Centre has sent over 400 staff and students on real expeditions to Antarctica. Who knows, you might be the next to step on Antartica!

Benefits

  • A stipend of NZD 32,000 per year to manage the living costs
  • The full cost of tuition for the entire PhD program (usually three years or more)
  • Access to university research labs and academic guidance
  • Chance to become a part of a lively research community at the university

The application for a doctoral program at Victoria University of Wellington and for the scholarship is a joint process. You don’t apply separately for the scholarship, as your application for admission will automatically be considered for this award.

Best Course-Specific New Zealand Scholarships for Indian Students


Some New Zealand universities offer special awards for students in high-demand fields like Engineering, Agriculture, IT, and Business. Have a look at such top scholarships for Indian students in New Zealand (2025):

Scholarship Name University Benefit Eligibility
180-credit Taught Master Merit Scholarship Lincoln University NZD 10,000 International students with a GPA of at least B+ average in the final year of bachelor’s degree, and must enroll in Lincoln University for a Master’s in Business, Finance, Fintech, CPA, Agribusiness, Sports/Recreation, Tourism.
FMG Agriculture Scholarships Lincoln University NZD 5,000 for living costs and cuts off another NZD 5,000 from the second and third year tuition fee Should be enrolling for Bachelors in Agriculture, Agricultural Science, Science (Agritech), Viticulture and Oenology, Agribusiness and Food Marketing, or Land and Property Management (Rural)
AUT Faculty of Culture and Society International Excellence Scholarships Auckland University of Technology (AUT) NZD 7,000 Full fee-paying students with a conditional or unconditional offer to study in a
Faculty of Culture and Society program
PAAH Single Course Scholarship Victoria University of Wellington Fees of up to NZD 1,300 as three times International students who are accepted into a 15-point or 30-point course from the Master of Physical Activity and Hauora Schedule
University of Auckland International Business Masters Scholarship University of Auckland Up to NZD 24,000 for tuition fees A new international student with a conditional or unconditional offer of a place in a Master’s programme at the University of Auckland Business School

*Note: There are two different universities with similar names. The above-mentioned scholarships are from Lincoln University in New Zealand. Don’t get confused with the University of Lincoln in the UK. Both are public universities, but they are entirely separate institutions.

Fun Fact

The Gothic-style Clock Tower at the University of Auckland is one of the most iconic spots on campus and a favorite hangout for students. And guess what? The final episode of the quiz show ‘Mastermind New Zealand’ was filmed inside it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


1. How many scholarships can I apply for?

There is no limit! You can apply for as many scholarships as you want. Just make sure you follow each deadline and requirement carefully.

2. When should I start applying for scholarships?

Start 8 to 12 months before your program starts. The majority of scholarship deadlines are between January and September.

3. If I can’t travel this year, can I defer my scholarship?

Some scholarships allow deferrals for one intake. Please check the terms and conditions of the scholarship in detail or email the university.

4. Are there scholarships for short courses or diplomas?

Yes. Government scholarships like the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) cover PG Diplomas or short-term training programs in important fields.

5. Do I have to go back to India after I finish my course through a scholarship?

Sometimes, yes. If you’re studying through a government-funded scholarship like Manaaki, you may need to return to your home country for at least two years. It’s a mandatory requirement!

Conclusion


If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly serious about studying in New Zealand. And yes, it’s a great time to do so. There are so many top scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students to make it much more affordable.

But the process isn’t as easy as it looks. Thousands of Indian students are already applying for scholarships to study in New Zealand universities. You need an expert partner on your side to prepare an application that can face this intense competition.

That’s what we are! At The Chopras – TC Global, we can help you find scholarships that are right for you, walk you through the application process, and make sure nothing gets missed. So why wait and risk missing out? Book a free consultation with our experts now!


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