New Zealand Scholarships for Pakistani Students: 2026 University Awards, Eligibility and How to Apply
Written by Muhammad Hammad, Founder & Lead Study Abroad Counsellor
Published · 8 min read
New Zealand scholarships for Pakistani students come mainly from universities, not the government. Most Bachelor's and Master's awards are partial, reducing first-year tuition by about NZD 5,000–10,000, while PhD scholarships can cover tuition and a living stipend. The government Manaaki programme did not list Pakistan as eligible when checked.
- Main source
- University awards
- Typical Master's award
- NZD 5,000 – 10,000
- Full funding
- Mostly PhD
What types of New Zealand scholarships can Pakistani students get?
Pakistani students can usually get three types of New Zealand scholarships: partial merit awards for international Bachelor's and Master's students, doctoral scholarships covering tuition and a stipend, and faculty or subject awards for specific fields. Government scholarships are limited by country, so most Pakistani applicants rely on university funding.
- International merit awards: fixed tuition reductions for high achievers.
- Doctoral scholarships: tuition plus a living stipend for PhD study.
- Faculty awards: subject-specific scholarships in engineering, business or science.
- Research project funding: supervisor-led grants for research Master's or PhD students.
- Early payment or alumni discounts at some polytechnics and private institutions.
Each university publishes its own awards database. Searching it by country and level shows which awards are open to Pakistani citizens.
Is the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship open to Pakistan?
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship is the government's main international award, offered to citizens of selected Pacific, Asian, African and Latin American partner countries. When the official eligible-country list was checked in October 2026, Pakistan was not named among the Asian countries, and the latest round was shown as closed.
Many competitor pages list Manaaki as an option for Pakistani students without checking eligibility. Applying to a programme you are not eligible for wastes months of preparation.
Eligibility can change between rounds. Pakistani students should check the official Manaaki eligible-countries page each year before ruling it in or out.
Which New Zealand universities offer scholarships to Pakistani students?
All eight New Zealand universities run international scholarships that Pakistani students can apply for. Awards usually take a fixed amount off first-year tuition for Bachelor's or Master's students, while doctoral scholarships cover full tuition and a stipend. Amounts and deadlines change each year, so check each university's scholarships page.
| University | Award type | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| University of Auckland | International Student Excellence Scholarship | Partial tuition |
| University of Otago | International Postgraduate and doctoral awards | Partial to full |
| Victoria University of Wellington | Tongarewa Scholarship | NZD 5,000 – 10,000 |
| University of Canterbury | International first-year and Master's awards | Partial tuition |
| University of Waikato | Excellence Scholarship for international students | Partial tuition |
| Massey University | International Excellence Scholarships | Partial tuition |
| Lincoln University | International scholarships in agriculture | Partial tuition |
| AUT | International merit awards | Partial tuition |
Values in this table are typical ranges, not fixed amounts. The universities in New Zealand page compares the same institutions by city and strengths.
What are the eligibility criteria for New Zealand scholarships?
Most New Zealand scholarships need an offer of place, strong grades such as an A-range FSc or a high CGPA, an approved English test score and Pakistani citizenship counted as international. Some awards add a short essay, leadership evidence or a research proposal. Doctoral scholarships also need a supervisor's support.
- Offer of place for the course before or with the scholarship application.
- High grades: top-band FSc results, or a CGPA of about 3.3 or more for Master's awards.
- English score at or above the course minimum.
- A personal statement or essay for some awards.
- A research proposal and supervisor support for doctoral awards.
Students with 14-year degrees can still compete after a postgraduate diploma. The study in New Zealand from Pakistan page explains that entry route.
How do you apply for a New Zealand scholarship from Pakistan?
Pakistani students apply for New Zealand scholarships by shortlisting eligible awards, getting an offer of place, preparing grades and an English score, writing any required essay, and submitting before the award deadline. Many university awards are considered automatically with the course application, while others need a separate form.
- 1Shortlist awards. Search each university's scholarships database for Pakistani eligibility.
- 2Check deadlines. List every closing date in one calendar.
- 3Apply for the course. Get an offer of place before the scholarship deadline if required.
- 4Prepare documents. Gather attested transcripts, English results and a CV.
- 5Write the essay. Answer the scholarship question with concrete examples.
- 6Request references. Ask referees early for awards that need letters.
- 7Submit and track. Submit the form and watch for interview or result emails.
Scholarship essays work like a motivation letter. The motivation letter for scholarship page and the letter of recommendation page cover both documents.
How do New Zealand scholarships compare with other countries?
New Zealand scholarships for Pakistani students are mostly partial university awards, while Germany, Hungary, Turkey and the Erasmus Mundus programme offer fully funded government or EU scholarships open to Pakistan. Students who need full funding often apply to New Zealand alongside one of these programmes to keep a fully funded option open.
| Programme | Country | Funding level |
|---|---|---|
| NZ university awards | New Zealand | Partial tuition |
| NZ doctoral scholarships | New Zealand | Tuition and stipend |
| DAAD | Germany | Full stipend for selected programmes |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Hungary | Tuition, stipend, housing support |
| Türkiye Bursları | Turkey | Tuition, stipend, housing, flight |
| Erasmus Mundus | Several EU countries | Tuition, travel and monthly allowance |
Full-funding programmes have their own guides. Read the DAAD scholarship page, the Stipendium Hungaricum page and the Türkiye Bursları scholarship page before choosing.
Joint European Master's degrees also cover travel. The Erasmus Mundus scholarship page explains how to find programmes that match a New Zealand shortlist subject.
What mistakes cost Pakistani students New Zealand scholarships?
Pakistani students most often lose New Zealand scholarships by applying after the deadline, preparing for Manaaki without checking eligibility, sending a generic essay, and missing the offer of place that many awards require first. Weak references and late English tests also reduce chances. Each mistake is avoidable with early planning.
- Missing the scholarship deadline while waiting for the course offer.
- Preparing for Manaaki without checking country eligibility.
- Reusing one generic essay for every award.
- Booking IELTS or PTE too late for the deadline.
- Asking referees a week before the closing date.
- Ignoring smaller faculty awards with fewer applicants.
A free NZ scholarship shortlist from Hammad Study Abroad matches grades with awards you can realistically win. The scholarships for Pakistani students overview compares funding across all destinations.
How do PhD scholarships in New Zealand work for Pakistani students?
PhD scholarships in New Zealand usually cover full tuition and pay a tax-free living stipend for three years. Pakistani applicants first contact a supervisor whose research matches their proposal, then apply for admission and the doctoral scholarship together. Domestic tuition rates often apply to international PhD students, which lowers the cost.
A strong research proposal and publications improve the chance of funding. Contacting supervisors six to twelve months before the deadline gives time to shape the proposal.
Some PhD places are funded through a supervisor's grant rather than a central award. These positions are advertised on university job boards and research group pages.
New Zealand scholarships, frequently asked questions
Are there fully funded scholarships in New Zealand for Pakistani students?
Fully funded awards are rare for Pakistani students in New Zealand. The main route is a university doctoral scholarship that covers tuition and a living stipend for PhD study. Bachelor's and Master's awards from universities are usually partial, reducing tuition by a fixed amount for the first year.
Can Pakistani students apply for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship?
On the official eligible-country list checked in October 2026, Pakistan was not named among the Asian countries for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships. Eligibility can change each round. Pakistani students should check the official Manaaki eligible-countries page before preparing an application.
Do I need IELTS for a New Zealand scholarship?
Most New Zealand scholarships require an offer of place, and the offer itself needs an approved English test such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL. Some awards also set a higher English score than the course minimum. Students take the test early so scholarship deadlines are not missed.
When should I apply for New Zealand scholarships?
Many New Zealand university scholarships close between August and November for the February intake, and a few close in April or May for July. PhD scholarships often have rolling or quarterly rounds. Pakistani students should list deadlines in one calendar at least a year before starting.
Can I get a scholarship for a Master's in New Zealand?
Yes. Several New Zealand universities offer international Master's awards worth a set amount off tuition, often NZD 5,000–10,000. Selection is based on grades and sometimes a short essay. A few research Master's degrees also come with partial funding through a supervisor's project.
Does a scholarship reduce the visa funds requirement?
A partial tuition scholarship reduces the tuition bill, and the student must still show NZD 20,000 a year for living costs. A full scholarship that includes a stipend may change what the visa officer expects. The award letter should be uploaded with the visa application.