NZDS are for full-time multi-year courses in New Zealand for tertiary level studies. For eligibile Pacific countries, study is offered at the undergraduate and postgraduate level through the NZDS Public category. Study at postgraduate level is also offered through the NZDS-Open category. Only candidates from the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and Marshall Islands may apply for undergraduate study through the NZDS Open Category. For eligible countries outside the Pacific, study is offered at the postgraduate level only, through the NZDS-Open and NZDS-Public categories. The exceptions are 1) Rapa Nui - candidates may also apply for study at the undergraduate level through the NZDS-Open category; and 2) Timor Leste - candidates may also apply for study at the undergraduate level through the NZDS-Public category.
The NZDS scheme covers tuition, orientation fees, economy fare travel, a basic living allowance with the provision for accommodation expenses (paid through study institutions). Assistance is also provided for some course-related and basic health care costs and a dependants allowance may be provided for students with courses of study 18 months or longer.
The NZDS may be available for two categories of applicants: - NZDS-Public where applicants apply to or are nominated by the partner government; and/or
- NZDS-Open apply directly to the New Zealand University of their choice or a diplomatic post or an external agency
Eligibility
Applicants from the following countries are eligible to apply for NZDS:
Pacific
| Public & Open | Open (via Universities) | Open (via relevant NZ Diplomatic Post) |
| Cook Islands* | Federated States of Micronesia | |
| Fiji** | Palau | |
| Kiribati | Marshall Islands | |
| Papua New Guinea | Nauru | |
| Samoa | | |
| Solomon Islands | | |
| Tonga | | |
| Tuvalu | | |
| Vanuatu | | |
*Public only
**Postgraduate study only
Asia
| Public & Open | Open (via Universities) | Open (via relevant NZ Diplomatic Post) |
| Cambodia | Bangladesh | |
| Indonesia | Bhutan | |
| Lao PDR | China | |
| Philippines | India | |
| Timor-Leste | Maldives | |
| Viet Nam | Mongolia | |
| | Myanmar | |
| | Nepal | |
| | Pakistan | |
| | Sri Lanka | |
Latin America
| Public & Open | Open (via Universities) | Open (via relevant NZ Diplomatic Post) |
| | Bolivia | Argentina |
| | Ecuador | Brazil |
| | Honduras | Chile |
| | Nicaragua | El Salvador |
| | | Guatemala |
| | | Paraguay |
| | | Uruguay |
Africa***
| Public & Open | Open (via Universities) | Open (via relevant NZ Diplomatic Post) |
| | Kenya | |
| | Mozambique | |
| | South Africa | |
| | Tanzania | |
| | Zambia | |
| | Zimbabwe (on hold) | |
***Preference will be given to applicants from disadvantaged communities
Disclaimer: The NZDS scheme, including country eligibility, is subject to ongoing review and amendment. Applicants should check their eligibility prior to lodging an application. NZAID reserves the right to decline any application, before it has been fully processed, in the event of country eligibility changes.
The NZDS Eligibility Criteria can be found at the relevant links below.
How to Apply
NZDS-Public candidates
NZDS-Public candidates apply to the nominating authority in their home country responsible for s e l e c t i n g candidates for study or training abroad under development country programmes. The nominating authority holds copies of NZDS application forms. Nominating authorities can be found at the relevant links below.
NZDS-Open candidates
NZDS-Open candidates apply directly to an eligible institution and complete an application form. NZDS-Open candidates from China require the endorsement of the Chinese authorities. Candidates from Latin American countries, as listed above under Open (via relevant New Zealand Diplomatic Post), apply directly to the relevant New Zealand diplomatic post in their home country or accredited country. Candidates from other Latin American countries listed above under Open (via Universities) apply directly to an eligible institution.
NZDS-Open Candidates
Applications received by each New Zealand education institution by the published close-off dates (see below) will be assessed based on the s e l e c t i o n and eligibility criteria. The education institutions will forward their ranking of eligible scholarship candidates to NZAID for final assessment. All candidates will be informed by the education institutions of the outcome of their applications by early November 2005.
NZDS-Open Scholarships Close-Off Dates
Education institutions close-off dates for NZDS-Open scholarships.
| Education Institution | Global (Asia, Africa, Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador & Bolivia) | Pacific |
| Auckland University | 1 June 2006 | 15 August 2006 |
| Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | 31 May 2006 | 31 July 2006 |
| Unitec | 26 June 2006 | 25 August 2006 |
| Waikato University | 1 May 2006 (PhD applications as early as possible) | 1 July 2006 (PhD applications as early as possible) |
| Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)* | | 25 August 2006 |
| Massey University | 31 May 2006 | 31 July 2006 |
| Victoria University | 15 May 2006 (1 May 2006 PhD applicants) | 15 July 2006 (1 July 2006 PhD applicants) |
| Canterbury University | 15 May 2006 | 17 July 2006 |
| Lincoln University | 31 May 2006 | 31 July 2006 |
| Otago University | 30 April 2006 | 30 June 2006 |
| Dunedin College of Education | 31 May 2006 | 31 July 2006 |
*Undergraduate applicants from Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau) may apply to MIT for NZDS-Open
NZDS-Open Scholarships Education Institutions
Address enquiries to the International Students Office at the following education institutions:
In China contactMr Cao Shihai
Director, Division of Study Abroad Affairs
China Scholarship Council
Phone: 010 6641 3182 x19
Fax: 010 6641 3281
Email:
shcao@csc.edu.cn
