New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship - Uniplus Global Education

Overview

The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship offers a golden opportunity for students from Commonwealth countries to pursue higher education in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich nations in the world.

The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship is part of a wider initiative to support students from Commonwealth countries in accessing quality higher education in New Zealand. This scholarship is designed for students looking to undertake postgraduate studies, including master's degrees and doctoral programs.

Who Can Apply?

The applicant must follow the following eligibility criteria to apply for this scholarship:-

The scholarship is open for pursuing studies at master’s and Ph.D. level courses at universities/institutions of New Zealand listed in the table below.
The students must have completed their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in their respective subjects or allied fields.
The priority sectors in which the students can pursue studies under this scholarship programme include –
- Climate Change and the Environment
- Food Security and Agriculture
- Disaster Risk Management
- Renewable Energy
- Governance
The age of applicants should be 39 years or below.
Applicants who have been abroad for training/research/study purposes either on scholarship or on their own for a duration of more than 6 months can apply for this scholarship only if they have been in India for at least 2 years after their return from abroad.
He/She must not be serving in the military.
Applicants must not have had a terminated New Zealand scholarship for poor academic performance or a breach of the code of conduct within the last five years.
Applicants must be proficient in the English language with a valid score card of IELTS/PTE/TOEFL.
They must also fulfill visa and immigration requirements.

Application Procedure

The application process for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships is facilitated by designated nominating agencies in each eligible country. For Indian students, the Ministry of Education (MHRD) serves as the nominating agency. Aspirants interested in pursuing higher studies in New Zealand can apply for this scholarship via the MHRD's Sakshat Portal. Below is a simplified step-by-step guide for the application process:

Step 1: Visit the official Sakshat Portal of the MHRD.
Step 2: Navigate to the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships section and click on the Apply Online button.
Step 3: Complete the application form by filling in all required details and uploading the necessary supporting documents.
Step 4: Submit the application form.

The application deadlines for the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships vary depending on the applicant's country of residence. For Indian students, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) serves as the nominating agency. While specific dates can change annually, the application deadline is typically around January 15. For instance, the tentative deadline for the 2025 application cycle is January 15, 2025.

Note: Once the applications are submitted, the MHRD reviews and shortlists two candidates for further nomination. Final nominations are then forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), New Zealand.

Documents Required

Applicants must provide the following documents to support their application:

Scanned copies of mark sheets, degree, or diploma of the qualifying examination
Scanned copy of birth certificate or Class 10th certificate
Scanned recent photograph and signature
Letter of reference
Proposed study plan (approximately 500 words)
List of publications (if applicable)
Any other relevant documentation

What Financial Support is Available?

The following awards will be provided to the candidates in this scholarship:-

Full tuition fees coverage
A living allowance of NZD 491 per week in the form of a stipend
An establishment cost to set up in New Zealand of NZD 3,000
Medical insurance
Travel Insurance
Airfare for travel to and from the home country of the applicant
Travel cost to go to home country during the scholarship
Assistance in research and thesis cost (applicable for postgraduate students)

Other Details

Detailed List of Approved Universities/Institutions for New Zealand Scholarship

S.No.	Name of University/Institution	QS World University Ranking 2019*
1.	Auckland University of Technology	464
2.	Lincoln University	–
3.	Massey University	332
4.	University of Auckland	71
5.	University of Canterbury	231
6.	University of Otago	175
7.	University of Waikato	274
8.	Victoria University of Wellington	221
9.	Southern Institute of Technology	–
10.	Unitec Institute of Technology	–
11.	Wintec-Waikato Institute of Technology	–

*The rankings mentioned above are applicable for 2019 and may change every year.

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