Who Can Apply for the Manaaki Scholarship in 2027

Eligible Countries

This is where most confusion starts. The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship used to be open to a much longer list of countries, including some in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. The current tertiary list has 21 countries and country groups. Many third-party scholarship websites still show the old, outdated list — so if you found your country listed somewhere else, double-check it here.

The eligible countries are split into two groups: Pacific and Asian nations. Which group your country falls into also affects what level of study you can apply for (more on that in the next section).

Pacific countries

Most Pacific countries are eligible for both undergraduate and postgraduate study. The exception is Fiji, which is restricted to postgraduate level only. Citizens of Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu can also choose to study at one of two Pacific universities instead of in New Zealand. Cook Islands scholars have their own scholarship managed by the Cook Islands Ministry of Education, and Tokelau scholars are currently only eligible for short-term training scholarships.

Asian countries

Asian countries are restricted to postgraduate study only, with one exception: Timor-Leste, which is also eligible for undergraduate scholarships.

Study Levels Available

Not every study level is open to every country. This is one of the most common points of confusion, so pay close attention to the restrictions column.

Fiji exception: even though Fiji is a Pacific country, it is limited to postgraduate study only. Fijian citizens cannot apply for undergraduate scholarships under Manaaki.

Timor-Leste exception: Timor-Leste is grouped with Asian countries but is also eligible for undergraduate study, making it the only Asian-group nation with this option.

Basic Requirements

Beyond being from an eligible country, there are several baseline criteria you need to meet. None of these are particularly unusual for a government scholarship, but a few details catch people off guard.

• Citizen of an eligible country. You must hold citizenship (not just residency) in one of the eligible nations listed above.
• Resided in your home country for at least 2 years. You must have been living in your home country for the two years before applying. There are exceptions for people working for their home country on a diplomatic assignment (and their dependants) and for those who have been enrolled in a course of study overseas.
• At least 18 years old when you sign the scholarship letter of offer. Your age is assessed at that point, not at the time of application. Samoa Foundation applicants can be 17 when they start their scholarship.
• No upper age limit — but a preference for under 40. Technically, there is no strict maximum age. In practice, the selection guidelines favour applicants who are 39 or younger when the scholarship starts. If you are older, you can still apply, but younger applicants may have an edge, all else being equal.
• Not currently serving in the military. Active military personnel are not eligible. If you have completed your service, this does not apply to you.
• No recent Manaaki scholarship that blocks you. Previous scholars face stand-down periods depending on how their scholarship ended — see who cannot apply below.
• Dual citizenship or residence elsewhere (unconfirmed). The current official criteria page does not publish a rule on applicants who also hold citizenship or permanent residence in New Zealand, Australia or another high-income country. If this applies to you, ask through the official online enquiry form before you apply.
• Able to get a student visa. Only those who qualify for a student visa can take up the scholarship, so check the visa requirements before you apply.

Work Experience Requirements

The Manaaki scholarship is designed for people who will return home and apply what they learned. That is why work experience matters — it is not an academic-only selection process.

Postgraduate applicants

You need a minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience (30+ hours per week) or 2 years of part-time work (up to 29 hours per week). The work can be paid, unpaid or voluntary.

The work should be relevant to your proposed field of study. Random, unrelated employment technically counts but will not strengthen your application: the official guidelines give preference to applicants who show how their course aligns with their current work and who will keep working in that sector afterwards. Think about how your work history connects to what you want to study — and how both connect to your home country’s development.

Undergraduate applicants

School leavers — applicants in their final year of high school, or applying in the academic year straight after it — are exempt from the work experience requirement. This makes sense: you are coming straight from school. However, any community involvement, volunteer work, or part-time employment you can mention will still help your application stand out. It is not required, but it signals commitment.

English Language Requirements

English proficiency is required, but here is the good news: you do not need to submit your test scores when you first apply. You only need to provide them if you are shortlisted. This is an important distinction that many applicants miss — do not delay your application because you have not taken IELTS yet.

These are the general levels; each institution sets its own minimum and some courses ask for more.

When do you need the scores? Only when you are shortlisted. You can apply without having taken the test, and many successful applicants do exactly that. Take the test while your application is being reviewed, so you have results ready if you make it to the next stage. Scores from the last 12 months may be accepted. For shortlisted applicants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Fiji, the French Pacific, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Nauru, the North Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (except Samoa Foundation), Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, the programme organises and pays for the IELTS test. Everyone else books and pays for their own test, and the cost is reimbursed by your institution when you arrive if you are selected.

Almost there? You might get training. If your scores are close to the required level but not quite there, you may be offered funded English language training before your studies begin. This is not guaranteed, but it means a marginal score does not automatically disqualify you. Pacific and Timor-Leste preferred candidates may get up to a year of training in New Zealand; Cambodia, Lao PDR and Indonesia up to a year in their home country; all other countries up to one semester in New Zealand. English training is not available for PhD applicants, and you must meet the entry level after training or the scholarship ends.

Subject Restrictions — This Is Critical

This is where many strong applicants sabotage their own chances. The Manaaki scholarship is not a blank cheque to study whatever interests you. Each country has a list of recommended subject areas, and choosing outside these areas dramatically reduces your likelihood of being selected.

The scholarship exists to build capacity in areas that matter to your home country’s development. The selection panel wants to see that your proposed study aligns with your country’s stated priorities — not just your personal career ambitions.

Common priority areas across most countries:

Practical advice: before you write your application, look up your country’s specific recommended subjects list on the official study subjects page. Then choose a study programme that clearly falls within one of those areas. If your dream subject is not on the list, think carefully before applying — the panel rarely makes exceptions.

Who Cannot Apply

To save you time, here is a clear rundown of the disqualifying factors. If any of these apply to you, the Manaaki scholarship is not an option right now.

• Citizens of countries not on the list. Only citizens of the 21 eligible countries and country groups can apply. If you also hold citizenship or permanent residence in a high-income country, check with the programme first: the current criteria page does not say how dual nationals are treated.
• Currently serving military personnel. Active duty members of any armed forces. Former military personnel who have completed their service are eligible.
• Previous Manaaki scholars within a stand-down period. Anyone within two years of completing a tertiary Manaaki scholarship cannot apply again. If a previous scholarship was terminated or downgraded on academic grounds, or you returned home without completing, you must wait five years from the scholarship end date. Voluntary withdrawal for unforeseen personal reasons, or a downgrade on personal grounds, means a two-year wait. Termination for inappropriate conduct is a permanent ban.
• Those who do not meet the residency requirement. If you have not been living in your home country for at least 2 years before applying, you do not qualify (with narrow exceptions for diplomats and overseas students).
• Applying for the same level you already hold. Your proposed course must represent a step up from your highest existing qualification. Already have a Master’s? You can apply for a PhD, but not another Master’s. See the progression rule below.

The Progression Rule

This rule trips up more applicants than you would expect, so it deserves its own section. The Manaaki scholarship requires that the qualification you are applying for represents academic progression from your highest existing qualification. You cannot apply for a degree at the same level you already hold.

• Bachelor’s holder → applying for Postgrad Diploma, Master’s, or PhD
• Postgrad Diploma holder → applying for Master’s or PhD
• Master’s holder → applying for PhD
• Master’s holder → applying for another Master’s (not allowed)
• Bachelor’s holder → applying for another Bachelor’s (not allowed)

PhD applicants have one more task: identify and contact suitable supervisors at New Zealand universities early. If you reach the interview stage, you will need evidence that you have secured a supervisor or are in active discussions with one.