How to Apply for the Manaaki Scholarship in 2027

Before You Start

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship works differently from most scholarship programmes. Before you invest time in your application, there are a few things you need to understand that will save you from common mistakes and wasted effort.

• You do NOT need a university offer letter. This catches a lot of applicants off guard. Unlike most scholarships that require you to have university admission first, the Manaaki scholarship flips the order. You apply to the scholarship directly, and if you are named a preferred candidate, you then apply for admission to your preferred institution. Do not waste time securing an admission letter before applying.
• The application form is long and detailed. This is not something you complete in an afternoon. The form includes six essay-type sections, detailed work history, academic transcripts, and a grading scale explanation. Start preparing your responses weeks before the application window opens. Draft everything in a separate document first.
• The form cannot be previewed before it opens. New Zealand does not publish the application form in advance. You only see the questions once the portal opens on 1 March 2027. However, the general structure stays broadly similar year to year. The sections listed in this guide will give you a strong head start on preparing your answers.
• Write the application yourself. The interview checks whether the person matches the paper. If your essays sound like they were written by a consultant, an AI tool or a friend with better English, the gap will show when you speak. Write in your own voice. Imperfect English written by you is always better than polished English written by someone else.

The 9-Step Process

From checking your eligibility to receiving the final decision, the Manaaki scholarship process takes many months — selection alone takes six to ten months after applications close. Here is every step in order, so you know exactly what to expect and when.

1. 1
   Before applying

   Check your country’s eligibility

   Not all countries are eligible. The tertiary scholarship is specifically for citizens of eligible developing countries in the Pacific and Asia. Visit nzscholarships.govt.nz and check if your country appears on the eligibility list. Each country also has specific recommended study areas, so check those while you are there.

2. 2
   Before applying

   Complete the eligibility questionnaire

   The portal includes an online questionnaire that checks whether you meet the basic eligibility criteria — citizenship, residency, work experience, military service and any previous Manaaki scholarship. Complete this honestly. If you do not qualify, the system will tell you upfront rather than letting you submit an application that will be screened out immediately.

3. 3
   Before applying

   Research recommended study subjects

   Each eligible country has a list of recommended study subjects — areas that align with the country’s development priorities. Choosing a subject from this list significantly strengthens your application. It does not guarantee selection, but applying for a subject outside the recommended list puts you at a disadvantage. Find these on the NZ Scholarships website under your country’s region.

4. 4
   Before applying

   Research available courses

   You can study at any of the 10 approved institutions in New Zealand: 8 universities and 2 institutes of technology. Browse their course catalogues and identify programmes that match your recommended study subjects and career goals, are at a level available to your country, and progress from your highest qualification.

5. 5
   1 March – 10 April 2027

   Complete the online application

   This is the main event. Submit your complete application through the MNZS Applicant Portal at mnzspapplicantportal.powerappsportals.com during the application window. The form includes personal details, academic history (with a transcript and grading scale upload), work experience, study preferences and six essay sections. Everything must be completed and submitted before the portal closes at midday NZ time. For high-volume countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, the portal may close earlier than 10 April if it receives a large volume of applications. Submit as early as possible.

6. 6
   If screened in · April–May 2027

   Psychometric test

   If your application passes the initial screening, you will receive an email with a psychometric test. This includes abstract reasoning tasks and personality assessment questions. You have 10 days to complete it from the date you receive it. You cannot study facts for the abstract reasoning component — it tests your problem-solving ability, though practice with the question types helps. The personality section has no right or wrong answers; it assesses how you handle situations.

7. 7
   After screening

   First notification

   You will receive an email telling you whether you have progressed to the next stage or been unsuccessful. If you are not selected to continue, you can apply again the following year. The notification does not usually explain why you were not selected.

8. 8
   If progressed · May–July 2027

   Interview

   The interview is conducted via video conference and lasts approximately 40 minutes. You will be asked 6 questions. The panel is typically looking at your communication skills, your understanding of how your studies connect to your home country’s development, your resilience, and your ability to adapt to a new environment. Be yourself. Rehearsed, scripted answers tend to work against candidates.

9. Typically October–December 2027

   Final notification

   After the interview and further assessment, you receive one of three outcomes. Preferred candidate: you are selected; you apply for admission and, once the institution issues an Offer of Place, you get a Scholarship Letter of Offer to accept within 14 days, then apply for your visa. Reserve list: you may receive the scholarship if a preferred candidate withdraws. Unsuccessful: not selected this round; you can reapply the following year.

The Approved Institutions

Eligible Pacific citizens can also choose the University of the South Pacific or Fiji National University. See the universities guide for what each one is known for.

The Application Form

The online application form is longer than most scholarship forms. Here is what you can expect to fill out, so you can prepare everything in advance and not scramble once the portal opens.

Personal details & contact information

Standard biographical information: name, date of birth, nationality, passport details, address, phone number, email. Make sure your name matches your passport exactly. Double-check your email address — all communication about your application goes to this address.

Academic history

You will need to provide details of all your qualifications, upload academic transcripts, and explain the grading scale used by your institution. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked for verified English-translated copies of your transcripts and completion certificates. Be ready to explain what your grades mean — the assessors may not be familiar with your country’s grading system.

Work experience

Detailed employment history, including your current role, responsibilities, and how your work relates to the field you want to study. The Manaaki scholarship values applicants who have practical work experience and can demonstrate how further study will enhance their professional contribution to their home country.

Six essay / response sections

These are the most important parts of your application. Each section has a character limit. Here is what you will be asked about:

1. 1
   What you have done professionally

   Your career history, key achievements, and the impact of your work so far.

2. 2
   What you want to study and why

   Your proposed area of study, why you chose it, and how it connects to your professional background.

3. 3
   Why New Zealand specifically

   What makes New Zealand the right place for your studies. Research specific programmes, faculty expertise, or institutional strengths.

4. 4
   How your studies will benefit your home country

   This is the most critical section. Be specific. Name the sector, the problem, the people, and how your new qualification will make a tangible difference.

5. 5
   Examples of overcoming challenges

   They want to see resilience. Describe a real situation where you faced a significant obstacle and how you handled it. Be honest and specific.

6. 6
   Your career plans after returning home

   What you will do with your qualification when you go back. The scholarship exists to build capacity in developing countries — show that you plan to contribute.

Application Tips from Past Scholars

These are practical tips, not official advice. Most follow directly from the official selection guidelines.

• Apply as early as possible. Do not wait until the last week. The system may close early for high-volume countries like Indonesia and the Philippines. Technical issues also tend to spike near the deadline. Submit at least a week before the closing date if you can.
• Align with priority subjects. Your study choice should match your country’s recommended development subjects. If your preferred field is not on the list, think carefully about whether you can make a strong case for how it still contributes to development priorities.
• Be specific about impact. Vague statements like “I want to help my country develop” are not enough. Name the specific sector, the specific problem, and the specific way you plan to use your qualification. The more concrete and realistic your plan, the stronger your application.
• Connect work and study. The selection panel wants to see a clear thread between what you have done professionally, what you want to study, and what you plan to do afterward. If your work experience has nothing to do with your proposed study area, you need to explain the transition convincingly.
• Avoid flowery language. Do not use a thesaurus to make your writing sound more impressive. Assessors read hundreds of applications. Clear, direct language that communicates your actual thoughts is far more effective than ornate, over-polished prose that says nothing specific.
• Focus on development, not personal ambition. This scholarship is about development impact. Framing your application around personal career advancement or salary improvement misses the point. Show that you understand the development challenges your country faces and that you have a plan to contribute to solving them.

For PhD applicants: contact potential supervisors at New Zealand universities early, before the application window opens. If you reach the interview stage you must show that you have a supervisor or are close to confirming one. Look at faculty research profiles, read their recent publications, and send a professional introductory email explaining your research interest and how it aligns with their work.

The Selection Criteria

The Manaaki scholarship is competitive. Knowing what the selection panel actually looks for helps you frame your application in the right way. Here are the criteria from the official selection guidelines. The High, Med and Note labels are our own reading, not official weights.

The entire process from application to arrival in New Zealand takes roughly one year. Here is the typical timeline for the 2027 round.

The Portal Issue

You choose up to three qualifications from a searchable list in the portal. The list can be slow to load, and applicants report that some programmes are hard to find or missing. The official site publishes a guide to selecting your study preferences, with tips on filters and the * wildcard search.

If you still cannot find your preferred programme, ask through the official online enquiry form before the window closes. Some applicants pick the closest qualification at the same institution and level, but the official site does not promise that you can change course later, so do not rely on it.

Whatever you pick, explain your actual preferred programme clearly in your essay responses so the assessors understand what you truly want to study.

Continue Your Preparation