Scholarships for Pacific students

University of Auckland Pacific Academic Excellence Scholarship

A Scholarship to recognise and reward exceptional Pacific students entering the first year of an undergraduate degree programme or Certificate of Health Sciences.

Read more at University of Auckland Pacific Academic Excellence Scholarships.

University of Auckland Academic Potential Scholarship - Pathway Programme Students

A Scholarship to support students currently enrolled in an approved University of Auckland pathway programme who have achieved academically but who are experiencing hardships that potentially limit their opportunities or who may have been disadvantaged due to their personal circumstances. Awards are made in three different tiers, and our review committee determines which tier a successful applicant will be awarded under.

University of Auckland Vaka Moana Scholarship

A Scholarship to support Pacific students attending a decile 1-4 secondary school or kura in Auckland who intend to enrol at the University of Auckland next year in either an undergraduate degree or a Tertiary Foundation Certificate or Certificate in Health Sciences followed by an undergraduate degree in the following year. The Scholarship includes catered accommodation and a laptop.

360 International Award for Pacific Students

An Award of up to $6,000 to provide support to Pacific students while on an approved student exchange.

Bachelor of Design Award for Pacific Students

An Award of up to $5,000 for Pacific students enrolling in any year of a Bachelor of Design.

Business School Māori and Pacific Tautoko Grant

A Grant of up to $2,500 to assist undergraduate Māori students and Pacific students enrolled full-time in the Business School.

Faculty of Engineering Kick Start Māori and Pacific Award

An Award for first year Māori and Pacific BE(Hons) students, up to $2,000 to assist with setup costs.

AUEA Pacific Engineering Pathway Award

An Award of up to $10,000 to support first year Pacific BE(Hons) students.

The Jackson Family Foundation Scholarship

A Scholarship of up to $11,000 to support women students of Cook Island descent enrolled full-time in any year of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

EROAD Scholarship for Māori and Pacific Students

Business School, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science

A Scholarship of up to $8,000 to encourage Māori and Pacific students enrolled in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems or Software Engineering.

Frances Barkley Scholarship

A Scholarship of up to $5,000 to support an undergraduate Māori or Pacific student enrolling in a BSc.

Jasmax Scholarship for Māori and Pacific Students

A Scholarship of $5,000 pa for up to five years of study for Māori and Pacific students enrolling in the first year of a Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

Read about Scholarship awardee, Jessika Varney at Scholarship seeks to push indigenous voice to the forefront of NZ architecture.

John and Rose Dunn Scholarship for Pacific Island Medical Students

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

A $10,000 Scholarship for Pacific MBChB students from New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.

Read about previous awardees at Scholarship supports future Pacific Island doctors.

Kool Family Nursing Award

A $1,500 Award to support an undergraduate Nursing student of Pacific descent who is a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand, and who is experiencing financial hardship.

Michael Synnott Scholarship

A Scholarship of up to $5,000 per annum for up to 4 years for a Māori or Pacific student residing in South Auckland intending to enrol in their first undergraduate Bachelors or conjoint degree at the University of Auckland.

NZAO Award for the Top Māori or Pacific Student entering the Bachelor of Optometry Part II

A $1,000 Award to a Māori or Pacific student entering Part II of the BOptom.

University of Auckland Pacific Postgraduate Scholarship

Guaranteed Scholarship of up to $14,346 pa plus compulsory fees for study commencing in 2025 for high achieving domestic Pacific students enrolled in Masters degrees, postgraduate Bachelors (honours) degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas.  

University of Auckland Postgraduate Honours/PG Diploma Scholarship

Guaranteed Scholarship of up to $14,346 pa plus compulsory fees for study commencing in 2025 for high achieving students enrolled in postgraduate Bachelors (honours) degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas.  

University of Auckland Research Masters Scholarship

Guaranteed Scholarship of up to $14,346 plus compulsory fees for study commencing in 2025 for high achieving students enrolled in a research masters programme.  

University of Auckland Bioengineering Masters Scholarship for Māori and Pacific Students

A Scholarship of to $13,390 plus compulsory tuition fees for a ME Thesis in Bioengineering, for Māori and Pacific students who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

The Jackson Family Foundation Scholarship

A Scholarship of up to $11,000 to support women students of Cook Island descent enrolled full-time in any year of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

Gavin and Susan Walker Postgraduate Scholarship in Dance Studies

A $7,000 Scholarship to assist postgraduate Dance Studies students who are either New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, or international students of Pacific ancestry.

Māori and Pasifika Master of Public Policy Award

Awards of up to $10,000 to support Māori and Pasifika students enrolled full-time or part-time in a Master of Public Policy degree.

Professor Michael Walker Scholarship for Māori and Pacific Students

A $3,000 Scholarship for Māori and Pacific students currently enrolled in their final year of undergraduate study and who are enrolling full-time or part-time in postgraduate study in the following year.

Te Wānanga o Waipapa Postgraduate Award

Up to two Awards are available for Māori students and Pacific students undertaking postgraduate study in the Faculty of Arts.

Vicki St John Postgraduate Award for Māori and Pacific Island Students

A $4,000 Award to support Māori and Pacific students who are enrolled full-time or part-time in postgraduate study in the Business School.

Warren and Mahoney Masters Award

Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries

A $10,000 Award for Māori students and Pacific students enrolled in an MArch(Prof).

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship

Guaranteed Scholarship of up to $34,569 pa in 2025 plus compulsory fees for high achieving Pacific students enrolled in doctoral study, includes stipend, tuition fees and international student insurance (if applicable).  

Te Herenga Mātai Pūkaha Doctoral Scholarship in Engineering

A Scholarship to support Māori and Pacific students undertaking a PhD in the Faculty of Engineering.  

Dilshika Weerasekera Memorial Prize

A Prize for the Māori or Pacific student enrolled full-time who achieved the best overall performance in CHEM 110 and 120 and who has gone on to enrol in Stage II Chemistry courses.

Matariki Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Psychologies Rising Stars Award

An Award to recognise and support Māori, Pacific and Indigenous students enrolling in Psychology courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Pacific Lawyers’ Association Prize for Legal Writing

A Prize for the student of Pacific heritage judged to have written the best essay on an issue related to Pacific people in LAWGENRL 453 or LAWGENRL 428.

Pacific Lawyers Association Prize for Pacific Islands Mooting

A Prize for the student who achieved the highest mark in the Pacific Islands Mooting competition in the Faculty of Law.

Pasifika Student Prize in Planning

A Prize for the Pacific student enrolled in Planning who has achieved the highest GPA over the previous two years.

ProCare Annual Prize in General Practice

A Prize for the Māori and Pacific students who achieved the highest overall marks for the General Practice attachment of the MBChB Part V.

Te Ākonga Matua (Head of School) Distinguished MAPAS Student Prize

A Prize for final year Bachelor of Nursing MAPAS students who demonstrated exceptional all-round qualities in addition to a distinguished academic and clinical performance.

The following content is sourced from external websites and is provided for convenience. The University of Auckland Scholarships Office is not responsible for the accuracy or content on such websites and the inclusion of such links does not imply endorsement of the linked websites or their providers.

Arthington Davy Fund

Students born in Tonga and of Tongan parents, who already have a first University degree and who wish to engage in post-graduate study at any University in the world, are eligible to be considered for an award to cover the cost (or part of the cost) of such study, the award being conditional on the applicant’s acceptance for such a course by their chosen University.

Preference is given to those proposing to engage in the study or research in subjects likely to contribute significantly to the development of Tonga.  

For more information and to apply visit Arthington Davy Fund.

GCSB Women in STEM Scholarship

The GCSB Women in STEM scholarship is aimed at second year tertiary students and above (including Honours and Masters) who are intending to take a full-time course of study in computer science, cyber security, technology, mathematics, computer engineering and/or data science at any New Zealand tertiary institution.

Four scholarships of up to $10,000 each are available.

NZCS Awards - Māori & Pacific Island Research Scholarship

The New Zealand Coastal Society offers an annual PhD research scholarship of $5,000 to anyone of Māori or Pacific Island descent or with a research topic with a Māori and Pacific Island focus within the coastal environment.An example could be the application of traditional Maori or Pacific Island coastal management techniques to modern day coastal planning. The purpose of this scholarship is also to promote diversity amongst coastal practitioners. The Scholarship includes free attendance to the annual NZCS conference and dinner.

For more information or to apply visit NZCS Awards.

Pacific Health Scholarships

The scholarships offer up to $10,000 for medical and dentistry students and up to $5,000 for nursing, midwifery, allied health and all remaining qualifications. The scholarship is paid as a tuition fees credit.  

For more information and to apply visit Pacific Health Scholarships.

TeachNZ Scholarships

TeachNZ Scholarships cover early learning, primary, secondary and immersion settings.     

Toloa Tertiary Scholarships

The purpose of the scholarships is to encourage Pacific students to pursue studies in STEM subjects at tertiary level and increase the number of Pacific people employed in STEM careers. Up to $9,000 is available to cover tuition and compulsory fees.  

The MacDiarmid Institute Discovery Scholarship Programme

These scholarships will pay university fees up to $8,000 for the 2024 academic year, and a one-off cash award of up to $3,000 for Māori and Pasifika students in Science.  

Te Kainga Rua Award - Second Chance Learner Award

For mature students returning to tertiary study or undertaking tertiary  study for the first time who are passionate about the natural sciences.

Piki Ake Award - Step It Up Award

To help enthusiastic students reach their potential and step up into achieving academically in Science.

Te Taumata Award - High Achiever Award

For students who have excelled in their studies and are looking toward continuing their study in the field.

Te Mātauranga Pūtaiao Award - High Achiever in Māori Science Award

For students who have excelled in Mātauranga Māori Science and are looking toward continuing their study in the field. Applications for 2024 are now open.

Te Huarahi Ki Mua Award

For students who have been previous recipients of a Discovery Scholarship Award and are continuing in their study in a relevant field.

For more information and to apply visit The MacDiarmid Institute Discovery Scholarships.

Many other University of Auckland scholarships are open to Pacific students. Search our comprehensive scholarships database for an up-to-date list of all the scholarships and awards open to future and current University of Auckland students.