School-leaver scholarships

We offer hundreds of scholarships to school leavers each year, celebrating students with different strengths and backgrounds. Find the one that's right for you.

Our school-leaver scholarships have been developed to support students who embody the key attributes that the University values—excellence, leadership, diversity, sporting achievement, sustainability, and commitment to community. Offering much more than just financial assistance, our scholarships are designed to create communities of students who share the same ambitions, goals, backgrounds, and values. If you’ve achieved NCEA with a Merit endorsement (or equivalent) you can apply for most of our scholarships - we’d love to hear from you

All of our scholarship recipients will have access to a dedicated development toolkit that provides links to events, career development, internships, and learning opportunities. Whatever your study and life goals, our range of scholarships offers something for everyone.

Guaranteed accommodation

All scholarship recipients who apply for accommodation at a university hall of residence are guaranteed a place. This means you can use your scholarship funding to live in one of our nine central city halls of residence—make new friends, benefit from additional support, and live in an environment that encourages your academic success, plus have some fun of course!

Our scholarship community

Our 2024 scholarship recipients recently gathered for another free social event, enjoying a great afternoon of pizza and fun. Students heard about internship courses, exciting paid student ambassador roles, bespoke leadership events, and employer engagement opportunities. A former Kahotea scholarship recipient also shared her inspiring experiences and the incredible opportunities she had while studying here at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Students shared how they met new friends at the events and felt that their first year at university had been less stressful thanks to the financial support from their scholarship.

The Scholarships Office looks forward to welcoming next year's scholarship recipients at future events like these.

Kahurangi Māori Student Scholarship

The Kahurangi Māori Student Scholarship recognises Māori students who have achieved Merit or above in NCEA (or equivalent study for year 12) and demonstrate strength of engagement in te ao Māori, involvement in their community, leadership responsibilities, and performance in the arts, sports, or other cultural contexts.

Kahurangi scholarships include a range of offers for accommodation, fees, and/or a stipend over one to three years and are valued between $5,000 and $30,000.

Tauira Māori at the University will be connected with Āwhina.
Valued at up to $30,000 over three years of study at the University, including full accommodation costs for the first year in a University hall of residence, plus $5,000 in both of the second and third years of study.

Kahurangi Māori Student Scholarship regulations

Mana Pasifika Scholarship

The Mana Pasifika Scholarship recognises Pasifika students who have achieved Merit or above in NCEA (or equivalent study for year 12) and demonstrate strength of engagement in the Pasifika community, leadership responsibilities, and performance in the arts, sports, or other cultural contexts.

Mana Pasifika scholarships include a range of offers for accommodation, fees, and/or a stipend over one to three years and are valued between $5,000 and $30,000.

Pasifika students at the University will be connected to the Pasifika Student Success team.
Valued at up to $30,000 over three years of study at the University, including full accommodation costs for the first year in a University hall of residence, plus $5,000 in both of the second and third years of study.

Mana Pasifika Scholarship regulations

Mātātoa Sports Scholarship

The Mātātoa Sports Scholarship supports exceptional student athletes who have reached age-group regional and/or national representative level in their chosen sports.

Receiving holistic support that will ensure that student thrives with both their academic and sporting pursuits.
Membership of the Student Athlete Network providing free access to fitness facilities, group exercise classes, and a qualified Fitness Advisor on campus.
A dedicated University Recreation staff member who will remain a key contact and support person.
Recipients will receive a Mātātoa ambassador welcome pack.
Opportunity to represent Victoria University of Wellington at University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand events.
Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Mātātoa Sports Scholarship regulations

Pakohe Sustainability Scholarship

The Pakohe Sustainability Scholarship supports students who have demonstrated sustainability practices that align with our aim to be a global thought leader by integrating sustainability into all we do.

Access to conferences and industry events.
Mentoring from the University's director of sustainability.
Opportunity to participate in many of our award-winning sustainability focused initiatives at the University.
Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Pakohe Sustainability Scholarship regulations

Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship

The Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship supports students who have demonstrated leadership qualities, distinguishing them as New Zealand’s leaders of the future.

Recipients can join our two award-winning leadership programmes: the Wellington Plus Programme and the Wellington International Leadership Programme, providing opportunities to attend conferences and networking events, and connect with the diplomatic and not-for-profit sector in Wellington.
Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Raukaraka Leadership Scholarship regulations

Tangiwai Excellence Scholarship

The Tangiwai Excellence Scholarship supports academically strong school leavers to study at the University, distinguishing them as New Zealand’s scholars of the future.

Over 300 scholarships valued at $5,000 to $10,000 awarded to the top school-leaver applicants.

Tangiwai Excellence Scholarship regulations

Totoweka Equity Scholarship

The Totoweka Equity Scholarship recognises the University’s commitment to equity issues in supporting all students to have access to education.

The University encourages strong academic applicants who are from refugee backgrounds, identify as rainbow, have a disability, or come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Valued at $5,000 or $10,000.

Totoweka Equity Scholarship regulations

Kahotea Outstanding Achievement Scholarship

The Kahotea Outstanding Achievement Scholarship recognises those students who represent the top applicants from across our suite of school-leaver scholarships. Recipients will have achieved exceptional academic results and demonstrated extensive contributions within the areas of culture, sports, community involvement, leadership, or equity.

Valued at up to $35,000, this package includes full accommodation costs for the first year at one of the University’s halls of residence, plus a stipend of $5,000 for three years.

Applicants are automatically considered for a Kahotea Scholarship if they apply for the Tangiwai, Totoweka, Raukaraka, Pakohe, Mātātoa, Kahurangi, or Mana Pasifika Scholarships and meet the criteria.

Kahotea Outstanding Achievement Scholarship regulations

Becoming a student of change