This is the flagship diplomatic scholarship of the New Zealand government. It is heavily focused on capacity building in developing nations, with a massive priority given to Pacific Island nations, followed by Southeast Asia and parts of Africa/Latin America.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Law
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- Yes (1 yrs)
- Age Range
- 18 - 39
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.5
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- NZD 531/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- Yes
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It is an incredibly generous package. It covers full tuition, a $3,000 establishment allowance, medical insurance, return flights to your home country, and a weekly living allowance of exactly $531 NZD (meaning you don't have to budget month-to-month). You also receive excellent pastoral care from the universities.
Application Process
You apply via the MFAT portal. The system opens for a very short, strict window in February. You must pass an initial eligibility questionnaire before accessing the main portal.
The application focuses heavily on detailed essays regarding your proposed impact.
How to Win This Scholarship
MFAT funds degrees that align with New Zealand's diplomatic strengths: Climate Change, Agriculture, Geothermal Energy, and Disaster Risk Management. Do not apply for an MBA or fine arts. Your essays must be a pragmatic roadmap.
You must explicitly outline the problem in your home country, how the NZ degree will solve it, and what specific job you will return to. If you are from a Pacific Island nation, your chances are vastly higher than someone from Africa due to regional quotas.
Benefits After Completing Study
You gain an incredibly high-quality education in one of the safest and most socially progressive countries on earth.
Like the Australia Awards, this comes with a strict 'Return Home' condition. You are legally bound to leave New Zealand upon graduation and return to your home country for a minimum of two years. You cannot transition this into a post-study work visa.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source