Scholarships for Incoming First-Year students are available for application annually. If you are planning to enrol in your first year of an undergraduate degree at UC next year, it's worth applying for a scholarship (or five!) to fund your studies. More details about the scholarships available for 2026 will be available next year.
Applications for Incoming First-Year Student Scholarships are now closed
Check back early 2025 for details on the scholarships being offered for 2026.
Each scholarship has different eligibility criteria such as the subject area, level, and/or qualification you plan to study at UC; your age, gender, ethnicity, and citizenship; and which high school and/or region you are coming from.
Incoming First-Year Scholarships are available specifically for:
- Māori and Pacific students
- Students who can demonstrate leadership potential
- Students with financial hardship or other personal circumstances
- Students moving away from home to study at UC (with accommodation costs).
We recommend you apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for, as it is possible to be awarded more than one scholarship at a time.
See what scholarships were available for new students in 2025
This information will be updated for the 2026 year in 2025
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General Scholarships
General Scholarships that are available for students intending to enrol in their first year of any undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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General Scholarships
General Scholarships that are available for students intending to enrol in their first year of any undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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General Scholarships
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Māori & Pacific
Scholarships available for students of Māori or Pacific descent who are intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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Māori & Pacific
Scholarships available for students of Māori or Pacific descent who are intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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Māori & Pacific
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International Students
Scholarships available for International Students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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International Students
Scholarships available for International Students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025.
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International Students
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Scholarships toward Hall of Residence Accommodation
Scholarships which contribute towards hall of residence accommodation costs that are available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025
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Scholarships toward Hall of Residence Accommodation
Scholarships which contribute towards hall of residence accommodation costs that are available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC in 2025
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Scholarships toward Hall of Residence Accommodation
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Arts, Fine Arts, and Music
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Arts, Fine Arts, and Music degree at UC in 2025.
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Arts, Fine Arts, and Music
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Arts, Fine Arts, and Music degree at UC in 2025.
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Arts, Fine Arts, and Music
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Business & Law
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Business or Law degree at UC in 2025.
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Business & Law
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Business or Law degree at UC in 2025.
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Business & Law
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Engineering, Forestry, Product Design & Mathematics and Statistics
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Engineering, Forestry, Product Design or Mathematics and Statistics degree at UC in 2025.
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Engineering, Forestry, Product Design & Mathematics and Statistics
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Engineering, Forestry, Product Design or Mathematics and Statistics degree at UC in 2025.
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Engineering, Forestry, Product Design & Mathematics and Statistics
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Health & Education
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Health (including Health Sciences, Social Work, Speech & Language Pathology, and Sport) or Education degree at UC in 2025.
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Health & Education
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Health (including Health Sciences, Social Work, Speech & Language Pathology, and Sport) or Education degree at UC in 2025.
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Health & Education
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Sciences
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Science degree at UC in 2025.
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Sciences
Scholarships available for students intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate Science degree at UC in 2025.
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Sciences
Why apply for a Scholarship?
Scholarships help ease the financial stresses of study, accommodation, and student life, enabling you to place more focus on your studies and access additional resources and opportunities. Recipients have found that the benefits of this are far-reaching and lifelong, including:
- Increased confidence and self-worth
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Sense of belonging and recognition
- Social integrations and friendships
- Motivation and empowerment
- Mental wellbeing.
What previous recipients had to say:
“Without the worry of tuition fees, I have had the ability to move out of home and experience life in more noteworthy ways. Gaining the scholarship gave me more faith and confidence within myself and my abilities. I have also had the chance to grow and learn as a person through the groups held within the scholarship.”
G Rainbow, Law
“The Te Kakau a Māui scholarship has benefitted me by allowing me to focus on my studies without the worry of tuition fees later on in my degree. It has provided priceless help and support during my transition into tertiary education and guided me on my path into my engineering degree. I have enjoyed meeting likeminded rangitahi as part of the scholarship, creating connections and friendships through workshops, and sharing ideas and stories together.”
K Jones, Mechatronics
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Apply for Incoming First-Year Scholarships
Applications for Incoming First Year students currently studying at a NZ secondary school are now closed.
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Apply for Incoming First-Year Scholarships
Applications for Incoming First Year students currently studying at a NZ secondary school are now closed.
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Apply for Incoming First-Year Scholarships
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Information for Schools regarding School References for Scholarship Applications
Information to help schools with the School Reference aspect of the Scholarship application process.
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Information for Schools regarding School References for Scholarship Applications
Information to help schools with the School Reference aspect of the Scholarship application process.
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Information for Schools regarding School References for Scholarship Applications
