Some of our higher valued postgraduate scholarships administered by UC are listed below, but we have many more scholarships available so use our Scholarships Database to find all scholarships that are currently available.
Are you thinking of Postgraduate* study in 2025? We have a number of Postgraduate Scholarships closing mainly between 15 October and 2 December for study in 2025.
Begin your search using our Scholarships Database, using the filters such as 'Level of Study' and 'Faculty/School' depending on what you are planning on studying. Click through to the scholarship's Regulations to check that you meet the eligibliity criteria and you can also take note of the selection criteria for the scholarship.
All scholarships need to go through a review process each year, so although they are listed, they may not show application dates until they are confirmed. Once a scholarship is confirmed as being offered, the scholarship will open for applications approximately eight weeks prior to their closing dates.
*Check out our separate Doctoral Scholarships information if you are enrolling in a PhD.
| Scholarship Name | Details |
| Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Postgraduate Scholarships | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $15,000 per annum for 120 points of enrolment Details: To fund postgraduate research students to deliver evidence that helps address complex challenges and informs longer-term investment decisions in injury prevention and sustained recovery, specifically in the context of injury compensation. NB: This is a Universities New Zealand Scholarship. Closing date: 15 August |
| Ada Wells Memorial Prize | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $1,000 Details: Open to students and recent graduates of UC to write an essay on a subject involving an exposition of some passage chosen each year from literature having reference to social ideals. Closing date: 30 September |
| Barbara Mito Reed Award | Value: $2,000 for one year Details: Open to graduate students of Japanese (whose native language is not Japanese), enrolled, or intending to enrol in a postgraduate programme in a field of Japanese studies at UC or at a university in Japan. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Aotearoa New Zealand. Closing date: 31 March |
| Ben Gough Family Foundation Leaders Scholarship | Value: $32,000 towards tuition fees plus various leadership opportunities To accelerate personal and professional development for students enrolling in an MBA or PGDipBA |
| Bickerton-Widdowson Trust Memorial Scholarship | Value: up to $2,500 for one year Details: Open to any student of the School of Fine Arts. Closing date: 01 November |
| Chalky Carr Scholarship | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$5,000 for one year. Details: Applicants must have been affected by a cancer experience, either directly or through a close relative. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. Closing date: 31 October |
| Charles & Austin Henry Alabaster Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, at a value of $2,500 for one year Details: Supports students studying in classical literature at UC. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate Greek and Latin course. Closing date: 31 October |
| Coastal & Ocean Engineering Conference Fund | Value: Grants from an annual fund of $10,000 are available. Individual grants do not normally exceed the following values: a. For conferences in Aotearoa New Zealand: $1,000 Details: Applicants must be enrolled in a research programme in the Department of Civil & Natural Resource Engineering or Geography, and be intending to present a paper at a coastal and/or ocean conference. Closing date: 31 March and 30 September if funds available |
| CWF Hamilton & Co. Ltd Master's Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering | Value: $16,500 To support students studying towards a Master of Engineering (ME) degree in Mechanical Engineering. |
| Dennis William Moore Fund | Value: The funds can be used to provide grants for the purpose of travel and approved living expenses, research equipment and any other purpose that benefits or promotes the astronomical work of astronomy staff or students at UC in relation to Mt John Observatory. Details: To inspire and support research in astronomy at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory. Closing date: Applications may be made to the Head of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at any time. |
| Dennis William Moore Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $5,000 per annum; up to a total of 120 points for Masters students, or 360 points for PhD students. Details: To support thesis full- or part-time students in Astronomy at UC whose study entails observational work at Mount John Observatory. Closing date: 01 November |
| Dr Russell Smith Memorial Scholarship | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$2,000 for one year. Details: Supports full-time students at UC who have a vision impairment. By the closing date for applications, an applicant must have registered with the University’s Te Ratonga Whaikaha | Equity & Disability Service as a student with a vision impairment Closing date: 31 March |
| Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) Postgraduate Scholarship | Value: $12,500 To recognise academic achievement by students enrolling in a Master of Engineering (ME) or PhD programme at UC who are specialising in Electric Power Engineering. |
| Ethel Rose Overton Scholarship | Value: Between $3,000 and $30,000 For students studying BA(Hons), BFA(Hons), MA(Part I and Part II), MFA or a Phd programme in Art History, Art Theory or Fine Arts. |
| F A Hayek Scholarship in Economics or Political Science | Value: $16,500 For students studying in an Honours or Master's degree in Economics or Political Science. |
| Farina Thompson Charitable Trust Music Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $10,000 for one year Details: To assist and encourage students enrolled in a Music programme of study at UC, towards a career in music. Applicants must be enrolled, or intending to enrol, full-time at the University in a degree programme with a major in Music. Preference is given to applicants who intend to enrol for, or are enrolled for, an MusB(Hons), BA(Hons) in Music, MMus, MA in Music, DMA, or PhD in Music. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Closing date: 01 November (CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW) |
| Fire & Emergency New Zealand Fire Engineering Scholarship | Value: $20,000 per annum For students enrolling in the Master of Engineering in Fire Engineering (MEFE) or the Master of Engineering Studies in Fire Engineering (MEngSt(Fire)) degree programme. |
| Francis Small Scholarship | Value: $20,000 To support reearch Master's students in Engineering. |
| Freemasons University Scholarships | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $6,000 (students in their final year of an undergraduate degree) or $10,000 (postgraduate students); for one year. Details: Scholarships to assist students who demonstrate good citizenship and show leadership potential, who were experiencing financial difficulties during their period of university studies. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Aotearoa New Zealand. NB: This scholarship is not administered by UC - contact Freemasons NZ Charity for further information. Closing date: 01 October |
| G B Battersby-Trimble Scholarship in Computer Science | Value: Financial assistance for one year to the value of: (a) $2,000 for honours or masters students doing courses; (b) $7,000 for master's thesis students; or (c) $8,000 for PhD thesis students. Details: To support students studying Computer Science at the University of Canterbury. Applicants must be enrolled in either (a) the final year of an honours degree in Computer Science; (b) a Master's degree in Computer Science; or (c) a PhD in Computer Science. Closing date: 31 March |
| Geographical Society (Canterbury Branch) Research Grant | Value:The funds can be used to provide grants to assist with the costs associated with university study, up to a value of $500. Details: To assist candidates enrolled in a Master's degree in Geography who are likely to incur heavy personal expenses in their thesis research. Closing date: 31 March and 30 September (if funds still available) |
| Graduate Women Canterbury (Inc) Trust Board Scholarship | Value: Tuition fee support to a value of $4,500 for one year Details: To support female students at the University of Canterbury to complete bachelor’s degrees, bachelor’s with honours degrees, and non-thesis postgraduate study. Two scholarships are available annually in the following categories: (a) for students who are enrolled mainly at 300 level (one scholarship); and (b) for students who are enrolled mainly at 400, 500, or 600 level (one scholarship). Applicants must be female and citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand. Closing date: 31 March |
| Guardian Trust Master's Scholarship in Commerce | Value: $16,500 For students who will be enrolling full time or part time in a Master's degree in the Faculty of Commerce. |
| Harry Ellwood Scholarship in Music | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $2,000 for one year. Details: To support students of violin, viola, cello, or double-bass in Te Kura Puoro | School of Music at UC. At the time of accepting the scholarship, a recipient must have already successfully completed at least one year of such study in the school. Closing date: N/A - no application required. All students who have been enrolled in a course that involved the study of violin, viola, cello, or double bass, and who will be progressing to a further year of such study at UC, will be considered for the scholarship. |
| Helen Macmillan Brown Bursary | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$2,500 per 120 points of thesis enrolment; for one year. Details: Applicants must be female and resident in one of UC's affiliated halls of residence in the year of tenure. Closing date: 15 August. |
| Hope Foundation Scholarship for Research on Ageing: University of Canterbury | Value: $6,000 For students studying in a Master's or doctoral programme with research on a topic related to ageing. |
| Jane Rounick Memorial Award | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $3,000. Details: To support and encourage excellence within students studying in their final year of a BFA, BFA(Hons) or an MFA at UC. Applicants for the award will need to include a submission of recent sculptural work and proposal for work to be undertaken for that year. Closing date: Applications must be made to the Senior Lecturer in Sculpture early in Term 1 in the year of the award. |
| Joan Burns Memorial Scholarship in History | Value: Tuition fees at the domestic rate for 1.0 EFTS of enrolment Details: To recognise and support academic excellence by honours and master’s students in History at the University of Canterbury. Applicants must be enrolled full-time or part-time in a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree programme or in Part 1 of a Master of Arts degree programme. Closing date: 31 March |
| Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Centre Postgraduate Scholarship | Value: (a) Financial assistance at a value of $16,000 (for students with whakapapa Ngāi Tahu) or $12,000 (open); and (b) tuition fees at the Aotearoa New Zealand domestic rate + SSL; for one year. Details: To support postgraduate diploma, honours, and master’s students whose study is facilitated through Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Centre at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. Closing date: 31 October |
| Kevin Spring Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering | Value: $40,000 To support research Master's students in Civil Engineering. |
| Macmillan Brown Prize for Writers | Value: First prize = $2,500; Second prize = $1,000; Third prize = $500 Details: Recognises excellence in English composition by current and recent undergraduate students of UC. Applicants must either: (a) be enrolled as undergraduate students at the University; or (b) have become eligible to graduate with an undergraduate degree from the University no more than three years prior to the closing date for applications. Applicants must submit an original piece of writing of their own sole composition, either unpublished or published, which deals imaginatively with any theme: an essay, a short story, a poem or group of poems, or a short play. Closing date: 30 September |
| Marian D'Eve Memorial Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at the value of $2,000 for one year Details: To support tull-time students at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury who are studying, researching, or developing, aids for early-childhood special-needs education. Applicants can be at undergraduate or postgraduate level and must be studying, researching, or developing, in any discpline, aids for early childhood special-needs education. Closing date: 31 March |
| Ngau Boon Keat Postgraduate Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering | Value: $25,000 For students enrolled part time or full time in the Department of Mechanical Engineering either in a Master of Engineering degree, a Master of Engineering Studies degree or a doctoral degree. |
| Orion Master's Energy Scholarship | Value: $16,500 To support students studying towards a Master’s degree with research on a topic related to the energy field. |
| Sir Neil Isaac Scholarship in Environmental Science | Value: $20,000 For students studying in a Master's or doctoral programme with research on a topic related to the environment. |
| Stan & Jessie Holland Memorial Scholarship in Ecology & Environmental Science | Value: $21,000 For Māori and Pacific Master's students in Ecology or Environmental Science. |
| Tait Communications Master's Research Scholarship | Value: $15,000 For students studying in a Master's programme with research related to Critical Information and Communications Technology (CICT). |
| Three Nations Conference Award | Value: $1,000 for one year Details: Applicants must be Māori or Pacific students, or students who are indigenous to states or territories of Australia, whose financial circumstances would otherwise preclude them from undertaking postgraduate study in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UC. Closing date: 31 March |
| UC Department of Civil & Natural Resources Engineering Summer Research Scholarship | Value: Varies - scholarships will be made available as projects and funds become available. Details: To support students undertaking short term research projects and other experiments to provide a foundation for their studies in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at UC. Applicants must be intending to undertake a programme of study within the Department of Civil & Natural Resources Engineering at UC within 12 months of the completion of tenure. Closing date: Applications must be made to the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering by 30 November |
| UC Master's Scholarship | Value: $14,000 plus tuition fees (at domestic rate) for up to 120 points For students studying towards a research master’s degree at UC (taught Master's are not eligible). CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW |
| UC Master's Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | Value: $14,000 plus tuition fees (at domestic rate) for up to 240 points To support students studying towards a Master's degree at UC who have a significant disability. CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW |
| Westpac Southland Scholarship | Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of NZ$1,000 per annum; for two years. Details: Applicants must have completed at least one academic year at UC and who's earlier youth was spent substantially in Southland and whose parents, or guardian, are resident in Southland at the time of the award. Closing date: 31 March. |
UC Research Student Publication Prize
The goal of the UC Research Student Publication Prize is to encourage students to publish their work in leading peer-reviewed publications, indexed in Scopus, during their doctoral or master's studies (e.g., journal articles, book chapters, monographs, or conference proceedings). Publication during the tenure of Doctoral or Master's studies enhances student’s employment prospects and, for UC, contributes to the enhancement of international university rankings.
You can read the regulations, check your eligibility and apply here.
