The following lists some of the scholarships administered by UC which are to support UC students studying overseas or travelling overseas to further their studies.
NB: Please note that the following information is subject to change. Use our Scholarships Database to find all scholarships that are currently available.
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Information |
| Anne Reid Memorial Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance of up to $30,000 for one year (in exceptional circumstances, the Selection Committee may recommend tenure of up to two years) Details: To assist students to undertake postgraduate study in Art History, English Literature, Fine Arts, or Music in an environment at an overseas institution that encourages the completion of a course, research or a creative work. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. Closing date: 31 October - NEXT OFFERED IN 2025 |
| Barbara Kathryn Ell Travel Award | Value: Grants of $500 to $1,500 are available from an annual total fund of at least $3,000 Details: The award offers financial support for UC postgraduate students of History or Political Science for travel expenses associated with their studies. Applicants must have completed (within six months of the applicable closing date for applications), or be intending to complete, travel associated with their current studies. Closing date: 31 March and 31 October (if funds available) |
| Barbara Mito Reed Award | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $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 |
| 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 |
| Ethel Susan Jones Fine Arts Travelling Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $10,000 Details: For students of the School of Fine Arts to further their study by visiting other countries. Closing date: 01 November |
| FMB Reynolds Scholarship in Law to Oxford | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $10,000 for one year. Details: To assist New Zealand law graduates to commence postgraduate study in Law at the University of Oxford. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 28 February |
| Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships at Harvard University | Value: (a) full Harvard tuition; and (b) mandatory health insurance fees; and (c) a stipend sufficient to cover a student's living expenses for the 10-month academic year. Tenure is up to two years. Details: To provide funding for students to conduct graduate study at one of Harvard University's graduate or professional schools. Certain eligibility criteria applies - check the regulations for details. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens and normally reside in New Zealand. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 01 December |
| Fulbright NZ Awards | Value: Varies - refer to the inforamtion on the Fulbright website for each available award. Details: The Fulbright programme offers a range of prestigious exchange awards for New Zealand and American graduate students, academics, artists and professionals to study, research, teach or present their work in each other’s countries. Other awards allow institutions to apply for a visiting Fulbright specialist to assist with their development needs. NB: This scholarship is not administered by UC - contact Fulbright NZ for further information. Closing date: Varies - refer to the inforamtion on the Fulbright website for each available award. |
| Gordon Watson Scholarship | Value: Varies - but it normally $12,000 per annum for up to 2 years (Masters) or 3 years (PhD). Details: To support NZ students to study international relationships or social and economic conditions at a university overseas. Applicants must have graduated with, or be graduating with, an Honours or Masters degree in arts, science, commerce, law or divinity from a New Zealand university; and be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Candidates will be planning to study at Masters or PhD level. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 01 April |
| Keith Laungesen Music Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $10,000. Details: To support full-time postgraduate study overseas by students of Music. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Closing date: 01 November |
| Kiwi Music Scholarship | Value: Varies - but generally in the range of $50,000-$60,000 for up to 3 year. Details: To assist outstanding New Zealand musical performers or conductors who have completed or are completing an honours or master’s degree in musical performance in New Zealand to continue their musical development either overseas or in New Zealand. The scholarship will be awarded for classical instrumental performance (including vocal performance) or conducting. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens who are normally resident in NZ. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 01 March |
| Penelope Wilson Art and Culture Internship Grant | Value: Financial assitance to the value of $5,000 for one year. Details: This grant supports postgraduate students at UC who are undertaking an internship in the arts and culture field in Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas. Applicants must be enrolled full-time or part-time in a postgraduate degree programme at UC, preference is given to those studying Art History. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Aotearoa New Zealand and have applied for an internship at another institution in an arts or culture field that relates to the applicant's subject of study, such as a library, gallery or museum. The internship cannot be undertaken in Ōtautahi Christchurch and must be undertaken within 12 months of the offer of the award. Closing date: 31 March |
| Robert Bell Travelling Scholarship in Journalism | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $15,000. Details: To support graduates of a UC programme in Journalism to travel overseas to pursue enquiries and conduct research into news media and other like means of public communication. Closing date: 01 November |
| Rutherford Visiting Studentship at Darwin College, Cambridge | Value: Admission and academic fees for a Visiting Studentship at the University of Cambridge; and specified privileges at Darwin College, Cambridge. Details: To enable PhD students of UC to conduct research at the University of Cambridge. Applicant would need to have been accepted as a Visiting Student by a department or affiliated institute of the University of Cambridge. Preference is given to those studying in the areas of engineering, health sciences, mathematics, science or technology. Closing date: Open whenever funds are available. |
| Sims Empire Scholarship | Value: Up to $70,000 per annum for up to 3 years - comprising of (a) tuition fees up to the value of $35,000; (b) a stipend of $15,000; and (c) up to $20,000 towards other expenses. Details: To support graduates of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury with a background in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, or any related subject, or in a medical or other health-related field, to undertake further full-time postgraduate study in Great Britain. Normally, there may be only one holder of the scholarship at a time - the scholarship will be advertised as it becomes available. Applicants must have been born in Aotearoa New Zealand; or have been resident in Aotearoa New Zealand for a total of at least 7 years on the closing date for applications. Closing date: 01 November |
| Sir William Hartley Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $20,000 per annum for up to 3 years Details: To support female doctoral students attending a European university. Preference is given to those who will be studying at the University of Cambridge, the University of London, or the University of Oxford. Closing date: 01 November |
For UC students going on overseas exchanges
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Information |
| Christchurch - Seattle Sister City Scholarship | Value: $5,000 Details: To support UC students who are participating in the UC Global Exchange Programme at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, USA. Closing date: 15 October |
| DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships | Value: Varies depending on the scholarship. Please refer to the details for each scholarship at the links given below. Details: The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships annually to New Zealand graduate students to complete a postgraduate or Master's degree course at a German higher education institution, in all academic disciplines. Closing date: 15 October |
| Pagnol Scholarship | Value: $5,000 Details: To support UC students majoring in French in either a BA, BA(Hons) or Part I of an MA; to participate in the University's Student Exchange Programme at one of the University's partner institutions in France. Closing date: 31 March |
Other Scholarships not administered by UC
There are also other programmes / organisations which offer scholarships for NZ students to study overseas. The following scholarships are some of those which have been sent to the Scholarships Office from external providers. Please note that the UC does not adminster any of these scholarships so is unable to answer any queries on them - all queries must be directed to the organisation who is offering the scholarship in the link provided.
We aim to keep this information as up to date as possible but cannot guarantee its accuracy at all times.
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Information |
| DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships | Value: varies depending on the scholarship Details: The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships annually to NZ graduate students to complete a postgraduate or Master's degree course at a German higher education institution, in all academic disciplines, including the fields of music and fine arts. Closing date: 15 October |
| Fulbright New Zealand | Value: varies depending on the scholarship Details: The Fulbright programme offers a range of prestigious exchange awards for New Zealand and American graduate students, academics, artists and professionals to study, research, teach or present their work in each other’s countries. Closing date: Varies - see Fulbright website for details |
| Gordon Watson Scholarship | Value: up to $12,000 per annum for up to 2 years of Masters and 3 years for PhD Details: This Universities New Zealand scholarship is to enable New Zealanders to study international relationships or social and economic conditions at a university overseas. Candidates will be planning to study at Masters or PhD level. Applicants must have graduated or be graduating with an Honours or Masters degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law or Divinity from a New Zealand university, and be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Closing date: 01 April |
| Robertson Scholars Leadership Program | Value: Provides eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees for Scholars at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. Access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences, funding for conferences throughout the academic year, and for two semesters of study abroad. Details: Applicants must: (a) be entered for a Year 13 senior school examination (for example NCEA Level 3, Cambridge exams, etc.) or equivalent senior school exam in the year of application; and (b) have normally completed their five years of secondary schooling in New Zealand. Open to Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Closing date: 15 November |
