New Zealand Excellence Awards for Indian students: Key details, eligibility and what changes now

The New Zealand Excellence Awards was a scholarship initiative for Indian students planning to study in New Zealand, jointly offered by Education New Zealand and the country’s eight universities. The programme provided financial support and access to globally ranked institutions, with a total funding pool of NZ$260,000 for the 2025 cycle.

According to Education New Zealand, the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) scholarship has been discontinued and is not expected to continue in the current or the next financial year.

What the scheme offered

The NZEA scholarship supported Indian students with funding to study at any of New Zealand’s eight universities, all of which are ranked among the top 2% globally as per the QS World University Rankings 2025.

It aimed to promote access to quality education focused on problem-solving, collaboration and applied learning. Students also had opportunities to gain practical exposure through internships and work-based projects alongside academic study.

Eligibility criteria
The scholarship was open to Indian citizens aged 18 years and above who were residing in India at the time of application. Applicants were required to hold an unconditional offer for an eligible course and meet visa requirements set by Immigration New Zealand.

Candidates with citizenship or permanent residency of New Zealand or Australia were not eligible.

Participating universities and outcomes
The programme covered all eight universities in the country, including the University of Auckland, University of Otago, University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington.

A key focus was employability, with courses designed to build technical knowledge along with practical skills. Students were encouraged to gain industry exposure during their studies.