New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship Programme

Who can apply

You can apply if you are a former refugee or the child of a refugee, who came to New Zealand through the:

• UNHCR Quota Programme
• Convention Refugee pathway, or
• Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship Category.

What you can get

Each successful applicant will receive:

• up to NZD$5,000 for course-related costs (tuition, compulsory fees, equipment), and
• up to NZD$20,000 living stipend (paid directly to you).

The scholarship is for 1 academic year.

Funding requirements and reapplying

You must pass all first semester courses to receive second semester funding. You must also submit a report and academic transcript at the end of each semester.

You need to reapply each year to be considered for future funding.

When to apply

• Applications open: 15 October 2025.
• Applications close: 15 December 2025.

How to apply

When the applications have opened you can apply through Universities New Zealand. You will need to:

• complete the application form, and
• upload the required documents through the Community Force platform on the Universities New Zealand website.

Universities New Zealand

Assessment criteria

You will be assessed on:

• your potential impact on refugee health outcomes
• your likelihood of completing your qualification and entering the health workforce, and
• how much the scholarship will benefit you and your family.

Priority may be given to applicants:

• studying in-demand health disciplines
• close to entering the workforce
• likely to succeed in their studies, or
• facing financial or other barriers.

Applications will be reviewed by an assessment panel.

Contact

For questions about the scholarship:

nzrefugeehealthscholarships@mbie.govt.nz

For questions about the application process:

scholarships-cf@universitiesnz.ac.nz