Which New Zealand scholarships can Sri Lankan students apply for now for 2027?

As of 14 October 2026: UC's International First Year Scholarship ($15,000, closes 31 October), Victoria's Tongarewa Scholarship (up to $10,000, closes 1 November), Auckland's International Student Excellence Scholarship for master's students (25% of a year's fees, you need an offer by 20 October, form due 4 November), AUT's South Asia scholarship, which lists Sri Lanka ($10,000 for a bachelor's, $7,000 for postgrad, closes 22 November), and Waikato's Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship (up to $15,000, closes 30 November for early 2027). Always check the date on the university's own website.

Do I need an offer before I apply for a scholarship?

For most of them, yes. Auckland only invites master's students who have an offer by 20 October 2026. AUT and Waikato also need an offer for a 2027 course. So apply for your course first, or at the same time.

Is there a full scholarship for Sri Lankans?

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are paid by the New Zealand Government. They cover fees, living costs and flights for students from eligible countries. The next round is expected around March to April 2027, for study in 2028. Check the official Manaaki website to see if Sri Lanka is eligible that year.

Can I work while I study in New Zealand?

Immigration New Zealand says that if your student visa allows work, you can work up to 25 hours a week. PhD and research master's students have no limit. Your own visa conditions decide what applies to you.

Does a New Zealand master's lead to residence?

Not automatically. A New Zealand master's or PhD (with at least 30 weeks of study here) can get you a work visa for up to three years. From 24 August 2026, a New Zealand master's (if you also have a bachelor's) or a PhD gives 6 points under the Skilled Migrant Category. You still need a skilled job here and must meet all the other rules. This is general information, not immigration advice. Check immigration.govt.nz or talk to a licensed immigration adviser.

Is this article immigration advice?

No. It's general information from someone who came to New Zealand from Sri Lanka to study. The author isn't a licensed immigration adviser and doesn't work for any university. Check every date and rule with the university and Immigration New Zealand. For your own visa, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.

New Zealand Scholarships 2027: Deadlines Sri Lankans Can't Miss

Thinking about studying in New Zealand? Planning to look into it "after the new year"?

Please don't wait. Most of the scholarship money for 2027 gets decided before Christmas. And most Sri Lankan students only find out after it's gone.

Here's what's open right now. All amounts are in New Zealand dollars.

15 October: UC Doctoral Scholarship. $32,650 a year plus fees. That's tomorrow.
31 October: UC International First Year Scholarship. $15,000. It's for students who finished school outside New Zealand, so Sri Lankan A/L students can apply.
1 November: Victoria University of Wellington, Tongarewa Scholarship. Up to $10,000.
4 November: University of Auckland, International Student Excellence Scholarship. 25% of a year's fees, for master's students. But you need an offer by 20 October to get invited.
22 November: AUT International Scholarship for South Asia. Sri Lanka is on the list. $10,000 for a bachelor's, $7,000 for postgrad.
30 November: University of Waikato, Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship. Up to $15,000.

I checked each date on the university's own website on 14 October 2026. Only AUT's closing date came from StudySpy, because AUT hadn't posted it yet.

Seven New Zealand scholarship deadlines for 2027, from 15 October to 30 November 2026, each with its value and days left — The deadlines, as of 14 October 2026. Red means less than a week left.

Quick note before we start: this is general information, not immigration advice. I'm not a licensed immigration adviser, and I don't work for any university. Dates and rules change. Always check the official pages (links at the bottom).

Why I'm writing this

I came to New Zealand from Sri Lanka and did my PhD here. Since then, a lot of Sri Lankan students have messaged me. I keep hearing the same thing:

"Aiyo, I only found out about the scholarship after it closed."

It's not that they weren't good enough. It's the timing. Here, the university year starts in February. So scholarships are decided in October and November. Back home, most of us start searching in January. By then it's too late.

So I put everything in one place. There's still time, but not much.

What's open right now

University of Canterbury (UC), Christchurch

International First Year Scholarship: $15,000 off your fees. It's for international students who finished school overseas. If you've done your A/Ls and meet UC's entry requirements, this one's for you. Closes 31 October.
Doctoral Scholarship: $32,650 a year plus fees, for up to three years. This round closes 15 October 2026. Missed it? The next round opens 20 March and closes 15 May 2027.

UC also has $5,000 High Achievers Scholarships. But they're only for India, China and Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka isn't included. That's why the First Year Scholarship is the one to go for.

AUT, Auckland

International Scholarship, South Asia: $10,000 for a bachelor's, $7,000 for postgrad. Sri Lanka is named on the list. You need an offer to start in Semester 1 or 2 of 2027. Closes 22 November 2026. (I got this date from StudySpy, so keep an eye on AUT's own page too.)

University of Auckland

International Student Excellence Scholarship: 25% of one year's fees, for new master's students. You can't apply for this one directly. Here's how it works. If you hold an offer for early 2027 by 20 October 2026, they invite you on 21 October. Then you fill in a short form by 4 November.

This is the one people miss the most. No offer by 20 October means no invite.

Victoria University of Wellington

Tongarewa Scholarship: up to $10,000. They give $2,500, $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000. It's for new international students starting a bachelor's or a postgrad course. Closes 1 November at 4.30 pm (New Zealand time).

University of Waikato, Hamilton and Tauranga

Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship: up to $15,000, for bachelor's and taught postgrad students. If your offer is for early 2027, apply by 30 November. They look at applications every month, so earlier is better.

Bar chart of scholarship values in NZ dollars, from $7,000 to $32,650 a year — How much each one is worth, in NZ dollars. Most are a one-time discount on your first-year fees.

Which one should you go for?

It depends on where you are right now.

Just done your A/Ls (or doing them now)? You'll want a bachelor's. Look at UC First Year, AUT South Asia, Waikato and Tongarewa.
Already have a bachelor's? You'll want a master's. Get your Auckland application in before 20 October. Then look at AUT South Asia, Waikato and Tongarewa.
Have a master's or a good honours degree, and a research idea? You'll want a PhD. Your first step is finding a supervisor. Start emailing now. Then aim for UC's May 2027 round.

Three columns: A/L leavers, bachelor's holders and research-ready students, each with the scholarships that fit — Pick the column that matches you. Most scholarships need an offer first.

The mistake almost everyone makes

They wait to apply for the course. Don't.

Apply to the university first. Almost every scholarship here needs an offer. Auckland only invites students who already have one. AUT and Waikato also need an offer for 2027.

Universities need time to check your transcripts, A/L results and English test. If you only apply for the course near the scholarship deadline, it's already too late. Do both now.

Is there a full scholarship?

Yes. The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are paid by the New Zealand Government. They cover fees, living costs and flights for students from eligible countries.

Applications usually open in March and close in April, for study the next year. Massey University says the next round runs from 1 March to 10 April 2027.

It's very competitive. You also have to go back home for a while after you finish. Check the official Manaaki website to see if Sri Lanka is eligible in that round. If it is, start getting ready now. Five months goes fast when you need referees and a strong statement.

What about staying and working after?

A lot of people who message me aren't just thinking about a degree. They're thinking about their future. So here's how it works, based on Immigration New Zealand's website in October 2026.

While you study. If your student visa allows work, you can work up to 25 hours a week. PhD and research master's students have no limit.
After you graduate. Finish a New Zealand master's or PhD (at least 30 weeks of full-time study here). Then you can get a Post-Study Work Visa for up to three years. You only get one. Apply within three months of your student visa ending (six months for a PhD). From 16 November 2026, some postgraduate diplomas can also get you a one-year visa.
Residence. From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category gives 6 points for a New Zealand master's (if you also have a bachelor's and studied here for 30 weeks or more). A PhD also gets 6 points. But you still need a skilled job in New Zealand at the right pay, and you need to meet all the other rules.

So a New Zealand postgrad degree is a good start. But it's a start, not a promise.

Four-step pathway: student visa, NZ master's or PhD, Post-Study Work Visa, Skilled Migrant Category, with a warning that this is not immigration advice — Study, graduate, work, settle. General information from Immigration New Zealand, not immigration advice.

Please read: this section is a summary of public information from Immigration New Zealand. It's not immigration advice, and I'm not allowed to give it. In New Zealand, only licensed immigration advisers (and lawyers) can advise you on your own visa. Check immigration.govt.nz and talk to a licensed adviser before you decide anything.

What to do in the next four weeks

If you only remember one thing from this post, make it this list.

This week: apply for your course. Pick two or three programmes. Send your applications. Get certified copies of your transcripts and A/L certificates.
Week 2: get your documents ready. No IELTS or PTE score? Book a test. Ask two referees, and give them a clear date.
Week 3: write your statement. Answer the actual question. Keep it simple: one goal, one real story, one plan for after.
Week 4: send it in. Submit at least two days early. Save every confirmation email. Put the next round in your calendar, just in case.

A four-week checklist: get an offer, gather evidence, write the statement, submit and track — A plan you can start tonight.

Want me to take a look?

I can't apply for you. And I can't promise you a scholarship. But I can look at your situation and tell you honestly what I'd do next. Which universities suit you. Which scholarships you have a real chance at. How to email a PhD supervisor. Whether your statement actually answers the question.

Tell me about your plans here. It takes about three minutes. It's free. And I read every message myself.

Comparing costs and courses? Try PathFinder. It's a free tool a few friends and I built for Sri Lankan students applying to postgrad study in New Zealand.

These deadlines won't wait. Start today, even if it's just one email.

Sources

University of Canterbury: Incoming first-year scholarships for international students and UC Doctoral Scholarships.
University of Auckland: International Student Excellence Scholarship.
AUT: International scholarships, with dates and amounts from StudySpy: AUT International Scholarships, South Asia.
Victoria University of Wellington: Tongarewa International Scholarship.
University of Waikato: Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship.
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships: Massey University overview and the official site, nzscholarships.govt.nz.
Immigration New Zealand: Working on a student visa, Post-Study Work Visa, Post-Study Work Visa eligibility extended from 16 November 2026 and Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category from 24 August 2026.
Immigration Advisers Authority: Find a licensed immigration adviser.

Disclaimer: This post is general information, correct as of 14 October 2026. It's not immigration, legal or financial advice. I'm not a licensed immigration adviser. I don't represent any university or Immigration New Zealand. Scholarship amounts, dates, rules and immigration settings can change at any time. Always check the official source. For your own visa situation, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.

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