Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Prime Minister’s Scholarships 2025 | How to Apply
The Prime Minister’s Scholarships 2025 are open to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who want to study or complete an internship in Asia or Latin America. The programme is run by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and funded by the New Zealand Government. Since the scholarship began in 2013, more than 3,810 awards have been made.
Explore: University of Otago Scholarships in New Zealand | Fully Funded
The scholarship covers tuition fees, return flights, a weekly living and accommodation contribution, travel and medical insurance, and a contribution toward visa fees. There are two scholarship types: individual awards for solo applicants, and group awards for collaborative projects or study tours. The application deadline for the 2025 cycle has not yet been confirmed — check the official Education New Zealand scholarships portal for the date.
Summary of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships 2025
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America |
| Host Country ⇒ | New Zealand |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | Internships Scholarships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Tuition fees, return flights, weekly living and accommodation contribution, travel and medical insurance, visa fee contribution |
| Funded By ⇒ | New Zealand Government, administered by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Closed |
Scholarship Categories to Explore on ScholarWaka— Here are some key scholarship opportunities you should check out on ScholarWaka:
- Study Abroad: Study in USA | Study in Canada | Study in UK | Study in Europe | Study in Asia | Study in Australia | Study in Africa
- Scholarship Category: Undergraduate Scholarships | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships | Diploma Scholarships | Competitions | High School Scholarships | Internships Scholarships | Training | Fellowships
About the Prime Minister’s Scholarships
The Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America is a New Zealand Government initiative run by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, the government agency responsible for promoting New Zealand’s international education sector. The scholarship was established in 2013 to strengthen New Zealand’s relationships with key partner countries in Asia and Latin America by funding New Zealanders to study or intern in the region.
Since its launch, the programme has awarded more than 3,810 scholarships. It runs two distinct award types: individual scholarships for New Zealanders studying or interning abroad independently, and group scholarships for collaborative projects or study tours involving multiple participants. The destination countries are split across two regions. In Asia, eligible destinations include China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong), Singapore, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. In Latin America, eligible destinations are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile.
The scholarship supports both academic and vocational study, as well as internships, across a wide range of disciplines and research areas.
Check out: University of Liverpool Leverhulme Masters Scholarship in UK | How to Apply
What the Prime Minister’s Scholarships Covers
The scholarship provides the following:
- Coverage of tuition fees for courses undertaken in your chosen Asian or Latin American destination. Note that the scholarship does not cover New Zealand-based fees for exchange programmes
- Up to $530 per week toward approved internship brokerage fees
- Return economy flights from New Zealand, up to $3,500 for Asia destinations or $4,500 for Latin America destinations
- A weekly contribution toward living and accommodation costs — $470 per week in Asia and $380 per week in Latin America
- Travel and medical insurance for the full duration of your programme
- A contribution toward visa fees, up to a maximum of $200
- For group programme applications, additional funding of up to $20,000 may be awarded at the discretion of the selection panel
Check here to see the benefits for Latin America and Asia
Beyond the financial coverage, scholars gain the opportunity to learn or improve a new language, develop a deeper understanding of global issues, strengthen their ability to work across diverse cultural environments, build a professional network in their destination country, and improve their employability through international experience.
One practical note: the weekly living contribution differs by region — $470 per week in Asia versus $380 per week in Latin America. Budget your personal contribution accordingly, since cost of living varies significantly between destination countries within each region.
Check out: AUC Centennial Endowed Scholarship Fund in Egypt | Fully Funded
Prime Minister’s Scholarships Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all of the following to apply:
- You must be at least 18 years old at the time of application
- You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- You must have resided in New Zealand for at least 12 of the previous 24 months
- You must not be an immediate relative of any Education New Zealand staff member or selection panel member
- You must be medically fit to travel, and must be prepared to undergo any routine medical checks required at the border, such as COVID-19 testing
- You must be able to attend the full duration of your proposed overseas programme
- You must be eligible for an entry visa into your chosen host country
- You must not have previously received a Prime Minister’s Scholarship of the same type — individual or group — that you are applying for again
- Your intended destination must be rated as either “exercise normal safety and security precautions” or “exercise increased caution” on New Zealand’s SafeTravel advisory scale at the time of application
Read more on the eligibility criteria
Key disqualifier: if your destination country’s SafeTravel rating changes to a higher risk category before or during your programme, your eligibility may be affected. Travel advisories can change at any time — monitor the SafeTravel website regularly if your planned destination is close to a risk threshold.
Explore: Sheffield Hallam University Transform Together Scholarships in UK
How to Apply for the Prime Minister’s Scholarships
- Confirm you meet all eligibility criteria — age, residency, citizenship, and the SafeTravel advisory rating for your chosen destination.
- Register for an account on the Education New Zealand scholarships portal.
- Complete the online application form in full, providing accurate details about your proposed study or internship programme.
- Upload all required supporting documents before the deadline.
- If shortlisted, attend an interview as part of the selection process.
- Wait for notification by email. Successful applicants will be informed directly by Education New Zealand.
Check Out: University of Reading Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship in UK
Application Deadline
The deadline for the 2025 cycle has not yet been confirmed. Monitor the official Education New Zealand scholarships portal for the published date, as deadlines for individual and group scholarships may differ.
Must check: How to Write a Personal Statement for Scholarship | Tips and Free Template
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Prime Minister’s Scholarship fully funded?
It provides substantial funding covering tuition fees, return flights, a weekly living and accommodation contribution, travel and medical insurance, and a contribution toward visa fees. It is not necessarily a full-cost scholarship in every case — the weekly living contribution and flight caps are fixed amounts, so your actual costs in your chosen destination may exceed what is provided. Budget carefully based on your specific destination country.
Can anyone apply for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship?
No. This scholarship is only open to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who meet the residency requirement of having lived in New Zealand for at least 12 of the previous 24 months. It is not open to applicants from other countries.
What is the difference between individual and group scholarships?
Individual scholarships fund a single New Zealander studying or interning abroad independently. Group scholarships fund collaborative projects or study tours involving multiple participants, with additional funding of up to $20,000 available at the selection panel’s discretion. You cannot apply for the same scholarship type twice if you have previously received it.
Which countries can I study or intern in under this scholarship?
In Asia, eligible destinations are China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong), Singapore, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. In Latin America, eligible destinations are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile.
Does the scholarship cover tuition fees in New Zealand?
No. The scholarship covers tuition fees for your course in Asia or Latin America. It does not cover New Zealand-based fees for exchange programmes you may be enrolled in alongside your overseas study.
What happens if the travel advisory for my destination changes?
Your destination must be rated “exercise normal safety and security precautions” or “exercise increased caution” on New Zealand’s SafeTravel scale at the time of application. Since advisories can change at any time, monitor the SafeTravel website regularly, particularly if your destination’s rating is close to a higher risk threshold.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao Prime Minister’s Scholarships page as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
