New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship 2022: Overview, Eligibility & Process

The Australian sibling- New Zealand has many top universities and academic infrastructure for advanced studies. However, what makes the country a far more attractive option for international studies is the financial support they can get, such as the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships.

The country follows the academic model of the UK and has several universities ranking high on the world rankings. This is why it attracts more international students. In 2020, the total admissions for international students in the region were more than 50,920. Further, the country’s Government and other organisations offer some of the best scholarships to help international students. One such scholarship programme is New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship. So, here we are with everything you need to know about New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships.

New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships: An Overview

New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship, also known as the New Zealand Scholarships for International Students, is a scholarship programme offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade(MFAT), Government of New Zealand. The scholarship programme was introduced in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resource Development(Government of India). The main purpose of this program is to support the education of students from commonwealth countries, including Indian students pursuing master’s degrees and postgraduate studies. It covers most of the expenses of studying abroad for students looking to pursue master’s or PhD from reputed New Zealand universities in specific academic areas. These are some courses specific to India and other countries that you can take to be eligible for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships:

Climate Change & The Environment 

• Climate Change Science
• Natural Resource Management
• Rural Development
• Water Management

Agriculture & Food security

• Disaster Management
• Emergency Management
• Geology
• Geotechnical Engineering

Renewable Source of Energy

• Solar, Hydro-electric and Wind Energy
• Energy Engineering
• Renewable Energy Distribution Systems
• Energy Economics
• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Sector Reforms and Management

Governance

• Public Sector Auditing
• Governance
• Public Financial Management
• Public Management
• Public Policy Statistics

These are priority sectors, and while candidates can apply for courses in other fields, the acceptance rates are low for sectors other than priority ones. New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships cover different costs like complete tuition fees, living allowance, establishment allowance, medical insurance, travel costs, research expenses, and thesis cost. The scholarship is provided for one year tenure, and students can apply through the Sakshat portal designed by MHRD. Now that we have an overview of the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships, here are the key eligibility criteria for students.

Eligibility Criteria for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships 2022

• The applicant should be a citizen of the commonwealth member nation.
• The applicant should be at least 18 years of age before applying for the scholarship.
• The applicant must fulfil all the visa requirements defined by the New Zealand Government, including health checks, security checks, approvals from the home country, and English proficiency.
• The applicant must provide an accreditation bachelor’s degree or from the home country for applicants pursuing a master’s degree.
• If the applicant is applying for a PhD programme, a master’s degree from an accredited university is necessary.
• Relocation to New Zealand for at least two years or until the scholarship ends.
• For English proficiency, the New Zealand government accepts high scores in IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or CAE.
• Postgraduate applicants should have relevant work experience.

English Proficiency Scores for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships

• An overall IELTS score of 6.5 or higher with no band less than 6
• TOEFL score of 90 for online tests and 21 in written exam
• An overall PTE score of 58 with communicative skills score of not less than 50
• Cambridge Academic English(CAE) score of 176 with no bands less than 169

Now that we know the eligibility criteria for the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships, let’s discuss the application process for the same.

Application Process for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships

Eligible applicants need to fill out an application form to apply for the scholarship. You can download the application form from the official website of MHRD, the Sakshat portal, and the MFAT website. Further, you need to fill out the entire form and attach all documents to the MHRD office. Here are key documents that you need to attach with the application form.

• Self-attested scanned copies of mark-sheet, diploma, and qualifying examination
• Official marks calculation and explanation of university(conversion of GPA into percentage)
• Self-attested copy for date of birth certificate/school leaving certificate after grade 10
• An essay on the study plan commonwealth scholarship and fellowship plan while in New Zealand within 500 words.

Once you submit the application form with all the certificates, the selection process will begin. It depends on three distinct factors.

• Academic merit of the applicant
• Impact of your study on the development of the home country
• Quality of the study plan in New Zealand

Now that you have an idea about the scholarship program, its eligibility, application process, and required documents, let’s discuss a few benefits.

Benefits of the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship

New Zealand universities rank in the top 3% of universities in the World University Ranking. So, you get great academic exposure and ease of studying abroad through financial aid. Due to the academic pattern of the United Kingdom, you also get introduced to unique research resources. Here are some benefits that you can get with an NZ Commonwealth scholarship,

• The facility of studying at one of the world-class institutes or pacific education institutions of the highest level.
• Scholars selected for the scholarships are eligible to get full tuition fees.
• Students get an allowance for living costs up to 491 NZD per week, which is 25704 INR per week.
• Upfront establishment allowance of 3000 NZD or 157053 INR.
• Medical and travel insurance.
• Airfare from and to your home country at the start and end of the scholarship.
• Research and thesis costs for postgraduate students.

Conclusion

From Canada to Africa, Pakistan, India, and many others, New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships provide funding opportunities to students across the world. However, there are specific requirements that you need to fulfil for eligibility for the scholarship. This can be a little taxing, especially achieving minimum required scores in IELTS, TOEFL, and other English proficiency tests. This is where Leap Scholar can help. So, book your consultations now.

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