The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an
international programme under which member governments offer
scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth
countries.
The CSFP was established at the first Commonwealth education
conference in 1959 and is reviewed by education ministers at their
triennial meetings. The CSFP is the only scholarship scheme in the world
to receive such high-level recognition.
As part of the CSFP programme, New Zealand offers New Zealand
Commonwealth Scholarships to candidates from developing Commonwealth
countries for postgraduate study (Masters and PhD) in New Zealand
universities on a contestable basis. New Zealand Commonwealth
Scholarships are highly competitive and for top level graduates.
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the New Zealand
Aid Programme and managed and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (MFAT). The selection process in New Zealand is managed by
Universities New Zealand.
Each Commonwealth government has designated a national agency for the operation of Commonwealth Scholarships.
Eligible Commonwealth countries
Region/Country | Priority Sectors |
Africa |
Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia |
Caribbean |
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines |
Asia |
Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
Pacific |
Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
Closing dates
The closing date for New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships is
determined by each country’s Nominating Agency. Please contact your
local
Nominating Agency [PDF, 90 KB]. For more information please see ‘How to Apply’ below.
Qualification types
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships are available for the following postgraduate qualifications:
- Masters Degree (1 – 2 years)
- PhD (up to 3.5 years)
Eligibility
Candidates must meet all the scholarship eligibility criteria including:
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing your scholarship.
- Be a citizen of the country from which you are applying for a
scholarship and have resided in that country for at least the last two
years.
- Agree to return to your home country for a minimum of two years on completion of the scholarship.
Read the full eligibility criteria
Preferences
- Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate strong
academic ability, leadership qualities, and a commitment to the
development of their home country.
- Preference is also given to candidates who are 39 years of age or younger at the time of commencing their scholarship.
- Preference will be given to candidates who apply to study in academic disciplines relating to priority sectors.
For more information on priority sectors please see ‘Priority Sectors’ below.
Find a course
Search the Study in New Zealand database (external link)
How to apply
If you would like to apply for a New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship please note the following:
You may only apply using the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship
Application form as a hard copy. Please note that applicants are unable
to apply online. You must submit your application to your local
Nominating Agency.
The following steps can only be completed once the online application portal opens on
1 February 2016.
Step One: Confirm your eligibility
Before you start your application, check your
eligibility against the requirements.
Step Two: Decide the type of institution and qualification
If you are eligible, decide the type of institution and qualification
that is right for you. For more information, please see on our
Frequently Asked Questions . For information about studying in New Zealand visit
www.studyinnewzealand.com (external link).
Step Three: Apply for an Offer of Place
Once you have selected your institution and qualification, you will
need to seek an offer of place at one of our New Zealand institutions.
Please refer to our list of
New Zealand institutions for further information here.
Step Four: Apply for a New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship
Please submit your completed application to the Nominating Agency in
your home country, including your offer of place. Failure to do so will
result in your application being deemed ineligible. It is important to
note that applications sent directly to MFAT or Universities New Zealand
will be deemed ineligible.
The
Nominating Agency
in your country will then nominate the two strongest applications to be
forwarded to Universities New Zealand to be assessed against all other
nominated New Zealand Commonwealth applications from across the
Commonwealth.
Documentation required
When submitting your New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship application
to your local Nominating Agency you must attach the following official
documentation:
1. One of the following:
- Verified copy of passport
- Verified copy of birth certificate
- Verified copy of other official government issued ID
2. Copy of Offer of Place from New Zealand institution
3. Verified copies of relevant academic transcripts
4. Verified copies of relevant completion certificates
5. Contact details of most recent employer and two most relevant other employers
6. A non-verified copy of an IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) which will
be verified by MFAT online using the TRF Verification Service OR An
original copy of a TOEFL test result form. Whichever is provided it
must have been completed in the last 24 months.
Priority sectors
Region/country | Priority sectors |
Africa |
- Agricultural Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
|
Caribbean |
- Agricultural Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Disaster Risk Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
|
Asia |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Disaster Risk Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- English Language Teaching
|
Cook Islands |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Health. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Infrastructure and resource management
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Business/Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
|
Kiribati |
- Environment, infrastructure and climate change mitigation.
- Fisheries and maritime skills.
- Health. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Public Sector Management/governance. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
|
Nauru |
|
Niue |
- Economic development and private sector development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Infrastructure and engineering
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Health. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
|
Papua New Guinea |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Public Sector Management/development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Environment
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Health (post graduate only). For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Civil Engineering
|
Samoa |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Health. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Economic development and private sector development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Disaster Risk Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Environment and resource management.
|
Solomon Islands |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Disaster Risk Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Environment/resource management Diplomacy/Foreign Affairs Health and community development.
- Engineering and infrastructure (Civil and environmental engineering,
electrical and electronic engineering, transportation, geo-technical
engineering, and engineering technology. – Postgraduate only).
|
Tonga |
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Private Sector Development (tourism, small business). For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Transport
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
|
Tuvalu |
- Health. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 406 KB].
- Education. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 425 KB].
- Fisheries
- Public Sector Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Disaster Risk Management. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 411 KB].
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
- Private Sector Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 405 KB].
|
Vauatu |
- Agriculture Development. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 422 KB].
- Environment/ resource management
- Education and community development
- Public Sector Management/governance. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 427 KB].
- Engineering and infrastructure
- Renewable Energy. For a list of relevant qualifications, please click here [PDF, 392 KB].
|
Forms
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships application form [PDF, 694 KB]
Original source of information
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/scholarships/types-of-scholarships/commonwealth-scholarships/
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