Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following NZDS eligibility criteria before their application will be considered against the selection criteria.
To be eligible to be considered for a NZDS, applicants must:
- be a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, or Trinidad & Tobago (i.e. permanent residents are not eligible to apply);
- not have citizenship or permanent residence status of New Zealand or Australia or another developed country excepting Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas or Barbados ;
- not be married or engaged to be married to a person who holds, or who is eligible to hold, citizenship or permanent residence of New Zealand, Australia or another developed country except Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas or Barbados;
- be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for one already commenced in New Zealand or another country ;
- satisfy the admission requirements of the New Zealand education institution at which the qualification is to be undertaken, including English language criteria;
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the public or private or community sector (as relevant), and to their home country’s development in general; and
- be able to take up the scholarship in the academic year for which it is offered.
It is preferred that applicants:
- be residing in their country of citizenship, preferably for at least two years prior to application;
- be 40 years or under before the scholarship start date;
- not have completed, or nearly completed, a qualification at a similar level (i.e. applicants must apply for a higher level qualification than any previously attained), unless strong developmental relevance is demonstrated; and
- have been working in their home country, preferably for at least two years prior to application, including since completing their highest tertiary qualification gained to date.
Applicants cannot:
- be studying full-time at post-secondary level;
- be transferring from another tertiary scholarship (either in New Zealand or in another country) to a NZDS;
- hold, or have held, a New Zealand Government or Australian Government scholarship in the 24 months preceding the scholarship start date; or
- have been terminated from a New Zealand or Australian Government scholarship previously.
Applicants are expected to continue residing in their home country during the NZDS application and selection process. If offered a NZDS, candidates must:
- be able to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements for international student entry to New Zealand (i.e. medical checks and police clearances/character checks, etc);
- not hold another scholarship during the period of the NZDS; and
- agree in writing that they will return to their home country for a minimum period of two years following completion of their scholarship in order to contribute to their country’s social or economic development.