Complete an Application to Enrol with the University of Waikato.
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Log into MyWaikato → Scholarships → select the Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship → complete the application → submit → click Done.
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The University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship supports academically strong new international students beginning eligible undergraduate or postgraduate study in New Zealand.
The scholarship is merit-based and provides a contribution towards tuition fees. Undergraduate recipients may receive up to NZD $15,000, while postgraduate recipients may receive up to NZD $10,000.
This is a partial tuition scholarship, not a fully funded scholarship.
Applicants must:
PhD and MPhil programmes are excluded.
Applicants already enrolled at the University of Waikato or University of Waikato College are not eligible.
Certain limited-entry programmes and postgraduate teaching programmes are also excluded.
The scholarship provides a tuition-fee credit.
The 2026 regulations provide:
The exact value is determined by the University and may depend on academic achievement, available funding, intended programme and programme duration.
The scholarship does not cover all study and living costs. Remaining tuition fees and other expenses must be funded separately.
The official regulations specifically require applicants to:
Applicants should also complete any additional mandatory fields or uploads shown in their MyWaikato scholarship application.
Selection is based on academic merit and the applicant's potential to act as a global ambassador for the University of Waikato.
The scholarship is competitive and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.
Applications are reviewed regularly and decisions are normally made within approximately three to four weeks, although processing may take longer during December and January.
For offshore applicants, the relevant application cut-offs are:
Applicants must apply for the scholarship before paying their tuition fees or applying for their visa.
Applicants entering the University through certain sponsoring bodies, guaranteed-credit arrangements, study-abroad arrangements or student-exchange agreements are not eligible.
Recipients must normally remain full-time international fee-paying students and study on campus in New Zealand during the scholarship tenure.
The award cannot be combined with certain other University of Waikato tuition scholarships or specified external scholarships.
The scholarship does not guarantee a New Zealand student visa.
Successful recipients receive an official scholarship offer letter that can be used as supporting documentation for a student visa application.
Applicants remain responsible for satisfying New Zealand immigration requirements.
TripDoc verified this opportunity against the University of Waikato's official scholarship page and 2026 scholarship regulations on 2 October 2026.
The scholarship is currently accepting applications.
The headline value of up to NZD $15,000 applies to undergraduate awards. The 2026 regulations state that postgraduate recipients may receive up to NZD $10,000.
This scholarship should not be described as fully funded because it is a contribution towards tuition fees only. Remaining tuition and other study, travel and living expenses must be financed separately.
