Undergraduate Scholarships
UC offers a diverse range of scholarships to support students for study towards any undergraduate degree at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury.

The University of Canterbury realises that funding your studies is no easy feat. To address this, we have several scholarships on offer for current undergraduate students to assist their financial needs and provide a helping hand to make university life a little easier.
Discover all UC administered undergraduate scholarships below. Please search our scholarships database for all scholarships currently available and make sure to visit Universities NZ to discover national scholarships you may be eiligible for.
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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Alison MacGibbon Fund | $300 | Students who are hindered by financial strain and who would struggle in continuing their studies | All applications for awards from the fund must be accompanied by a statement of the financial position of the applicant. |
31-Mar |
Dr Russell Smith Memorial Scholarship | $2,000 | Applicants must be blind or have a significant visual impairment and have registered with the University’s Disability Resource Service by 31 March 2020 | 31-Mar | |
Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship | $15,000 (tuition fees) | Applicants must be either: a. citizens of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam; or b. holders of Hong Kong permanent identity cards. |
Applicants must not be citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. | 31-Mar |
Energy Education Trust of New Zealand Master’s Scholarship - University of Canterbury | $8,000 | Applicants must be citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. Applicants must be full-time students engaged in the first year of a programme for a research master’s degree at the University. |
The proposed project associated with the programme must be relevant to the energy needs of Aotearoa New Zealand. | 31-Mar |
Graduate Women Canterbury (Inc.) Trust Board Scholarship | $4,500 (tuition fees) | Applicants must be female and citizens of NZ. | 2 scholarships available for: 1) A female student who is enrolled full-time, mainly at 300 level in any programme. 2) A female student who is enrolled full-time, mainly at 400, 500, or 600 level courses, not including any thesis course in any programme. | 31-Mar |
Lighthouse Vision Trust Scholarship and Susan Barnes Memorial Scholarship | $10,000 | Applicants must have a vision impairment that qualifies them to register with the Blind Foundation and be enrolled full-time or part-time, at the University at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. | 31-Mar | |
UCSA University of Canterbury Students Association Lloyd Lilley Scholarship | $1,000 | Applicants must be enrolled full time at the University of Canterbury and have attended either Southland Girls’ High School or Southland Boys’ High School in the year immediately prior to application; | Applicants must have achieved a university entrance qualification in the year immediately prior to enrolment at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar |
University of Canterbury Alumni Scholarship (Postgraduate) | $5,000 | Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in: a. their final year of a programme for an Honours degree; or b. any year of a programme for a postgraduate degree or a postgraduate diploma. |
It would be helpful to have an affinity with the objectives of the University of Canterbury Alumni South Island Chapter, as demonstrated in a brief statement required as part of the application. | 15-Aug |
Westpac Southland Scholarship | $1,000 for two years | Applicants must have completed at least one academic year at the University of Canterbury and whose earlier youth was spent substantially in Southland and whose parents, or guardian, are resident in Southland at the time of the award. | 31-Mar |
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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Barbara Mito Reed Award | $1,000 | Applicants must be enrolled, or intending to enrol, in a postgraduate programme in a field of Japanese studies at the University of Canterbury or at a university in Japan. Normally, the programme will be for a BA(Hons), master's or doctoral degree. |
31-Mar |
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Charles and Austin Henry Alabaster Scholarship | $2,500 | Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate Greek or Latin course at the University. | 31-Oct | |
Joan Burns Memorial Scholarship in History | Tuition Fees for one year | Applicants must be enrolled either full-time or parttime in either a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree programme or Part 1 of a Master of Arts degree programme. Recipients who are studying part-time will have a tenure of up to two calendar years. | 31-Mar | |
New Zealand Post Management Science Scholarship | $4,500 towards tuition fess | Applicants must be full-time students enrolled at 300 level of the B.Sc (Hons) or in their final year of a B.A., B.Com., or B.Sc. degree in Management Science at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar | |
Okamatsu/ Kimura-Steven Scholarship | $2,000 | Applicants must be undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Canterbury in one or more 200- or 300-level courses in Japanese language. | Applicants may not have lived in Japan | Not offered this year. |
Pagnol Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be enrolled full-time at UC, majoring in French, and in a programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)), or Part I of a Master of Arts (MA).. | Not offered this year. | |
Robert Bell Scholarship | $5,000 | Candidates must be enrolled at the University, full-time or part-time, either in a programme for a Graduate Diploma in Journalism (GDipJ) or at 300-level in a programme for a Bachelor of Communications (BC) degree with a major in Journalism. | Enrolment at the University in either a programme for a GDipJ or at 300-level in a programme for a BC degree with a major in Journalism constitutes an application for the Robert Bell Scholarship. | Application not required. |
Three Nations Conference Award | $1,000 | Māori or Pasifika students, or students who are indigenous to states or territories of Australia, whose financial circumstances would otherwise preclude them from undertaking postgraduate study in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Canterbury. | Applicable for students enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Masters or Doctoral Degree | 31-Mar |
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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Energy Education Trust Undergraduate Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand and be enrolled at any level from (and including) first to honours year of university study within the fields of science, economics or engineering and related fields with specific interests in energy matters at the University of Canterbury |
31-Mar |
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John McMillan Scholarship | $3,000 per annum for 2 years (full time) | Applicants must be enrolled in their final year of a programme at the University for an undergraduate degree with a major in either Economics or Finance (or both). | 31-Oct | |
New Zealand Post Management Science Scholarship | $4,500 towards tuition fees | Applicants must be full-time students enrolled at 300 level of the B.Sc (Hons) or in their final year of a B.A., B.Com., or B.Sc. degree in Management Science at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar | |
UC College of Business and Law Second Year Award for Excellence | $5,000 | Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas and be enrolled full-time in their second year of a programme for a BCom or an LLB, with at least 60 points from the BCom or LLB schedules. | Up to ten awards available each year; two are reserved for Maori students, two are reserved for Pasifika students. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas. | 31-Mar |
UC College of Business and Law Third Year Award for Excellence | $5,000 | Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas and be enrolled full-time in their third year of a programme for a BCom or an LLB, with at least 60 points from the BCom or LLB schedules. | Up to ten awards available each year; two are reserved for Maori students, two are reserved for Pasifika students. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas. | 31-Mar |
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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Gertrude Ardagh Holmes Bursary Fund | $600 | Students who are hindered by financial strain and who would struggle in continuing their studies | Preference shall be given to students who desire to undertake a medical course. Assistance may be continued to such students after they have proceeded to a medical or dental school in another New Zealand university. |
31-Mar |
Marian D'Eve Memorial Scholarship | $2,000 | Applicants must be studying, researching, or developing, in any discipline, aids for early-childhood special-needs education and must be enrolled full-time at the University. | 31-Mar |
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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AECOM Civil/Natural Resources Engineering Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be full-time students in their Second Professional Year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree programme in Civil Engineering or Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury. | In addition, and provided a suitable position is available, AECOM may offer the scholarship holder paid employment during the summer vacation at the end of his or her Second Professional Year. |
31-Mar |
Beca Engineering in Society Scholarships | $3,000 Second Professional Year Scholarship $3,500 Third Professional Year Scholarship $5,000 Phil Gillon Memorial Scholarship |
Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering (BE(Hons)) degree. | Applicants for the Second Professional Year Scholarship must be enrolled in the Second Professional Year, and applicants for the Third Professional Year or Phil Gillon Memorial scholarships must be enrolled in the Third Professional Year. | 31-Mar |
Brian Morrison Memorial Scholarships in Engineering | $1,000 | Candidates must have been offered admission to a doctoral programme at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar | |
C S McCully Scholarship | $2,000 | Applicants must be full-time students at the University of Canterbury who, at the time of the award, have completed, or been exempted from the Engineering Intermediate Year, and are taking subjects of the Professional courses leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours. | 31-Mar | |
Coastal and Ocean Engineering Conference Fund | $1,000 | Research students who's study relates to coastal engineering | These grants shall be to assist with expenses involved in attending conferences in Australasia. | 31-Mar |
Cotter Tait Scholarship for Māori and Pacific/Pasifika Engineering Students | $3,000 + mentoring opportunity | Applicants must: a. have whakapapa Māori; and/or b. be Pacific/Pasifika students. Applicants must be enrolled at the University in Third Year of a programme for a BE(Hons) degree. |
31-Mar | |
Courtney Shearer Memorial Scholarship in Engineering | $2,000 | Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in any Professional Year of a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours degree. | 31-Mar | |
EEA Electricity Engineers’ Association Scholarship | $4,500 | Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand and be enrolled full-time in their Third Professional Year of a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons)) | Any specialisation is accepted | 31-Mar |
Energy Education Trust Undergraduate Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand and be enrolled at any level from (and including) first to honours year of university study within the fields of science, economics or engineering and related fields with specific interests in energy matters at the University of Canterbury | 31-Mar | |
G B Battersby-Trimble Scholarship in Computer Science | $2,000 for honours students and master's students $7,000 for master's thesis students $8,000 for PhD thesis |
Applicants must be enrolled in the following: 1) The final year of a programme for an honours degree in Computer Science. |
31-Mar | |
Helen Trappitt Engineering Scholarship for Women in Civil or Natural Resources Engineering | $2,000 | Applicants must be female and enrolled full-time in First Professional Year of a BE(Hons), with Civil Engineering or Natural Resources Engineering specialisation | 31-Mar | |
Henry Vale Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering |
$4,000 (Category A awards) |
Full-time students enrolled in approved courses* in the field of building services in the 4th Year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering degree programme |
*Approved courses: ENME405 Energy Systems Engineering, ENME406 Engineering Product Design and Analysis, and ENME465 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)Engineering Completion of certain Second Professional Year courses are required - ENME314 Fluid Mechanics, ENME315 Heat Transfer, and ENME311 Engineering Design and Production Management |
31-Mar |
Hugh McDougall Rankin Education Scholarship | $5,500 towards tuition fees | Applicants must be full time students undertaking an undergraduate degree programme in any physical science subject, such as chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, mathematics, and applied sciences, who have successfully completed at least one year of tertiary study at Lincoln University, University of Canterbury, or Ara Institute of Canterbury. | Applicants must have had not less than four years' secondary schooling in a state (excluding state-integrated)1 2 secondary school within the boundaries of the Christchurch City Territorial Local Authority. c. Applicants must be under the age of 25 years when applying for the scholarship. d. Previous recipients, including a recipient of the secondary school Hugh McDougall Rankin Educational Scholarship, are eligible to apply. |
31-Mar |
J R Templin Bursary | $1,000 | Applicants for the bursary shall have completed or been exempted from all the subjects of their First and Second Professional year courses at the University of Canterbury for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours. | 31-Mar | |
Jacobs New Zealand Engineering Scholarship | $6,000 + summer employment | Applicants must be citizens of New Zealand or holders of New Zealand residence class visas and enrolled fulltime in Second Professional Year of a BE(Hons) programme. | In addition, applicants are offered a possible employment contact (if available) and ten-week paid vacation employment with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. | 31-Mar |
Lloyd L Hosking Scholarship in Civil Engineering Undergraduate | $4,000 | Applicants must be enrolled for their final year of the B.E.(Hons) (Civil) degree programme at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar | |
MainPower Scholarship | $10,000 | Applicants must be citizens of New Zealand or holders of New Zealand residence class visas. Applicants must be enrolled full-time or part-time at the University in the Second or Third Professional Year of a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering (BE(Hons)) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. They must be enrolled in at least one Electric Power Engineering Course. |
A recipient may be offered paid work experience or a paid internship with MainPower New Zealand Limited in the mid-year break during tenure and/or in the summer after, if such a position is available. The recipient is expected to accept any such offer. | 31-Mar |
New Zealand Steel Sir John Ingram Scholarship |
$3,000 per annum (tuition fees) for up to three years of study $1,000 (single stipend) |
Applicants must be female and citizens or residents of NZ and also be enrolled full-time in their First Professional Year of a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons)) degree and must be specialising in one of the following areas: a. Chemical and Process Engineering b. Electrical and Electronic Engineering c. Mechanical Engineering d. Mechatronics Engineering |
In addition, an offer of a paid internship with New Zealand Steel that would assist the recipient with completing practical work requirements for the BE(Hons) degree. | 31-Mar |
Norman and Norma Sutherland Scholarship in Civil Engineering | $3,000 | Applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and be enrolled in their Second Professional Year of a BE(Hons)(Civil) at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar | |
Park and Paulay Undergraduate Scholarship | $2,500 | Applicants must be enrolled full-time in their Third Professional Year for BE(Hons) (Civil), including enrolment in at least four courses related to structural or geotechnical or earthquake engineering. | Applicants must have completed the Second Professional Year of the BE(Hons) (Civil) degree programme at the University in the year prior to the year of application, and must have achieved an average grade of at least A- (equivalent to a GPA of 7.0) in each of the First and Second Professional Years of the BE(Hons) (Civil) degree programme. | 31-Mar |
PSC Scholarship | $7,000 | Applicants must be NZ citizens or residents and be enrolled full-time at the University in their Third Professional Year of a programme for a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons)) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering that includes at least two electric power engineering courses. | 31-Mar | |
RDK Agricultural Engineering Scholarship | $1,000 | Applicants must have been born in New Zealand and be enrolled in their final year of study in a programme for a bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree with honours that includes at least one course in agricultural engineering. | 31-Mar | |
SPE New Zealand Section Scholarship | $3,000 | Applicants must be New Zealand citizens and be enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and who has, at the time of the award, completed or been exempted from the First Professional year of study. | The scholar may also be offered summer vacation employment with an oil and gas company or service company in Taranaki. If offered, the scholar will be expected to take up this employment. | 31-Mar |
Stantec Jim Bradley Scholarship | Tuition fees support up to a value of $10,000 |
Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in the Third Year of a programme for a BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering or Natural Resources Engineering. | Provided a suitable position is available, Stantec New Zealand may offer the recipient paid employment during the summer at the end of the year of tenure. The recipient is expected to accept any such offer. | 31-Mar |
Steven Bly Memorial Scholarship in Electrical and Electronic Engineering | $1,500 | Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or residents and enrolled full-time in their Second or Third Professional Year for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Canterbury. | In addition, and provided suitable positions are available, Tait Communications may offer scholarship holders paid employment during the summer vacation following the tenure of the award. | 31-Mar |
Tait Communications Undergraduate Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or hold a residence class visa. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in one of the following: a. The Second or Third Professional Year of a programme for a BE(Hons)) degree with a specialisation in: b. 300-level programme for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or BSc with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree in Computer Science. |
In addition, and provided suitable positions are available, Tait Communications may offer scholarship holders paid employment during the summer vacation following the tenure of the award. | 31-Mar |
Transpower Scholarship for Women in Engineering | $5,000 towards tuition | Applicants must be female and enrolled in a Professional Year of any programme for a BE(Hons) degree. Preference is given to those who are enrolled in at least one of the courses specifically required for a minor in Power Engineering for the Electrical and Electronic Engineering specialisation. | 31-Mar | |
UC Mathematics and Statistics Scholarship | $5,000 (catergory A awards) $2,500 (catergory B awards) $1,000 (catergory C awards) |
Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University in at least 60 points of 200-, 300-, or 400-level taught courses (not including any thesis course) for an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in: a. Applied Data Science; b. Computational and Applied Mathematical Sciences; c. Data Science; d. Financial Engineering; e. Mathematics; or f. Statistics. |
31-Mar |
Scholarship Name | Value | Who is Eligible | Addtional Information | Closing Date |
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Charles and Elizabeth Chilton Memorial Scholarship | $3,000 per annum for three years of study | Applicants must be undergraduate students, enrolled, full-time or part-time, at 100-level in a programme for a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury. |
31-Mar |
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Dennis William Moore Fund | To be determined each year | The fund will be to support research in astronomy at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory by the staff and students of the University of Canterbury | The fund will be used each year for different purposes in response to whoever is successful. | Applications may be made to the Head of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at any time |
Energy Education Trust Undergraduate Scholarship | $5,000 | Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand and be enrolled at any level from (and including) first to honours year of university study within the fields of science, economics or engineering and related fields with specific interests in energy matters at the University of Canterbury | 31-Mar | |
G B Battersby-Trimble Scholarship in Computer Science | $2,000 for honours students and master's students $7,000 for master's thesis students. $8,000 for PhD thesis |
Applicants must be enrolled in the following: 1) The final year of a programme for an honours degree in Computer Science. 2) A programme for a master’s degree in Computer Science. 3) A programme for a PhD in Computer Science. |
31-Mar | |
Geographical Society (Canterbury Branch) Research Grant | $500 | Applicants must be enrolled for a Master's degree in Geography at the University of Canterbury who are likely to incur heavy personal expenses in research for their theses. | 31-Mar | |
Hugh McDougall Rankin Education Scholarship | $5,500 towards tuition | Applicants must be full time students undertaking an undergraduate degree programme in any physical science subject, such as chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, mathematics, and applied sciences, who have successfully completed at least one year of tertiary study at Lincoln University, University of Canterbury, or Ara Institute of Canterbury. | Applicants must have had not less than four years' secondary schooling in a state (excluding state-integrated)1 2 secondary school within the boundaries of the Christchurch City Territorial Local Authority. c. Applicants must be under the age of 25 years when applying for the scholarship. d. Previous recipients, including a recipient of the secondary school Hugh McDougall Rankin Educational Scholarship, are eligible to apply. |
1-Mar |
New Zealand Post Management Science Scholarship | $4,500 towards tuition | Applicants must be full-time students enrolled at 300 level of the B.Sc (Hons) or in their final year of a B.A., B.Com., or B.Sc. degree in Management Science at the University of Canterbury. | 31-Mar |