Scholarships for Pacific Students

Purpose: For students with strong academic potential but facing challenges to affording university accommodation costs. Applicants must be current Year 13 students who attended a school and/or lived outside the Greater Christchurch area in the year of application (or in the case of a gap year, in the previous year). At least two scholarships are reserved for Pacific students.

Value: $15,000 towards hall of residence accommodation fees and priority consideration for a place in a hall; plus educational outdoor recreational field trips and a personal and professional development programme in the first year of study.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: To to help Pacific students to successfully study and thrive in university study. Applicants must be intending to enrol in a short course, micro-credential, certificate, or full programme with Tuihono UC | UC Online. 

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of up to 50% of the cost of tuition fees, plus, if funds permit, a stipend.

Closing date: Awards are advertised when available.

Purpose: The scholarship recognises academic and extracurricular achievement of students in secondary education within Aotearoa New Zealand, and supports study in a programme for a BCom degree at UC. Of sixteen available scholarships, two are reserved for Pacific students.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: To recognise and support high-achieving students who are entering their first year of a BSc degree programme majoring in Computer Science at UC. Of the six scholarships available, one is reserved for a Pacific student.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $2,000 for one year.

Closing date: Not offered for study in 2026

Purpose: To recognise and support high achieving Pacific students entering their first year of a BE(Hons) degree programme at UC. 

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 (Category A); $3,000 (Category B); or $1,000 (Category C), for up to 120 points of enrolment.

Closing date: Not offered for study in 2026

Purpose: To recognise high academic achievement, as well as leadership potential and involvement in Pacific community and/or Pacific cultural activities, amongst intending first-year Pacific students at UC.

Value: $7,500 towards tuition fees in the first year that fees are payable, as well as an opportunity to participate in a UC-sponsored leadership programme.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: The award recognises academic and extracurricular achievement of students during their secondary education within Aotearoa New Zealand, and supports study in a programme for an LLB degree at UC. Of up to nine scholarships available, one is reserved for a Pacific student.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 07 August

Purpose: This scholarship supports academically able students who are entering tertiary study for the first time and whose financial or personal circumstances might have prevented them from considering entry to tertiary education in the absence of the scholarship. Preference may be given to students with whakapapa Māori, Pacific students or current or former holders of refugee status granted by Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Value: Tuition fees and all compulsory fees charged by the University (excluding fees associated with summer courses, field-trip fees, penalty fees, late fees, and other optional external charges) for one year.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: To recognise and support Pacific students with high potential at UC who are entering their first year of a programme for a BA, BDataSci, or BSc degree and majoring in Data Science, Financial Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics. Enrolment in specific courses is required. 

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $2,000 for one year. 

Closing date: Not offered for study in 2026

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports high-achieving students entering their first year of the Bachelor of Forestry Science (BForSc) degree programme at UC. Of the up to five scholarships available, one is reserved for a Māori or Pacific student.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $2,000 for one year.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: To support full-time Māori and Pacific students to successfully transition and flourish in university study and life at UC. Recipients must commit to the Takere programme, including participation in the 5-week live-in academy programme (Takere) at the start of the year.

Value: 'Takere Academy': inclusive of 5 weeks free catered accommodation in a student hall of residence and fortnightly allowance; plus ongoing tailored support and assistance throughout the recipient's first year of university study.

Closing date: Not currently available.

Purpose: This scholarship recognises the value of Pacific students in Te Kaupeka Ako Faculty of Education at UC and aims to support those who are entering tertiary study for the first time.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises the value of Pacific students in Te Kaupeka Oranga | Faculty of Health at UC and aims to support those who are entering tertiary study for the first time.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing Date: 07 August 

Purpose: To support undergraduate full-fee-paying Asian and Pacific students studying in their third or fourth year of any undergraduate UC degree who are experiencing financial and/or personal hardship. Applicants must be either (a) citizens of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, or Vietnam; or (b) residents of Rapa Nui.

Value: Financial assistance of up to $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 October

Purpose: To support Māori and Pacific students who are studying towards an Indigenous Narrative minor in the Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours at UC.

Value: Financial assistance at the value of $3,000.

Closing date: 31 January

Purpose: To assist Māori or Pacific 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 UC.

Value: Financial asssistance up to a value of $1,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March

Purpose: To help Pacific students to successfully study and thrive in university study. Applicants must be intending to enrol in a short course, micro-credential, certificate, or full programme with Tuihono UC | UC Online.

Value: The scholarship provides financial assistance at a value of up to 50% of the cost of tuition fees, plus, if funds permit, a stipend.

Closing date: Awards are advertised when available.

Purpose: To recognise academic achievement of students who have completed a first year of study towards a BCom, and supports study in such a programme at UC for a second year. Of six available scholarships, one is reserved for a Pacific student.

Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March

Purpose: To recognise academic achievement of students who have completed two years of study towards a BCom, and supports study in such a programme at UC for a third year. Of six available scholarships, one is reserved for a Pacific student.

Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March

Purpose: To recognise academic and extracurricular achievement of Māori and Pacific students who have completed a first year of study towards an LLB at UC, and supports study in such a programme for a second year. 

Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March

Purpose: To recognise academic and extracurricular achievement of Māori and Pacific students who have completed two years of study towards an LLB at UC, and supports study in such a programme for a third year. 

Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $5,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March

Purpose: To support thesis students in Anthropology or Sociology at UC. Open to graduate students of any university in Aotearoa New Zealand, or the University of the South Pacific who are enrolled, or about to enrol in a MA or PhD in Anthropology or Sociology. 

Value: Financial assistance of up to $3,750 for 120 points of enrolment (may be possible to extend for a second 120 point period - see the Regulations for details).

Closing date: 01 November

Purpose: To support full-time Māori and Pacific postgraduate research students studying Ecology or Environmental Science at UC. There may be only two holders of the scholarship at a time: normally one master's student and one PhD student. 

Value: Financial assistance to a value of $21,000 per annum; up to a total of 1 year (Masters) or 3 years (PhD).

Closing date: 01 November

Purpose: To assist 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 UC.

Value: Financial asssistance up to a value of $1,000 for one year.

Closing date: 31 March