General Scholarships

Purpose: For students with strong academic abilities who are aiming for significant achievements in their chosen field of study or research. This prestigious scholarship nurtures high-achieving students via networking and development opportunities to progress their education in innovative areas and make connections to advance their careers.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $15,000 plus the opportunity to participate in a UC-sponsored networking and development programme throughout a recipient's degree.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship is for students who have strong academic potential but are facing challenges in 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).

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: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports students who have faced significant barriers or personal challenges to entering tertiary education.  

Value: Tuition fees for up to 135 points of enrolment per annum, plus financial assistance to the value of $5,000 per annum each year; for up to 3 years.

Opportunity to participate in a bespoke mentoring and development programme and curated opportunities to contribute to UC's Wellbeing Programme throughout  a recipient's degree.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises the value of student athletes and sport in general to the well-being of the community of UC. It aims to support top-performing players while they are studying at the University and provide access to a high-performance environment designed to support athletic and personal development. Applicants must be playing at a high level in a sporting code. Where regional or national competitions are reasonably available for their code, applicants must be representatives at one or both levels.

Value: $7,500 towards tuition fees in the first year that fees are payable; and access to UC’s Performance Academy.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports undergraduate students that attended a school in the Canterbury region who demonstrate alignment to UC’s commitment to producing students who are engaged, empowered, and prepared to make a difference. The scholarship aims to broaden the pool of students who receive financial support from the University, by recognising applicants with a demonstrated and significant commitment to creating positive change in the world. Applicants must be eligible to receive StudyLink Student Allowance and recipients must be in receipt of a Student Allowance.

Value: Tuition fees for up to 135 points of enrolment per annum for the duration of a full-time undergraduate degree programme; plus participation in the bespoke mentoring and development ‘Te Kakau a Māui Programme’.

Closing Date: 06 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.

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: 06 August 

Purpose: To recognise exceptional academic excellence, leadership, and scholarly potential.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of $15,000; personalised one-on-one mentoring and tailored academic support; and participation in a UC leadership programme.

Closing date: 06 August

Purpose: This scholarship recognises leadership potential, involvement in community and cultural activities, and high academic achievement amongst intending first-year ākonga | students who have whakapapa Māori at UC.

Value: $15,000 towards tuition fees and Student Services Levy in the first year that fees are payable, as well as an opportunity to participate in the UC Māori leadership programme, Paihere, and a UC sponsored general leadership programme.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: To support Pacific students to successfully transition and flourish in study and life at UC. The award is based on reciprocity and commitment for the successful participants, as well as for the University.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $15,000; personalised one-on-one mentoring and tailored academic support; and participation in a UC leadership programme.

Closing date: 06 August

Purpose: This scholarship recognises 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 the UC.

Value: $15,000 towards tuition fees and Student Services Levy in the first year that fees are payable, as well as an opportunity to participate in a UC-sponsored leadership programme.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship supports ex-pupils of Timaru Boys’ High School who have demonstrated all-round excellence and financial need, to complete a programme for an undergraduate degree at UC.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $4,500 per annum for 3 years. Recipients in a four-year undergraduate programme or intending to enrol in a post-graduate programme, may apply for a fourth year of tenure.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship encourages and supports students from Te Kāreti Kōhine o Wairau | Marlborough Girls’ College and Te Kāreti Taitama o Wairau | Marlborough Boys’ College to study at UC.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 per annum for 3 years. Recipients in a four-year undergraduate programme or intending to enrol in a post-graduate programme, may apply for a fourth year of tenure.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship is to recognise academic achievement, leadership potential, and cultural and community involvement amongst pupils from Southland Boys’ High School and Southland Girls’ High School, while supporting study at UC.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of NZ$5,000 for up to 3 years (initially paid towards tuition fees).

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This bursary is to support female students residing in a hall or village that the University of Canterbury recognises as being affiliated with the University.

Value: Financial assistance at a value of NZ$2,500 for one year.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship supports old boys of Timaru Boys’ High School at UC.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $5,000 per annum for up to 4 years (initially paid towards tuition fees).

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship supports students at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury who studied at Southland Boys’ High School or Southland Girls’ High School.

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $1,200 for one year.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship supports undergraduate students at UC who have a disability. 

Value: Financial assistance to the value of $3,000 for one year.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship supports students intending to study at UC who face challenges that might otherwise prevent them from considering entry to tertiary education. Applicants must have continuously resided in the Canterbury region for at least 12 months immediately preceding the closing date for applications (or preceding the start of a gap year).

Value: $5,000 towards tuition fees in the first year that fees are payable.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports top-achieving international students who have completed, or are currently completing, a university-entrance qualification at a New Zealand secondary school, and will be commencing an undergraduate degree programme at UC. NB: If you are studying offshore or at UCIC, please apply under the October/April application round (see below).

Value: $15,000 towards tuition fees.

Closing Date: 06 August 

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports top-achieving international students who have completed their university-entrance qualification overseas, or via UC International College (UCIC) and will be commencing an undergraduate degree programme at UC. NB: For students who studied at secondary level in Aotearoa New Zealand, please apply under the NZ Incoming First-Year application round closing 6 August).

Value: $15,000 towards tuition fees

Closing Date: 31 October or 15 April

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports top students from the Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia who are studying in an undergraduate degree programme at UC. Applicants must have completed, or be completing, a university entrance qualification and been born in the Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia and/or have attended a primary or secondary school in the Kuching Division for at least five years. Applicants must be citizens of Malyasia. They cannot also be citizens of New Zealand or Australia, holders of New Zealand residence class visas, or Australian Permanent Residents.

Value: $10,000 towards tuition fees

Closing Date: 31 October

Purpose: This scholarship recognises and supports top students from Malaysia who are studying in an undergraduate degree programme at UC.  Applicants must be citizens of Malaysia. They cannot also be citizens of New Zealand or Australia, holders of New Zealand residence class visas, or Australian Permanent Residents. Applicants must have completed, or be completing, a university entrance qualification.

Value: $20,000 towards tuition fees.

Closing Date: 31 October

Details: This scholarship recognises and supports international students with strong academic abilities from China or Hong Kong who are beginning their educational journey in New Zealand at UC.

Value: A contribution to tuition fees of $5,000 paid in the first year of study.

Closing Date: 24 October (Semester 1 start) and 30 April (Semester 2 start)

Details: This scholarship recognises and supports international students with strong academic abilities from India who are beginning their educational journey in New Zealand at UC.

Value: A contribution to tuition fees of $5,000 paid in the first year of study.

Closing Date: 24 October (Semester 1 start) and 30 April (Semester 2 start)

Details: This scholarship recognises and supports international students with strong academic abilities from Southeast Asia who are beginning their educational journey in New Zealand at UC.

Value: A contribution to tuition fees of $15,000 paid in the first year of study.

Closing Date: 24 October (Semester 1 start) and 30 April (Semester 2 start)