In a major education-focused announcement, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon. Christopher Luxon, revealed a NZ$260,000 partial scholarship package under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025. The scholarships, aimed at fostering academic excellence and cultural exchange, will offer 29 scholarships for Indian students pursuing undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses at top New Zealand universities.

Details of the Scholarships

The scholarships will be available for students wishing to study at New Zealand’s top universities, with the following institutions participating in the initiative:

• AUT University: 1 UG, 2 PG scholarships
• Lincoln University: 1 UG, 4 PG scholarships
• Massey University: 2 UG, 2 PG scholarships
• The University of Auckland: 2 UG, 2 PG scholarships
• The University of Waikato: 1 UG, 2 PG scholarships
• University of Canterbury: 1 UG, 1 PG scholarship
• University of Otago: 4 PG scholarships
• Victoria University of Wellington: 2 UG, 2 PG scholarships

These scholarships were announced during a special education event at IIT Delhi, further strengthening the educational ties between India and New Zealand.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for these scholarships, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Hold Indian citizenship; applicants cannot be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or Australia.
• Reside in India at the time of application.
• Meet the requirements set by Immigration New Zealand for a student visa.
• Have an unconditional offer of admission from a New Zealand university for an eligible course.

Interested candidates must apply by 11:59 PM (IST) on April 30, 2025.

New Zealand Innovation Centre and Collaboration with IIT Delhi

In addition to the scholarship announcement, the event also celebrated the launch of the New Zealand Centre, a collaborative initiative between New Zealand universities and IIT Delhi. The Centre is designed to foster deeper academic ties and collaboration between the two countries.

As part of the ongoing partnership, Education New Zealand and IIT Delhi also introduced a Virtual Internship Programme. This unique initiative will allow 30 IIT Delhi students to intern remotely with New Zealand-based companies, providing valuable cross-border industry experience and insight into New Zealand’s innovative work culture.

Prime Minister’s Statement on Education Partnership

During his speech, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted the growing education partnership between New Zealand and India. He said, “New Zealand and India share a reciprocal education partnership, built on academic excellence and cultural exchange. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, we remain committed to equipping students with the skills needed to succeed on the global stage. Through the initiatives announced today, we are fostering deeper connections and empowering future leaders and innovators.”

Other Collaborations and MoUs

The event also saw the announcement of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between New Zealand institutions and their Indian counterparts. These include:

• University of Canterbury and IIT Delhi: A collaborative project focused on using geospatial data for climate change mitigation, aligning with India’s sustainability goals.
• University of Auckland and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
• University of Auckland and IIT Kharagpur.
• University of Auckland and Tech Mahindra: A pilot internship program designed to strengthen academia-industry partnerships.

With these exciting announcements, the New Zealand Excellence Awards 2025 scholarships offer an excellent opportunity for Indian students to study abroad and contribute to the academic and cultural exchange between the two nations. The continued collaboration between New Zealand universities and Indian institutions like IIT Delhi underscores the growing educational ties and the commitment to addressing global challenges through innovation and research.