Here’s a distinction worth getting right before anything else, because most guides on this exact topic blur it: New Zealand’s flagship government scholarship doesn’t waive IELTS. It defers it. Those are genuinely different things, and understanding which one you’re dealing with changes how you should actually prepare.

What “No IELTS at Application” Actually Means

The government’s own scholarship site states this plainly: “You do not need to provide English language test scores when you apply for a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship for tertiary study.” But keep reading, and the next line matters just as much: “Candidates who are shortlisted for a scholarship to undertake tertiary study in New Zealand must provide an English language test score.” So the test isn’t gone β€” it’s pushed to the final stages of selection, after your academic profile, development-relevance, and interview have already carried you through the harder early rounds. Practically, that’s a real advantage: your application isn’t screened out early for lacking a test score, but you do eventually need one if you’re shortlisted, unless you’re applying for tertiary study specifically in the Pacific, where this requirement doesn’t apply at all.

The Scholarships

1. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships
Full tuition, a fortnightly living allowance (NZD $531/week, roughly NZD $27,612 annually), an establishment allowance, medical and travel insurance, and return airfares.
πŸ”— nzscholarships.govt.nz
Beyond the deferred-testing structure above, there’s a condition worth reading closely before you apply: recipients must commit to returning home for at least two years after completing the scholarship, monitored by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with early departure or non-return potentially triggering a repayment obligation.

2. University of Auckland International Student Scholarships
Tuition fee reductions and merit-based awards for admitted international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
πŸ”— auckland.ac.nz/en/study/scholarships-and-awards
New Zealand’s highest-ranked university runs its scholarship consideration through the same admission review as your standard application β€” check the specific faculty’s accepted English-proficiency documentation, since this is set program by program rather than university-wide.

3. University of Otago International Excellence Scholarship
Tuition fee waivers of varying value for high-achieving international undergraduate students.
πŸ”— otago.ac.nz/scholarships
Otago’s own admissions pathway programs are worth knowing about specifically if your English documentation doesn’t yet meet direct-entry requirements β€” rather than an outright rejection, several conditional and foundation pathways exist to bridge that gap.

4. Victoria University of Wellington Scholarships
Merit-based tuition support for international students across Victoria’s law, humanities, and science programs.
πŸ”— wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships
As with most New Zealand universities, confirm your specific program’s accepted English-proficiency list directly, since alternative pathway programs and prior English-medium education are commonly accepted alongside standard test scores.

5. University of Canterbury International Scholarships
Tuition fee reductions for admitted international students, particularly in engineering, science, and business fields.
πŸ”— canterbury.ac.nz/scholarships
Canterbury’s engineering and science programs draw a genuinely international cohort β€” check current-year award terms and accepted proficiency documentation directly with the specific faculty.

6. Massey University International Excellence Scholarships
Merit-based tuition awards for outstanding international undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.
πŸ”— massey.ac.nz/study/scholarships-and-awards
Massey’s multi-campus structure (Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington) means program-level English requirements can differ even within the same university β€” verify against your specific campus and course.

7. University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarships
Tuition fee support for high-achieving international students across Waikato’s law, science, and Māori and Indigenous studies programs.
πŸ”— waikato.ac.nz/scholarships
A genuinely distinctive academic offering given Waikato’s strength in Indigenous studies β€” check current admissions requirements directly for your specific program.

8. Lincoln University International Scholarships
Tuition support for international students in Lincoln’s agriculture, environmental science, and land-based programs.
πŸ”— lincoln.ac.nz/study/scholarships
A smaller, specialized university worth considering specifically if your field is agriculture or environmental science β€” New Zealand’s global reputation in these areas makes Lincoln a genuine option beyond the larger general universities.

9. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) International Scholarships
Merit-based tuition awards for international undergraduate and postgraduate students across AUT’s business, health, and design programs.
πŸ”— aut.ac.nz/study/scholarships-and-awards
AUT’s applied, industry-connected program structure makes it worth checking directly if your interests lean practical rather than purely research-focused.

10. New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP) Scholarships
Tuition support at New Zealand’s vocational and applied-learning institutions, which also participate in the Manaaki scholarship network.
πŸ”— studywithnewzealand.govt.nz
A practical, often lower-cost entry point compared to the eight universities above β€” several ITPs are among the “eight universities or three institutes of technology” Manaaki scholars can choose from directly.

Making Sense of the English Requirement Across the Board

Outside the Manaaki scholarship’s deferred-testing structure, New Zealand’s universities generally follow familiar territory: IELTS 6.0–6.5 for most programs, TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge Advanced English as accepted alternatives, and β€” genuinely worth checking β€” pathway or foundation programs that several universities (Otago among them) run specifically for students who haven’t yet cleared direct-entry English requirements, rather than turning them away outright.

Timing and What’s Not Covered

Manaaki’s application windows vary significantly by country and region β€” the 2026 Samoa Foundation round, for instance, opened August 4 and closed September 4 β€” so check the specific window for your own country directly rather than assuming a single shared global deadline. University-level scholarships generally follow each institution’s own semester-based admissions calendar.

Whatever route applies to you, budget for what these scholarships don’t fully absorb outside Manaaki’s comprehensive package: New Zealand’s student visa financial-proof requirement, mandatory health and travel insurance, and the country’s genuinely high cost of living in cities like Auckland and Wellington. A service like Wise is worth using to move remaining funds without a heavy bank markup.

Two Questions Worth Settling

If I don’t have an IELTS score yet, should I still apply to Manaaki?
Yes β€” that’s genuinely the point of its deferred structure. Apply based on your academic and development profile first, and prepare for English testing only if you’re shortlisted, rather than assuming you need it upfront.

Does New Zealand’s student visa process check my English separately?
No, in most cases. Immigration New Zealand’s student visa process primarily assesses your Confirmation of Enrolment, financial evidence, and health/character requirements β€” the English-proficiency question was already settled at your university’s admission stage.

Before You Apply

  • Understand the difference between Manaaki’s deferred testing and a genuine waiver β€” you’ll likely still need a score if shortlisted
  • Read the two-year return-home obligation carefully before accepting a Manaaki award, since early departure can trigger repayment
  • Check whether your target university offers a foundation or pathway program if you haven’t yet cleared direct-entry English requirements
  • Confirm your specific program’s accepted English-proficiency documentation directly, since this is set faculty by faculty across most New Zealand universities
  • Budget for New Zealand’s student visa proof-of-funds requirement and its high cost of living separately from any scholarship
  • Re-verify every scholarship’s current country-specific deadline directly on the official Manaaki or university site before applying

Scholarships Without IELTS