Short Term Training Scholarships for Pacific and Timor-Leste citizens

We fund skills training and work experience 

Now that the border has opened, New Zealand is once again offering Short Term Training Scholarships to fund skills training and work experience for professionals from eligible Pacific countries and Timor-Leste.  Scholarship terms range from one week to 12 months.

Successful applicants:

• Undertake a training course with a New Zealand-certified training provider.

Your chosen training programme:

• must align with the human resource development needs of your country, and
• align with the following New Zealand priority themes and sectors:

Climate Change and Resilience

• Climate Change and the Environment
• Disaster Risk Management
• Food Security and Agriculture
• Renewable Energy

Good Governance

• Governance
• Law and Justice

Economic Resilience

• Economic Resilience / Private Sector
• Information Communications Technology
• Tourism
• Fisheries

To apply you must meet all eligibility criteria

To apply for a Short Term Training Scholarship, you must meet all eligibility criteria on this list:

• I am a citizen of one of the following countries or territories:
  Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
• At the date my application is submitted, I will have lived in my country of citizenship for the last two years or more.
  • Exception for diplomatic corps and their family: A member of the diplomatic corps or a dependant of a member of the diplomatic corps, living outside their own country, can apply for a Scholarship.
• I am not a citizen or permanent resident of any of the following countries:
  New Zealand, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, any European Union country, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
  • Exceptions: People from the following countries and territories are eligible to apply:
    • Niue and Tokelau, even though they are New Zealand citizens.
    • French Pacific Territories, even though they are French citizens.
    • New Zealand-Samoan and Timor-Leste-Portuguese dual citizens.
• I will be at least 18 years old at the time I start the scholarship.
• I am not currently serving in the military.
• Within the last five years I have not had a New Zealand Scholarship terminated.
• I have at least one year of full-time or two years of part-time work experience (paid, unpaid or voluntary) that relates to my career and/or my proposed training programme.

You must also acknowledge and agree that:

• I have received endorsement from my employer (if applicable) to attend this training programme.
• I expect to meet the academic entry requirements (including English language requirements) for my planned training programme.

Scholarship application and selection process

The Short Term Training Scholarships application process differs depending on which country you are from. You may be able to apply all year round, or within application opening and closing dates. 

Contact your local New Zealand Embassy or High Commission(external link) at any time for the scholarship application dates and to get the application form. Embassy and High Commission staff can help you to complete the application form.

If your scholarship is approved, you will receive a Letter of Offer with the conditions of your scholarship. All scholars must accept and abide by these conditions.

Supporting documents for your application

You must submit these supporting documents with your application:

• a certified copy of the personal pages of your passport (or an alternative form of photo identification if you do not hold a passport).
• a current curriculum vitae (in English).
• a current job description stating your position title and outlining your responsibilities and duties, if you are employed (in English).
• Certified copies of your academic transcripts and completion certificates (in English) for all qualifications you have completed or are completing (where applicable), including the grade assessment schedule used at each institution.
• Where available, certified copies of your International English proficiency test results, such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), from within the last 18 months; or
• Evidence of completion of all primary education and at least three years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction; or
• Evidence of completion of five years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction.

How we manage our Short Term Training Scholarships

The New Zealand Government uses a training management company to provide services on its behalf.

Financial support for scholars

Successful scholars from the Pacific receive:

• full tuition fees
• training-related costs
• a weekly allowance to cover basic living costs