Thematic Short Term Cohort Training Scholarships
The New Zealand Government offers Manaaki New Zealand scholarships to professionals from eligible countries to learn new skills from New Zealand and use these to progress their country's social and economic development.
On this page
We fund skills training for professionals from eligible countries
Professionals from eligible countries can apply for an individual or cohort scholarship to take a short professional training course in the following themes and sectors:
Governance
- Public sector leadership
- Public Health Management
- Trade Policy
- Good Governance
- Diplomatic Training
Climate Change and Resilience
- Renewable energy project management
- Geothermal energy project management
- Food and agribusiness value chains
These short courses aim to build mid and senior level professionals’ knowledge and skills in their respective sectors, sharing New Zealand’s experiences and expertise. Reputable education institutions in New Zealand deliver these short training courses. Courses are two to four weeks long and are run either in New Zealand or online.
Not all courses are available for all regions listed.
To be eligible for a Thematic Short Term Training Scholarship, you must be a citizen from:
Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Pacific Territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Cook Islands
ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam
Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Latin America and Caribbean: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Venezuela
Other eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship applicants must:
- Have lived in their 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.
- Not be a citizen or permanent resident of any of the following countries: New Zealand, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, any European Union country, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 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:
- Cook Islands, 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.
- Must be at least 18 years old at the time they will start the scholarship.
- Must not currently be serving in the military.
- Have not had a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship terminated in the last 5 years,
Applicants must also acknowledge and agree that:
- They have received endorsement from their employer to attend the training course.
- They expect to meet the academic entry requirements (including English language requirements) for their planned training course.
Supporting documents
If you are shortlisted for a scholarship, you will need to provide copies of the following documents before taking up your scholarship. You will receive an email requesting you return these documents by email.
- Certified copies of the personal pages of your passport if you are applying for an in-country course. An alternative form of Government-issued photo identification is acceptable if applying for an online course.
- 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) or equivalent, from within the last 18 months.
Scholarship application and selection process
The New Zealand Embassy or High Commission promotes the course and may ask the government sector and/or local organisations in each eligible country for suitable scholarship nominations.
The New Zealand Embassy or High Commission guides nominees through a closed application and selection process.
If we approve your scholarship, you will receive a Letter of Offer with the conditions of your scholarship. All scholars must accept and abide by these conditions.