Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are the New Zealand government's flagship development scholarships, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and administered by Education New Zealand. They support postgraduate study at NZ's 8 universities and selected institutes of technology, with full tuition, monthly stipend, return airfares, and medical insurance. Sri Lanka is on the eligible country list, and awards target candidates whose study will contribute to Sri Lanka's development on return.
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Fully Funded
Duration
1-2 Year Master's or PhD
Travel
Return Airfares + Insurance
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Sri Lankan Citizen
Must be a citizen of an eligible country (Sri Lanka is on the list) and residing in Sri Lanka at the time of application. Cannot hold NZ or Australian citizenship/permanent residency.
1+ Year Work Experience
Minimum one year of full-time (30+ hrs/week) work experience, or two years part-time. Paid, unpaid, and voluntary work all count. Recent graduates typically need to wait before applying.
Academic Standing
Strong Bachelor's degree (typically first-class or upper second-class) from a recognised institution. For PhD applicants, a relevant Master's with a research component is normally required.
Return Commitment
Sign a binding agreement to return to Sri Lanka for at least 2 years immediately after the scholarship ends — your study should contribute to Sri Lanka's development priorities.
account_tree Application Process
Apply on the Manaaki portal
Submit your application at nzscholarships.govt.nz between 1 March and 10 April 2026. Choose your preferred NZ institutions and programmes — you can list multiple choices.
Eligibility & shortlisting
MFAT reviews applications against eligibility, development priority, and academic merit. Shortlisted candidates are contacted from June onwards.
University placement
Successful candidates are matched with their selected NZ university for a place on the chosen programme. You apply for university admission in parallel.
Pre-departure & visa
Final awardees attend pre-departure briefings in Colombo and apply for a Fee-Paying Student Visa with the Manaaki award as evidence of funds. Studies typically start February 2027.
About Manaaki Scholarships
Manaaki — meaning to care for, support, and protect — has been the New Zealand government's primary international development scholarship for decades. The programme prioritises study fields linked to recipient countries' development needs.
8
NZ Universities Eligible
~100+
Annual Awards (all countries)
MFAT
Funded by NZ Government
Similar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA)
Education New Zealand
University of Otago International Excellence Scholarship
University of Otago
University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship
University of Auckland