Tongarewa Scholarship
The Tongarewa Scholarship — meaning 'treasure' in te reo Māori — is Victoria University of Wellington's flagship award for incoming international students. Awards typically range from NZD 5,000 to NZD 10,000 as a tuition reduction across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Around 60 awards are made annually. Wellington is New Zealand's capital and home to government, public policy think tanks, and creative industries — making Victoria a strong choice for politics, public policy, film, and creative writing applicants from Sri Lanka.
Victoria University of Wellington
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
NZD 5,000-10,000
Eligible Levels
UG + PG (Coursework)
Selection
Academic Merit
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
International Fee Status
Reserved for international fee-paying students. New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and Australian citizens are not eligible.
Hold a Victoria Offer
You must have applied to (or hold an offer for) a full-time UG or PG programme at Victoria Wellington for the relevant trimester start.
Strong Academic Record
Equivalent of a strong B+ average or higher. For UG: 3 strong A/L grades (or equivalent international qualification). For PG: minimum B+ undergraduate average (~65%+ for Sri Lankan UG).
Short Application Form
A separate scholarship application form is required, including a personal statement on how you would contribute to Victoria's diverse community.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to Victoria
Submit your full UG or PG application via wgtn.ac.nz/study/apply. You need an applicant ID before applying for the scholarship.
Submit the Tongarewa form
Complete the Tongarewa Scholarship application via Victoria's scholarships portal — personal statement (~500 words), academic justification.
Round assessment
Applications are assessed in rounds — 1 November 2025 deadline for February 2026 intake, 1 May 2026 for July intake. Results released 4-6 weeks after each round closes.
Award + acceptance
Successful applicants receive an award letter detailing the value. Accept via the portal and the discount is applied to your tuition in your first trimester.
Why Victoria Wellington?
Victoria is consistently ranked New Zealand's #1 university for research intensity. Wellington's compact size, walkable city centre, and concentration of government and creative employers make it an underrated destination — meaningfully cheaper than Auckland.
#240
QS World Ranking 2026
~60
Tongarewa Awards / Year
NZD 10k
Top-Tier Award Value
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