University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarship
The University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarship is a NZD 10,000 first-year tuition discount for high-achieving international undergraduate and postgraduate students. Awards are offered across most Waikato programmes — particularly its well-regarded business, computer science, and management schools. Waikato's Hamilton campus sits about 90 minutes south of Auckland, with significantly lower living costs and a smaller student-to-faculty ratio than Auckland or Wellington.
University of Waikato
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
NZD 10,000 (Year One)
Duration
First Year of Study
Awards
Around 30 per Year
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Offer for an Eligible Waikato Programme
Hold an offer for a full-time Bachelor's, Master's, or postgraduate diploma at the University of Waikato. Pathway programmes (foundation, English language) are not eligible.
International Fee Status
Open only to international students paying overseas fees. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible; New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and Australian citizens are not.
Strong Academic Record
Undergraduate applicants typically need 2 As and 1 B at A/L (or equivalent); postgraduate applicants need a credit-average Bachelor's. Stronger results improve award chances within the pool.
English Proficiency
Meet Waikato's standard English requirement — typically IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for undergraduate, and IELTS 6.5 for postgraduate. Higher levels apply to specific programmes (e.g. teaching, social work).
account_tree Application Process
Apply to Waikato
Submit your Waikato application through the online portal or an authorised education agent in Sri Lanka. Scholarship consideration requires a conditional or unconditional offer.
Submit the scholarship application
After receiving your offer, complete the International Excellence Scholarship application — a short personal statement (around 500 words) on why you've chosen Waikato and your future goals. Submit by the relevant trimester deadline.
Selection on merit
Waikato's international scholarship committee reviews applications in rounds for each trimester intake. Outcomes are usually issued within four weeks of the round closing.
Accept and enrol
Successful applicants must accept the scholarship and confirm enrolment by the published deadline. The NZD 10,000 is applied as a tuition discount in Year 1 across the two trimesters.
Why University of Waikato?
Waikato is a top-300 New Zealand university with strong programmes in management, computer science, environmental science, and law. The Hamilton campus is one of NZ's most modern, sits in the heart of the Waikato region, and is significantly more affordable than Auckland — making it a practical mid-cost NZ option for Sri Lankan families.
#244
QS World Ranking 2026
Triple
Crown Accredited Business School
90 min
South of Auckland
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