Applications are open for the 2023 group scholarships and a group organiser will apply on behalf of an organisation or education institution.

If you're keen to go to Asia or Latin America as part of a group within the next 12 months, a group programme could be for you! View the full list of successful programmes here. Each group will run their own selection process for their programme, so if you're enrolled or affiliated with a successful group, reach out to them directly to check how you can be involved.

Timeframes vary between applicants, but we recommend starting your application as early as possible and allowing at least 2 - 3 weeks to complete.

Your concerns are completely valid.  Safety is a top priority for Education New Zealand throughout all stages of the scholarship programme.  

We have a robust risk management system and ability to monitor and support recipients while on programme. We mitigate risks by working closely with other government agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, as well as our own staff located across Asia and Latin America. We also have a collaborative relationship with outbound mobility staff at New Zealand universities and polytechnics.

During 2019 we safely and rapidly evacuated scholarship recipients from Hong Kong and Chile during civil unrest, and in March 2020 as Covid-19 spread around the globe we evacuated over 100 scholarship awardees across Asia and Latin America back to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

ENZ has the right to cancel any programme where the risk of travel is deemed too high.

Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America are funded by the New Zealand Government and run by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ).

ENZ is New Zealand's government agency dedicated to international education. We promote New Zealand as a study destination, but also support New Zealanders to broaden their own horizons through international education experiences beyond our shores. You can learn more about ENZ by visiting our website.

With the restart of our scholarships following a pause due to COVID-19, we are moving to a new schedule where we will run one group round per year (earlier in the year), and one individual round per year (later in the year). Previously, we ran two rounds per year which were open to both individuals and groups.

Applications for group scholarships are currently open from 8 March to 23 April 2023.

Applying for the scholarship involves submitting a few documents, providing two referees, and helping us get to know you with three short written statements and a two minute video.

Visit the How to apply page for more info.

At this stage no, however, in light of COVID-19 we will be reviewing these requirements in the near future.

If you've already been part of a group programme, you can still apply for an individual scholarship. However, you can't do this the other way round - go on an individual scholarship and then apply for a group programme.

This is because group programmes offer a shorter 'taster' of Asia or Latin America, and we want group programme participants to have the opportunity to extend their learnings through an individual programme of their own, which is likely (but doesn't have to be) longer in duration.

No one can receive an individual scholarship more than once or be part of a group programme more than once.

Learn about the difference between individual and group programmes.

If you are awarded a scholarship, you must start your programme within 20 months of your award.

If there are travel restrictions in place at the time of your departure that prevent you from travelling, we will first try to reschedule your trip to a later date.  If that is not possible, you may need to withdraw your scholarship application.

Email our Scholarships team.

ENZ will also run information sessions and workshops prior to each scholarship round opening so keep an eye out for updates, and use the 'Sign up' buttons around this website to stay in the loop.