Support

We're here to help!

Check out our FAQs below, and if you still have questions, you can email our friendly Scholarships team who'll help you out.

We also have useful information on this page to help family and whānau understand the scholarship and the support we provide to recipients before, during and after their overseas programme.

Frequently asked questions

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.


Information for family/whānau

A track record of changing lives

Our alumni often tell us that their scholarship experience changed the course of their life, opening their eyes to new cultures, languages and career paths, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of their own culture and place in the world.

Since 2013 Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao has supported more than 2,400 New Zealanders to study or intern abroad through the Prime Minister’s Scholarships. Our latest survey shows 98% of alumni would recommend the programme.

To learn about the impact a Prime Minister's Scholarship can have, you can read our alumni stories here.

"It changes your perspective and makes you realise that the world is bigger than the town or country that you live in, that there are no real boundaries between you and another country."

Te Maiora Rurehe (Tūhoe/Te Arawa), Prime Minister's Scholar for Asia

How do we support recipients?

Prime Minister’s Scholarship recipients will receive comprehensive pre and post-departure training to prepare them before and after the programme. Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao is a government agency and we support scholarship recipients while on programme both through our own staff in Asia and Latin America, as well as through our links into other New Zealand government agencies with staff in those regions.

Recipients who are undertaking an exchange or internship can also access support and pastoral care through their education institution or internship provider.

Sign up below to stay updated about future scholarship rounds, information sessions and workshops.

About us

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is New Zealand’s government agency dedicated to international education. We promote New Zealand as a study destination and help Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural and economic benefits of international education. We also administer the Prime Minister's Scholarships to support New Zealanders to undertake educational experiences in Asia and Latin America.