Opportunity

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships pay for university study in New Zealand, and Cambodians can apply for postgraduate degrees.[1] The New Zealand government offers them to citizens of developing partner countries, and scholars are expected to go home and use what they learned for their country's development.[2][3] Cambodia is one of nine Asian countries in the program, and its applicants may study for a postgraduate certificate, a postgraduate diploma, a master's degree or a PhD.[1][4]

Sponsorship

The scholarships are paid for through the New Zealand Aid Programme and run by Education New Zealand together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).[5] MFAT counts them as part of its development cooperation with Cambodia, alongside its work on farming, mine action and the resilience of the Angkor Archaeological Park.[6] Besides university scholarships, the program offers short training courses for working people and English training for government officials.[2][6]

Scholars study at one of ten approved institutions.[7] The eight universities are Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University, Massey University, the University of Auckland, the University of Canterbury, the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington; the two institutes of technology are the Southern Institute of Technology and Unitec.[7] The program receives more than 15,000 applications each year.[8]

Award and support

A full scholarship covers tuition fees, a living allowance and a one-time establishment allowance for setting up in New Zealand, such as for housing or books.[9] It also pays for medical insurance in New Zealand, travel insurance, extra tutoring when needed and the flights from Cambodia at the start and back home at the end.[9] Scholars on programs longer than 1.6 years may fly home to visit family once or twice.[9] A reintegration allowance helps with costs on returning home, and many postgraduate scholars get help with research and thesis costs.[9] Scholars arrange their own housing.[9]

For shortlisted applicants from Cambodia, the program books and pays for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.[3] Preferred candidates from Cambodia whose English score is close to the level their course needs may receive up to one year of English training in Cambodia; this is not offered to PhD candidates.[3] Scholars who pay for a visa application and medical tests before the trip are reimbursed once they reach their institution.[3] A scholar who is refused a student visa loses the scholarship.[3]

Eligibility

Applicants from Cambodia must be Cambodian citizens and must have lived in Cambodia for the two years before applying, unless they were abroad on a diplomatic posting or for study.[3] They must be at least 18 when they sign the letter of offer. There is no upper age limit, but the program prefers applicants under 40.[3] Postgraduate applicants need relevant work experience, paid, unpaid or voluntary: one year of full-time work or two years of part-time work.[3] Eligibility also takes into account whether an applicant is serving in the military and whether they held a Manaaki scholarship before.[3]

Courses should match the subjects MFAT recommends for Cambodia.[8] As of 2026 these fall under climate change and resilience, the economy and private sector, education, food safety and agriculture, governance, information technology, infrastructure, peace and justice and resilient societies.[4] Applications can fail when the chosen course does not progress from the applicant's earlier degrees, for example a second master's degree.[8] Applicants must be likely to meet the entry and English requirements of their chosen institution; for postgraduate study this is usually an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band under 6.0.[3] English test scores are needed only after shortlisting.[3] PhD applicants who reach the interview must show that they have found a supervisor or are close to doing so.[3]

Each scholar signs a contract with the New Zealand government and agrees to return home and work for the social or economic development of Cambodia for at least two years after finishing.[3][10] Past Manaaki scholars cannot apply again until two years after their scholarship ended.[3]

Application

Applications open once a year, in March, through the program's online portal, for study starting the following year.[11][1] The 2026 round for Cambodia ran from March 1 to March 31, 2026, for study starting in 2027.[12] Deadlines fall at midday New Zealand time, and the portal may close early for a country that sends a very large number of applications.[13][1] Applicants upload their academic transcript with its grading scale.[14] As of October 2026 the round was closed, and the dates for 2027 had not been posted.[1]

Selection takes six to ten months after the round closes.[8] It begins with screening and an online reasoning and personality test, followed by a closer review of the application.[8] Short-listed applicants then have a 40-minute online interview with two interviewers, usually between May and July.[8] Preferred candidates apply for admission to their chosen institution, receive a letter of offer once they hold a place, and have 14 days to accept it before applying for a student visa.[10]

Recipients

Recipients from Cambodia named by New Zealand universities:

  • Vansek Soeum, Master of Public Health, Auckland University of Technology[11]
  • Viriya Hach, Master of Renewable Energy, Victoria University of Wellington[5]

The Manaaki graduates celebrated at Victoria University of Wellington in June 2021 included scholars from Cambodia.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Check eligible countries (undated)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Types of Manaaki scholarships (undated)
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Check eligibility criteria (undated)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Study subjects for Asian students (undated)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Victoria University of Wellington, Study in Wellington on a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship: Cambodia (undated)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Cambodia (undated)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Research available courses (undated)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, How we select scholars (undated)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Get ready to start your scholarship (undated)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Preferred candidates: what to do next (undated)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Auckland University of Technology, Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (2026)
  12. ↑ University of Auckland, Key Sectors in Cambodia and Manaaki Scholarships at the University of Auckland (2026)
  13. ↑ Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, Application opening and closing dates for your country (undated)
  14. ↑ Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, How to apply for a scholarship (undated)
  15. ↑ Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington's University celebrates Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship graduates (June 2021)
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This page was last edited on 7 October 2026, at 19:21.