Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students in New Zealand (2026)

Bangladeshi students can access various scholarships to study in New Zealand, ranging from fully funded government grants to partial university merit awards.

Studying in New Zealand can get expensive. The right scholarship can cut a large part of your tuition and living costs. New Zealand does not hand out free money easily, but real scholarships for Bangladeshi students in New Zealand exist at the university level. Knowing which ones to chase saves you months of wasted effort, and working with an experienced student consultancy firm in Bangladesh can help you shortlist the right options faster and avoid missing deadlines. 

Government-funded awards like Manaaki New Zealand are currently closed to Bangladeshi applicants.

University scholarships from Auckland, Otago, AUT, and five other institutions are open right now, and some are worth up to NZD 35,000.

This guide sorts the real options from the outdated ones. You will find exact scholarship values in NZD and BDT, a university-by-university comparison table, the documents you need, and a timeline that starts a full year before your intake. 

Why New Zealand Is Worth the Investment for Bangladeshi Students

New Zealand tuition is lower than in the UK or the US for a similar degree, and every one of its eight public universities ranks in the QS World University Rankings. 

That combination is rare. Add a post-study work visa that lets graduates stay and work, and the return on a New Zealand degree becomes easier to defend to a family funding the trip.

Tuition and Living Cost Snapshot (So the Scholarship Value Is Easy to Gauge)

Bachelor’s tuition at New Zealand’s research universities runs NZD 27,000 to 55,000 a year, or roughly 20L to 41L BDT at the current exchange rate of about 75 BDT per NZD. Institutes of technology charge less, closer to NZD 22,000 to 32,000 a year. 

Living costs add another NZD 15,000 to 24,000 a year, depending on the city, with Auckland and Wellington at the top of that range and Dunedin, Hamilton, and Palmerston North well below it.

A scholarship worth NZD 10,000 to 15,000, which is what most university awards on this list actually pay, covers roughly a third to half of one year’s tuition. That is a meaningful dent in your budget, even though it falls short of “fully funded.”

QS-Ranked Universities and Post-Study Work Visa Pathway

All eight public universities in New Zealand rank in the top 3% of institutions worldwide by QS. For a detailed breakdown of where each one stands, along with subject strengths and admission requirements for Bangladeshi students, check EduBuzz’s guide to the top 10 universities in New Zealand.

Graduates from most bachelor’s and master’s programs qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa, which lets you work in New Zealand without needing a separate job-specific visa first. 

That pathway is a big part of why New Zealand degrees hold their value even without a full scholarship attached.

Types of Scholarships Available to Bangladeshi Students

Scholarship money for Bangladeshi students in New Zealand comes from three places, and they are not equally accessible right now. 

Knowing which category you actually qualify for saves you from applying to programs that reject Bangladeshi citizens outright.

Government-Funded Scholarships (Manaaki New Zealand, Commonwealth)

This is the category most other guides get wrong, so read it carefully. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, the New Zealand government’s main fully-funded award, are restricted to citizens of Pacific and ASEAN-region countries. Bangladesh is not on that list.

University-Specific Scholarships (Auckland, Otago, Victoria, Canterbury, Waikato, AUT, Massey)

This is where the real money sits for Bangladeshi applicants. All eight New Zealand universities run their own scholarship programs for new international students, and most assess you automatically when you apply for admission, with no separate scholarship form needed. 

AUT goes a step further with a scholarship band built specifically for South Asian applicants, which explicitly names Bangladesh as an eligible country. The full comparison table further down this guide breaks out exact values by university and study level.

Private, Foundation, and External Scholarships (Asia New Zealand Foundation, Faculty/Industry Awards)

Beyond government and university funding, individual faculties and outside organizations run smaller, subject-specific awards. The Asia New Zealand Foundation focuses on people-to-people links between New Zealand and Asia rather than funding full degrees, so it is better suited to short exchanges, internships, or research trips than a full bachelor’s or master’s program. 

Faculty-level awards, like the ones the University of Auckland runs for its Business School or Medical Sciences programs, are worth checking once you have a confirmed offer, since your department will usually list them on its own admissions page.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships – What Bangladeshi Applicants Need to Know

As of 2026, the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships eligible-countries page lists eligibility for Asia as Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam only. 

Bangladesh is not included, and neither are India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Massey University’s own Manaaki scholarship page confirms this directly, describing eligibility as restricted to “Pacific and ASEAN countries only.”

Several agency websites and blog guides still list Bangladesh as eligible for Manaaki or for something called the “New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship.” That claim traces back to an old eligibility list from years ago and has been copied from site to site since. Once you check the current, official list, the gap between what’s advertised and what’s actually open to Bangladeshi citizens becomes clear.

The scholarship worth your actual attention is the AUT International Scholarships, South Asia category. It is one of the only named scholarships in New Zealand whose official eligibility list states Bangladesh directly, rather than lumping it into a vague “developing countries” catch-all.

Coverage (Tuition, Stipend, Travel, Insurance, Thesis Allowance)

AUT’s South Asia scholarship pays a direct contribution toward tuition fees rather than a full-ride package. Undergraduate applicants receive NZD 5,000, and an Excellence category within the same scholarship pays NZD 10,000 for applicants with a stronger academic profile.

Postgraduate applicants receive NZD 7,000. There is no stipend, travel allowance, or insurance cover attached, and the scholarship excludes doctoral programs entirely, so PhD applicants need to look at one of the university-specific doctoral awards in the comparison table below instead.

Eligibility and Field-of-Study Priorities for Bangladesh

AUT’s South Asia band names Bangladesh explicitly, alongside Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. You must be a new, full-fee-paying international student with a current conditional or unconditional offer of place for an eligible AUT program, and you cannot already be studying at AUT, including moving from a bachelor’s into a master’s program there. 

Most undergraduate and postgraduate programs qualify, so there is no narrow field-of-study priority list, the way a government scheme would have. Check AUT’s current eligible-program appendix before you apply, since a small number of programs are excluded each intake.

Application Timeline and Where to Apply

AUT runs this scholarship twice a year, with closing dates around 19 May for the Semester 2 intake and 15 November for the Semester 1 intake. 

You apply directly through AUT’s own online scholarships database, and you need your admission offer in hand first, since the scholarship application asks for your offer of place. 

Recipients get 14 days to accept the scholarship once awarded, so check your email closely once you have applied. Since a scholarship offer letter also strengthens your visa file, pair this with EduBuzz’s New Zealand student visa requirements guide so your visa timeline runs in parallel rather than starting late.

Scholarships by New Zealand University (Comparison Table)

University scholarships are where Bangladeshi students should focus their energy, since most are open to any nationality and several assess you automatically once you apply for admission. 

Both tables below list current values checked directly against each university’s own scholarship page in August 2026.

Undergraduate Scholarships

 Postgraduate and PhD Scholarships

Doctoral scholarships pay a living stipend on top of tuition, which is why the values below jump sharply compared to the undergraduate table. 

Confirm the current figure before applying, since universities revise stipend rates most years.

Values and application windows change every intake, so confirm the current figure on each university’s own scholarship page before you apply. Where an amount is listed as competitive, the university weighs your prior academic results heavily, so a strong HSC or bachelor’s transcript matters more than the essay.

Eligibility Requirements for Bangladeshi Students

Every scholarship on this list sits on top of a base admission requirement. You need to clear the university’s academic and English bar before any scholarship committee looks at your file.

Academic and English-Proficiency Thresholds (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL)

Most New Zealand universities ask for an HSC GPA around 3.5 to 4.5, or roughly 60% or higher in the relevant subjects, for undergraduate entry. A-Level applicants generally need BBB to AAB grades. IELTS requirements usually sit between 6.0 and 7.0 overall, with competitive fields like medicine, law, and nursing asking for 7.0 or higher. 

PTE Academic and, at some institutions, Duolingo scores are accepted alternatives. For structured prep that targets these exact band requirements, EduBuzz runs an IELTS and PTE preparation program built around what New Zealand universities actually ask for.

Documents You’ll Need (Transcripts, SOP, References, Passport)

Scholarship applications draw from the same document set as your admission file, so building both together saves time. You will typically need academic transcripts and certificates, a valid passport, IELTS or PTE results, a Statement of Purpose, and two academic or professional references.

Some university-specific awards also ask for a short scholarship essay separate from your SOP, so read each scholarship’s regulations before you assume one document covers both.

How to Apply – Step-by-Step

Scholarship deadlines at New Zealand universities often close months before the intake itself, and missing that window means waiting for the next round. Building your file early is the single biggest factor in whether you get considered at all.

Timeline: When to Start (10–12 Months Out)

Start your research and shortlist 10 to 12 months before your intended intake. Universities generally run February and July intakes, with July being the more common choice for Bangladeshi students. Submit your admission application as soon as your documents are ready, since several scholarships (Otago’s automatic international scholarship, Victoria’s Undergraduate International Scholarship) are assessed the moment you apply, and a late admission application means a late scholarship assessment too. 

For scholarships that need a separate form, like AUT’s South Asia award or Canterbury’s First Year Scholarship, mark the specific closing date the moment you find it, since these dates shift by intake.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applying for admission after the scholarship deadline has passed: Several universities assess scholarships automatically at the point of admission, so a late application removes you from consideration entirely, even if your grades would have qualified.

Submitting a generic SOP that never mentions New Zealand or the specific university: Scholarship committees read SOPs to judge fit, not just English ability, so an essay that could apply to any country signals a weak application.

Ignoring university-specific eligibility bands: AUT’s South Asia scholarship band, for example, has different rules than its Southeast Asia band, and applying under the wrong category delays or disqualifies your file.

Assuming a scholarship covers full costs: Most university awards on this list pay NZD 5,000 to 20,000 toward tuition, not the full amount, so budget for the remaining balance from the start rather than discovering the gap after you accept an offer.

How Much Can You Actually Save? (Scholarship Value in BDT)

Converted into BDT, even a partial scholarship changes your first-year budget meaningfully. 

Here is what that looks like –

Sample Cost-Before-and-After-Scholarship Breakdown

Suppose a Bangladeshi student is admitted to a bachelor’s program at the University of Waikato, with annual tuition of NZD 33,000, or roughly 24.75L BDT at 75 BDT per NZD. Without a scholarship, that first year costs close to 24.75L BDT in tuition alone, before living expenses. 

With a Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship worth NZD 15,000, roughly 11.25L BDT, the tuition bill drops to about 13.5L BDT for that year, a saving of close to 45%.

The same math applies at any of the universities in the comparison table above. A NZD 10,000 award works out to about 7.5L BDT off your tuition bill, and a NZD 35,000 multi-year award like Otago’s International Academic Excellence Scholarship can offset close to 26L BDT across the length of your degree. 

None of these figures include living costs, so build your full budget using the tuition and living cost snapshot earlier in this guide before you commit to a university.

Final Thoughts

Real scholarship money exists for Bangladeshi students in New Zealand, and it sits with the universities, not with the government schemes most guides point you toward. Auckland, Otago, Victoria, Canterbury, Waikato, AUT, and Massey each run awards worth NZD 5,000 to 35,000, and several assess you automatically once you apply for admission. 

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are worth watching for future rounds, but they are not open to Bangladeshi citizens right now, so don’t lose months chasing an application you cannot submit.

Start your university shortlist and scholarship research a full year before your intake, since several of the strongest awards close before most students even start looking. 

For help matching your academic profile to the universities most likely to offer you funding, EduBuzz’s university selection service reviews your grades and goals against what each school is actually offering this intake. You can also book a consultation to map out your scholarship shortlist and application timeline together.

Most Common FAQs on Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students to Study in New Zealand

1. Can I get a full scholarship to study in New Zealand from Bangladesh?

Not through the main government scheme. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, which do cover full tuition, stipend, and travel, are restricted to Pacific and ASEAN-region countries, and Bangladesh is not on that list as of 2026.

University-level scholarships from schools like Otago or Massey can offset a large share of your tuition, but none of the currently open options for Bangladeshi students cover 100% of costs.

2. What IELTS score is required for New Zealand scholarships?

Most university scholarships don’t set a separate IELTS requirement beyond your admission requirement, which typically runs 6.0 to 7.0 overall depending on the program. Competitive fields like medicine, law, and nursing usually need 7.0 or higher. 

Check the specific scholarship’s regulations, since a few competitive awards do set a higher English bar than the base admission requirement.

3. Is there any age limit for applying for scholarships in New Zealand?

Most university scholarships in this guide, including Auckland, Otago, and Waikato’s international awards, don’t set an age limit for undergraduate or postgraduate applicants. 

Older Commonwealth-style schemes historically capped eligibility around age 35 to 39, but those aren’t the awards Bangladeshi students can currently access. Always confirm on the specific scholarship’s regulations page, since rules can vary by program.

4. Can I work part-time while studying in New Zealand?

Yes. Most student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic term and full-time during scheduled holidays, as long as your visa conditions allow it. 

This applies regardless of whether you’re on a scholarship, so it’s a separate right tied to your visa, not your funding source.

5. When should I apply for New Zealand scholarships?

Start 10 to 12 months before your intended intake. Several scholarships close months before the semester starts, and some, like Otago’s automatic entry scholarship, are assessed the moment you submit your admission application, so a late admission application means missing the scholarship window too.

6. Can diploma students from Bangladesh get scholarships?

Diploma-level scholarships are less common than bachelor’s or master’s awards, and most of the university scholarships in this guide are built for degree-level study.

Some institutes of technology, like Otago Polytechnic and Southern Institute of Technology, run smaller diploma-specific support, so check directly with the institution if you’re applying below bachelor’s level.

7. Can I combine two scholarships?

It depends on the university. Victoria University of Wellington’s own scholarship terms confirm its Postgraduate International Scholarship can be held alongside its Wellington Master’s by Thesis Scholarship with no reduction in value, so combining awards from the same university is sometimes possible. 

Combining scholarships from two different universities isn’t relevant since you can only enroll at one institution, and combining a university award with an external one usually depends on that external scholarship’s own rules.

8. Do scholarships cover all expenses or tuition only?

Most university scholarships covered in this guide, including those from Auckland, Otago’s undergraduate awards, Victoria, Canterbury, and Waikato, apply toward tuition fees only. 

Doctoral scholarships are the exception, since PhD awards from Massey, Victoria, and Canterbury include an annual living stipend on top of tuition support. Always check whether “value” listed on a scholarship page means tuition credit or a broader package before you plan your budget around it.