Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are the New Zealand Government's development scholarships. They pay for students from eligible partner countries to study in New Zealand, and Pakistan is on the eligible list. The scheme is fully funded and covers undergraduate, Master's, PhD and diploma study, which is a wider spread of levels than most government awards. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide is about how the award actually works and how a Pakistani applicant should approach it.
One thing to understand from the start: this is a development scholarship. New Zealand is not funding you simply because you are a strong student. The program puts heavy weight on the impact you will have back home once you finish. If your plan is to settle abroad permanently, this is probably the wrong scholarship for you. If you want a degree that feeds into work in Pakistan, especially in a development-priority area, it fits well.
The key details in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study levels | Undergraduate, Master's, PhD, diploma |
| Provider | New Zealand Government / Education New Zealand |
| Applications open | Around March 1 (varies by country) |
| Deadline | Around April 10 (varies by country, some close earlier) |
| Host country | New Zealand |
| Official site | nzscholarships.govt.nz |
The dates above are approximate. Each country has its own application window, so treat "around March 1" and "around April 10" as a rough guide and confirm the exact dates for Pakistan on the official portal.
What the funding package looks like in practice
Manaaki is generous compared with many scholarships because it goes beyond tuition and a stipend. The package includes:
- Full tuition fees at your New Zealand institution
- A living allowance, commonly cited at around NZ$615 per week
- An establishment allowance, commonly cited at around NZ$3,000, to help you set up when you arrive
- Travel and insurance
- Tutoring support, commonly cited at up to NZ$1,000
Note the wording on those figures. They are commonly cited amounts, not guaranteed rates, and they can change from one intake to the next. Check the current figures on the official website before you build a budget around them.
The tutoring support is the part people overlook. Most scholarships assume you will cope academically on your own. Having money set aside for extra academic help is useful if you are moving from a Pakistani university system to a New Zealand one, where assessment styles and writing expectations can feel different in the first semester.
Eligibility for Pakistani students
The scheme is open to citizens of over 80 eligible developing partner countries. Pakistan and Bangladesh are included. India's inclusion is uncertain, so if you hold Indian citizenship or know someone who does, check the current year's eligible-country list on nzscholarships.govt.nz rather than assuming.
The listed requirements are short:
- Citizenship of an eligible partner country
- English proficiency
- Age 18 or older
- For postgraduate applicants, relevant work experience: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Eligible fields are broad, with an emphasis on development-priority areas. That does not mean other subjects are banned, but it does mean your field and your stated plans need to connect to development needs in Pakistan.
The work experience rule for postgraduate applicants
This is where many Master's and PhD hopefuls trip up. The work experience requirement is a firm eligibility condition, not a nice extra. If you are applying for postgraduate study and you have less than a year of full-time work, you do not meet the rule, however good your grades are. Two years of part-time work counts as an alternative to one year full-time.
The word "relevant" matters too. Experience should relate to the field you want to study. A fresh graduate who wants to go straight into a Master's will usually be better off working for a year in their field first and applying in a later cycle.
Undergraduate applicants do not need work experience. The requirement applies specifically to postgraduate applicants.
Paperwork to prepare before the window opens
The documents list is standard, but the timing makes it tight. If the window for Pakistan runs from around early March to around mid-April, you have weeks, not months. Have these ready before it opens:
- Passport
- Academic transcripts
- English test scores
- Proof of work experience (postgraduate applicants)
- Recommendation letters
For proof of work experience, think in terms of letters from employers that state your role, your dates of employment and whether the work was full-time or part-time. Vague letters that only say you "worked with us" make it hard for assessors to confirm you meet the requirement. Recommendation letters take time because referees are busy, so ask early.
Transcripts and degrees from Pakistan often need attestation for international applications. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process, and the documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful general reference. Check the official portal for what Manaaki itself requires at the application stage.
How the selection process runs
The process has three broad stages:
- Apply through the Manaaki online portal during your country's specific application window.
- Advance through shortlisting.
- Receive an offer.
That looks simple, but the application itself is where the decision is mostly made. Because this is a development scholarship, your answers should show a clear line from your past work, to the degree you want, to what you will do in Pakistan afterwards. Generic statements about wanting world exposure or a better career do not tell the panel why New Zealand should invest in you.
Timing your application around a country-specific window
Most scholarships have one global deadline. Manaaki does not. Applications typically open around March 1 and close around April 10, but both dates vary by country, and some countries close earlier. A Pakistani applicant who reads a deadline on a forum written for another country could miss the real cut-off.
A sensible approach is to treat the turn of the year as your preparation period. Book your English test, request transcripts, collect work experience letters and line up referees. Then, when the portal opens, you are writing your application rather than chasing paperwork.
Common mistakes and who should skip this one
From the eligibility rules and the way the award is framed, a few mistakes are easy to predict:
- Applying for a Master's or PhD without enough relevant work experience, hoping it will be overlooked. It will not.
- Relying on a deadline from another country's window instead of checking Pakistan's specific dates.
- Writing a personal statement focused on personal ambition with no link to development in Pakistan.
- Budgeting around the commonly cited allowance figures without confirming the current amounts.
- Leaving English testing until the window opens, then running out of time.
Who should skip it? Applicants who want a scholarship purely as a route to living abroad, and fresh graduates aiming for postgraduate study who do not yet have the required experience. The second group should not give up on Manaaki, just wait a cycle. If you want to compare other options, see all New Zealand scholarships.
Who does it suit? Working professionals in Pakistan with a year or more of relevant full-time experience and a clear plan, and undergraduate applicants who want a fully funded degree with real support around it. New Zealand also offers a smaller, close-knit international student experience compared with Australia, which some students prefer.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships?
Yes. Pakistan is included among the eligible partner countries. Check the official site each year, as the country list can change.
Is India an eligible country?
This is uncertain. India does not consistently appear among current partner countries. Verify on nzscholarships.govt.nz for the current year's list.
Do undergraduate applicants need work experience?
No. The work experience requirement applies only to postgraduate applicants, who need 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time relevant experience.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes. Applicants must be 18 or older.
When is the deadline for Pakistan?
Applications generally close around April 10, but the window varies by country and some close earlier. Confirm Pakistan's exact dates on the official portal before planning anything.
Before you apply, read the current rules on the official Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships website and keep the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships details page handy as your checklist.