The Murray Wren Masters Scholarship in Architecture is a University of Auckland award of up to NZ$15,000 a year for up to two years for a student entering the first year of the Master of Architecture (Professional) programme. Applications for the 2027 award close on 12 November 2026.
It is one of the few University of Auckland awards that is explicitly open to both domestic and international students, which makes it worth a look for Indian students heading into a professional architecture master’s in New Zealand.
This page carries the value, the eligibility rules and the selection basis taken from the university’s official scholarship page and its regulations document, plus the exact dates and how to apply.
Murray Wren Masters Scholarship in Architecture: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | University of Auckland (Waipapa Taumata Rau), Faculty of Engineering and Design – award code 815 |
| Last date to apply | 12 November 2026 (midnight) |
| Official website | auckland.ac.nz – Murray Wren Masters Scholarship |
What the scholarship is worth
- Value: up to NZ$15,000 per annum.
- Tenure: up to two years, so a student who holds it for both years can receive up to NZ$30,000 in total.
- One scholarship is awarded each year.
- The money is paid in two instalments, in Semester One and Semester Two, as soon as practical after the Scholarships Office confirms your enrolment.
- Payments stay tax-free as long as they are used for costs linked to your programme or to help with living costs while you study – the university notes this depends on current legislation and cannot guarantee it.
The award was established in 2015 from a bequest by Murray Wren, a lifelong professional architect who qualified in architecture at the University of Auckland. The regulations say its purpose is to support architecture students, especially where the funding would make a significant contribution to their financial needs.
Who is eligible
The eligibility rule in the regulations is short and specific:
- You must be enrolled, or enrolling, full-time in the first year of the Master of Architecture (Professional) (MArch(Prof)) at the University of Auckland in the year after the application round.
- The scholarship is tenable by domestic and international students – there is no nationality restriction and no separate international quota.
- You must apply for the award in the year before you start – applications close on 12 November in the year preceding the award.
If you are applying from India, that means an offer (or a pending application) for the first year of the MArch(Prof) programme starting in 2027, with the scholarship form submitted by 12 November 2026.
How the winner is chosen
Selection is based on two things, and both are assessed by a committee rather than by a formula alone:
- Academic merit – measured as a Scholarships GPA or GPE calculated over your most recent two years of full-time graded study (or the equivalent).
- Financial need – assessed from your personal statement and a range of factors that include your previous eligibility for a StudyLink Student Allowance and your personal and financial circumstances.
The selection committee is made up of the Head of the School of Architecture and Planning (or a nominee), the Programme Director (or a nominee) and one other member of academic staff appointed by the Head of School. The award is then made by the University of Auckland Council on the committee’s recommendation.
The university is not obliged to make an award in a year when no candidate meets the criteria or reaches sufficient merit, so a strong financial-need statement matters as much as your grades.
Other funding you can and cannot hold with it
- The scholarship cannot be held together with a Warren Trust Award.
- It can be held with other scholarships, awards or grants as long as their own regulations allow it and the University of Auckland Council is informed and approves.
- You must declare every other scholarship, award or grant you receive while you are being paid this scholarship – that is an obligation in the regulations, not a formality.
You also have to keep the university informed of any change in your enrolment or funding status, and the award can be terminated (with repayment from the date of the breach) if you are found not to be complying with the regulations.
How to apply, step by step
- Read the regulations PDF linked on the award page before you start – it carries the eligibility clause, the co-tenure rules and the notes on merit and financial need.
- Get your MArch(Prof) application moving: the scholarship is for the first year of that specific programme, so the programme application has to be in place.
- Open the award page and use the ‘Apply now’ button to start the online scholarship form.
- Check the form early – the university recommends this in case a reference or endorsement is needed to support your application.
- Complete every section, including the request sections, before the closing date. The form closes at midnight on 12 November 2026.
Outcomes are decided by the selection committee and are usually notified around eight weeks after the closing date. For questions about this specific award, contact the Scholarships Office ([email protected]) and quote the exact scholarship name.
Important dates for the 2027 award
| Applications open | 1 October 2026 |
| Applications close | 12 November 2026 at midnight (New Zealand time) |
| Result | Usually notified around eight weeks after the closing date |
| First payment | Semester One, after your enrolment is confirmed |
| Second payment | Semester Two, subject to continued full-time enrolment in the MArch(Prof) |
The university’s own guidance adds one practical warning: do not run two different scholarship applications in the same browser, and if you hit a technical error, clear the browser cache and try again.
Official links
- auckland.ac.nz – Murray Wren Masters Scholarship
- Regulations PDF – Murray Wren Masters Scholarship in Architecture
- University of Auckland scholarship catalogue
Frequently asked questions
Applications close on 12 November 2026 at midnight. The award is for the first year of the MArch(Prof) programme starting in 2027, so the form is submitted in the year before you begin study.
Up to NZ$15,000 per annum for up to two years, so up to NZ$30,000 in total for a student who holds it for both years. One scholarship is awarded each year.
Yes. The regulations say the scholarship is tenable by domestic and international students, so there is no nationality bar and no separate international quota.
Only the first year of the Master of Architecture (Professional), MArch(Prof), at the University of Auckland. Other postgraduate architecture programmes and other faculties are not covered by these regulations.
Both. Academic merit is assessed as a Scholarships GPA or GPE over your most recent two years of full-time graded study, and financial need is assessed from your personal statement and your circumstances.
Not with a Warren Trust Award. Other scholarships are allowed if their own regulations permit it and the University of Auckland Council approves, and you must declare all other funding you receive.
Related scholarships and hubs
Hub pages: Study Abroad Scholarships, International Scholarships, Post Graduation Scholarships.
Related scholarship posts: University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship, University of Auckland India High Achievers Scholarship, University of Auckland Dean’s Asia Scholarship.