Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship 2027

The University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship 2027 is a tuition-fee award for new international students starting a master’s degree at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, in New Zealand. It gives a credit of up to 25% of one year’s tuition fees to high-calibre international entrants.

There is no open application form: eligible students who receive a conditional or unconditional offer for Semester One or Quarter Two 2027 by 20 October 2026 are invited to apply, with invitations issued on 21 October 2026 and the supplementary application form due by 4 November 2026.

Read on for the exact value, the eligibility rules for Indian and other international students, the 2027 dates, the step-by-step process and the official University of Auckland links.

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University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship 2027

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	Waipapa Taumata Rau \| University of Auckland, New Zealand
Scholarship value	Up to 25% of one year of tuition fees (a tuition-fee credit for the first two semesters of the master’s degree)
Study level	Master’s degree of one year or more at the University of Auckland
Who can apply	New international students who hold a conditional or unconditional master’s offer and an Admissions GPE of at least 7.0
Last date to apply	Supplementary application form by 4 November 2026 (invitations issued 21 October 2026; master’s offer needed by 20 October 2026)
Official website	auckland.ac.nz – International Student Excellence Scholarship

Go to official website

What is the International Student Excellence Scholarship?

The University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship is one of the university’s flagship entry awards for international master’s students. Its stated objective is to attract new international students of high calibre to enrol in master’s study of one year or more at the university, and the scholarship funds must be used for costs directly related to that study.

It is awarded through a nomination and invitation route rather than a public application round. The university identifies new international master’s applicants who meet the academic bar, invites them to complete a short supplementary application form, and a selection committee made up of the Director International and two faculty Associate Deans (International) recommends the recipients. The award is granted by the Vice-Chancellor.

Scholarship value: what 25% of tuition means

The regulations describe the award as a tuition fees credit of up to 25% of the recipient’s tuition fees for the first two semesters of the master’s degree.
The published summary value is 25% of the value of one year of tuition fees – in effect, about a quarter of a year’s tuition is taken off the bill.
It is a tuition-fee credit only. It is not a cash payment and does not cover living costs, accommodation, flights, insurance or visa fees.
The scholarship runs for one year of full-time-equivalent enrolment and commences in the next available semester after the student’s confirmed offer – it may start in either Semester One or Semester Two.
The number on offer varies each round and the award is offered twice a year.

Eligibility for the scholarship

The regulations set out three core eligibility conditions. An applicant must:

Be an international student.
Have received a conditional or unconditional offer of admission to an eligible master’s programme at the University of Auckland.
Have an Admissions GPE (Grade Point Equivalent) of at least 7.0.

An applicant is not eligible if they:

Have already begun study at the University of Auckland.
Have undertaken any tertiary-level study in New Zealand before – a student exchange programme is the only exception.
Are enrolling as distance education students, including through University of Auckland Online.
Are enrolling in the Graduate School of Management in any programme other than the Master of Applied Finance, Master of Business Analytics or Master of Professional Accounting.

Selection criteria

Academic merit, as assessed by the applicant’s Admissions GPE, is the first criterion.
The quality of the applicant’s personal statement in the supplementary form is the second criterion.
The applicant’s country of origin may also inform selection.
An applicant can only be granted the scholarship if they are eligible (or conditionally eligible) for admission to the master’s programme they applied for – the regulations state that this requirement overrides any other provision.

International Student Excellence Scholarship dates 2027

20 October 2026 – last date to receive a conditional or unconditional master’s programme offer to be invited to apply.
21 October 2026 – invitations are issued to eligible students to complete the supplementary application form.
4 November 2026 – supplementary application forms must be submitted online to be considered.

Because the award is invitation-based, the practical deadline for most applicants is 20 October 2026: that is the date by which a master’s offer needs to be in hand. Applications for admission to the University of Auckland should therefore be completed well before that date.

How to apply for the International Student Excellence Scholarship

Apply for admission to an eligible master’s programme at the University of Auckland for a Semester One or Quarter Two 2027 start, and make sure a conditional or unconditional offer is in hand by 20 October 2026.
Check that you meet the academic bar – an Admissions GPE of at least 7.0.
Watch your email after 21 October 2026 for the scholarship invitation and the link to the supplementary application form.
Complete the supplementary form and submit it online by 4 November 2026. The full terms are in the regulations PDF.
If you are unsure whether you have been invited, contact the university’s Student Support Team through AskAuckland and quote the exact scholarship name.

Tips for a strong application

Finish your master’s admission application early – the invitation depends on holding an offer by 20 October 2026, not on the scholarship form alone.
Use the personal statement to explain your academic record, your fit for the programme and what you plan to do after graduation, because it is one of the two selection criteria.
Read the regulations before applying: they are the final authority on eligibility, value and selection.
Check the other University of Auckland awards you may be eligible for as well – the university runs several separate master’s scholarships with their own rules.

FAQs about the International Student Excellence Scholarship

What is the University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship?

It is a tuition-fee award of up to 25% of one year of tuition for new international students starting a master’s degree of one year or more at the University of Auckland. It is awarded by invitation to eligible students who hold a master’s offer.

How much is the International Student Excellence Scholarship worth?

A tuition fees credit of up to 25% of the recipient’s tuition fees for the first two semesters of the master’s degree, described in the published summary as 25% of the value of one year of tuition fees. It does not cover living costs, flights or insurance.

What is the last date to apply for the 2027 scholarship?

There is no open application. Eligible students who receive a master’s offer for Semester One or Quarter Two 2027 by 20 October 2026 are invited on 21 October 2026, and the supplementary application form must be submitted online by 4 November 2026.

Can Indian students apply for this scholarship?

Yes. It is open to international students of all nationalities who hold a conditional or unconditional offer of admission to an eligible master’s programme and have an Admissions GPE of at least 7.0, so Indian applicants qualify on the same terms as other international students.

Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?

The page lists the application status as ‘No application required’, but eligible students are invited by the university to complete a supplementary application form, which must be submitted online by 4 November 2026.

What is the minimum grade requirement?

An Admissions GPE of at least 7.0. Selection is based on academic merit as assessed by that GPE and on the quality of the applicant’s personal statement, and the country of origin may also inform selection.

Does the scholarship cover living costs in New Zealand?

No. It is a tuition-fee credit only. Accommodation, living costs, flights, health insurance and visa costs are separate, and the scholarship runs for one year of full-time-equivalent enrolment.

Official links

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University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship 2027: 25% Tuition