New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship 2027: Up to NZD $25,000 for Former Refugees and Their Children in Health Study
The New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship supports former refugees and their children in full-time New Zealand health qualifications with up to NZD $25,000 for one academic year, with applications for the 2027 intake closing 1 October 2026.
New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship 2027: Up to NZD $25,000 for Former Refugees and Their Children in Health Study
The New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship is a targeted education award for former refugees and the children of former refugees who are building careers in health. The programme is delivered through a partnership involving the National Leadership and Coordination Service, Immigration New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Universities New Zealand, and participating tertiary providers. Its purpose is practical: help people with refugee backgrounds complete health-related education and strengthen representation in the refugee health workforce.
Applications for the 2027 intake opened on 1 July 2026 and close on 1 October 2026. A successful scholar can receive up to NZD $25,000 for one academic year. The award can contribute to tuition, course costs, compulsory student services fees, and living costs. It is not an automatic multi-year award. Scholars must apply again in later years if they need further support, and continuation in the second semester depends on passing all first-semester courses.
This is a good opportunity for an eligible student who can connect a health qualification to the needs of former refugees and their families. It is not a general scholarship for every international student, every domestic student facing financial pressure, or every person interested in health. The refugee-background and residency rules are central to the programme.
Key details
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | New Zealand Refugee Health Scholarship |
| Intake | 2027 |
| Award value | Up to NZD $25,000 |
| Funding period | One academic year |
| Eligible study | Full-time health-related qualification at level 7 or above |
| Study location | New Zealand, at a NZQA-accredited tertiary provider |
| Main applicant group | Former refugees and children of former refugees |
| Opening date | 1 July 2026 |
| Closing date | 1 October 2026 |
| Application route | Online form through Universities New Zealand and the Community Force platform |
| Government scholarship contact | [email protected] |
| Application-process contact | [email protected] |
| Official programme page | Immigration New Zealand scholarship information |
The value is described as “up to” NZD $25,000, so applicants should not assume that every award will reach the maximum. The selection committee determines awards annually, and the regulations say that the number and value of scholarships are set by the funder each year. Build a realistic budget around your actual fees and costs rather than treating the headline figure as guaranteed cash.
What the scholarship offers
The scholarship covers one academic year of full-time study. The regulations permit the award to be used toward tuition fees, course costs, compulsory student services fees, and other living costs. Payment is made in two equal instalments. The second-semester instalment is conditional on passing all courses in the first semester.
That structure matters when planning. The award is not simply a prize paid in one lump sum at the beginning of the year. A student who has a difficult first semester should seek help quickly from the tertiary provider and understand how academic results affect the remaining payment. The official programme also requires a report and academic transcript at the end of each semester.
The scholarship can support several kinds of health-related qualification. Universities New Zealand identifies bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, graduate certificate, and graduate diploma study as possible qualification types, provided the course meets the level, provider, full-time, and remaining-study requirements. The key test is the qualification and the student’s remaining pathway, not the title of a particular profession.
The award also has a workforce purpose. The programme was created to improve access to health education for people from refugee backgrounds and to increase refugee representation in health roles. A strong application therefore explains both personal educational need and the contribution the applicant hopes to make to health services, refugee communities, and wider New Zealand healthcare.
Who is eligible
Applicants must be a former refugee or the child of a former refugee. The programme recognises people who came to New Zealand through the Convention Refugee pathway, the UNHCR Quota Programme, or the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship Category. A child can include someone born in New Zealand whose parent or guardian resettled as a former refugee.
The study requirements are specific. The applicant must be enrolled, or intending to enrol, full time in a health-related qualification at level 7 or above. The course must be delivered by a NZQA-accredited tertiary provider, and at least one year of full-time study must remain when the award is made. The regulations also require evidence that the applicant has the potential to complete the qualification.
The Universities New Zealand eligibility page states that an applicant must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who is ordinarily resident in New Zealand. The Immigration New Zealand programme summary uses broader residence wording in its general scholarship information, so applicants with a resident visa or a complicated immigration history should not guess. Confirm their position with the programme or application-process contact before submitting. A clear eligibility answer in the live application form should control the final decision.
The scholarship is open to people who are already studying and people intending to enrol, but the remaining-study rule still applies. Someone finishing a course with only a short period left may not fit the programme even if the subject is health-related. Conversely, an applicant who has completed at least one year of tertiary study and has a full year or more remaining may be a better fit than a new entrant with no completed tertiary study, depending on the current form and regulations.
What the selection committee looks for
Immigration New Zealand identifies four assessment considerations: the scholar’s impact on refugee health outcomes, the scholar’s impact on the refugee health workforce, the impact of the scholarship on the scholar, and the likelihood that the applicant will successfully attain the qualification. The regulations also note that priority may be given to applicants studying an in-demand discipline and those with a short lead time until entering the workforce.
These criteria point to an application built around evidence and a credible path. Do not rely on a general statement that you want to help people. Name the qualification, the stage you have reached, the health setting or community you understand, and the role you hope to take after completing the course. If your experience is personal, professional, volunteer-based, or community-based, explain what it taught you without assuming the committee already knows its significance.
The committee is also likely to need confidence that the award will help rather than merely supplement an already secure plan. Explain the financial barrier plainly. The regulations ask applicants to describe how they are currently supported financially, how they would use the scholarship, and what difference it would make to them and their family. A concise budget is more useful than a dramatic but unspecific account of hardship.
Required documents and application materials
The regulations list the materials candidates may be asked to provide. Prepare them before opening the online form:
- personal and contact details;
- proof of permanent residency connected to refugee-background status, commonly an Immigration New Zealand Certificate of Identity or an INZ letter confirming date of birth, refugee status, and permanent residency;
- a CV, including prior health work experience;
- a statement explaining current financial support, intended use of the scholarship, and the effect on the applicant and family;
- a statement about the intended impact on the refugee health workforce and refugee health outcomes;
- an explanation of strengths, attributes, and support systems that will help the applicant complete the qualification;
- a personal reference from a community leader, employer, teacher, or another person who can discuss the applicant’s attributes and possible contribution to the New Zealand health workforce;
- an academic reference from an academic adviser, supervisor, or teacher;
- a current academic transcript; and
- transcripts for previous study, whether completed or incomplete, including English-language, foundation, NCEA, university, or other preparation results where applicable.
The live application form may organise these items differently or request additional details. Use the regulations as a preparation checklist, then follow the current form. Ask referees early. A personal referee should be able to discuss more than character in the abstract; they should be able to describe reliability, community connection, service, leadership, or the way the applicant responds to responsibility. An academic referee should be able to speak to study performance and the likelihood of completing the qualification.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through Universities New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand directs applicants to complete the application form and upload the required documents through the Community Force platform on the Universities New Zealand website. The Universities New Zealand scholarship page links to the online application and to the regulations.
Start by reading the regulations and checking the course details with your tertiary provider. Confirm that the qualification is health-related, at level 7 or above, offered by a NZQA-accredited provider, and has at least one year of full-time study remaining at the time of the award. If your course title is unusual or your enrolment will change in 2027, ask the provider or scholarship contact for clarification.
Next, assemble the residency evidence and transcripts. Scan documents clearly, use consistent names, and check that every upload is legible. Draft the financial and impact statement in a separate document so that you have a copy of your work before entering it into the portal. Then request references and give referees the deadline, the scholarship criteria, and a short summary of your qualification and intended health pathway.
Submit before 1 October 2026 rather than treating the closing date as a target time. The official programme page gives the date but does not state a submission hour in the summary. Check the Community Force form for the applicable time zone and any technical cut-off. Keep the submission confirmation and copies of all uploads.
A practical preparation strategy
Build the application around a simple chain: background, qualification, barrier, contribution. First establish the refugee-background and study eligibility with documents. Then explain what the qualification teaches and why it is the right route to a health role. Identify the financial gap the scholarship will address. Finally, show how the completed training could improve refugee health outcomes or strengthen the workforce.
Use specific examples. If you have worked in a clinic, supported a community group, interpreted, cared for family members, volunteered in health promotion, or helped people navigate services, describe what you actually did and what you learned. If you do not have health work experience, do not invent one. Discuss relevant study, community responsibilities, lived experience, or other evidence of preparation and explain how your planned support systems will help you complete the course.
Make the budget easy to follow. Separate tuition and compulsory fees from books, equipment, transport, housing, food, and other living costs. Identify any existing support and the shortfall the scholarship would cover. The maximum award is not promised, so a credible budget helps the committee understand why the funding is needed and how it will be used.
Write for a committee that may include academic and programme representatives. Avoid unexplained acronyms and avoid assuming that personal experience alone proves future impact. Connect each important claim to a document, example, reference, course requirement, or clear plan. The best evidence will show both resilience and readiness: the applicant has faced barriers, but also has a realistic plan to complete the qualification.
Timeline and responsibilities after an award
The current cycle opened on 1 July 2026 and closes on 1 October 2026 for the 2027 intake. Selection decisions are made by a committee established through the programme partnership. The regulations allow the committee to invite shortlisted applicants to an online interview, so applicants should monitor their email after submitting and be prepared to explain their study plan and intended contribution.
The scholarship must be taken up in the year for which it is offered. It cannot normally be deferred or suspended during the tenure except in exceptional circumstances with the Chair’s approval. Scholars must provide a satisfactory report and academic transcript at the end of each semester. The funder may suspend or terminate support if the recipient is not diligently pursuing the approved programme, stops enrolment, or does not comply with the award conditions.
The award is renewable only through a new application. The government page says recipients need to reapply each year for future funding. Plan for the next year, but do not describe future support as guaranteed in the current application. Focus on completing the funded academic year and meeting the reporting conditions.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most serious mistake is applying without checking the refugee-background route and residency requirements. Keep the official evidence ready, and ask about any mismatch between your documents and the wording in the current form.
Another mistake is describing a general interest in healthcare without showing that the selected qualification is eligible and that at least one year remains. Include the provider, qualification level, current year of study, and expected completion path.
Do not leave transcripts or references until the final week. The regulations ask for current and previous study records, including incomplete or preparation study, and missing documents can make an otherwise strong application difficult to assess. Also avoid using the maximum NZD $25,000 as if it were guaranteed. Request only what your budget supports.
Finally, do not make impact claims that the evidence cannot support. The committee is assessing likely contribution to refugee health outcomes and the health workforce. A specific, credible next step is stronger than a promise to transform the entire health system.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child of a former refugee apply?
Yes. The programme includes children of former refugees, including people born in New Zealand whose parent or guardian resettled through a recognised refugee pathway. The applicant must still satisfy the study, residency, and other eligibility requirements.
Is the scholarship for undergraduate or postgraduate study?
Both can be eligible. Universities New Zealand lists bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, graduate certificate, and graduate diploma study, subject to the level, provider, full-time, and remaining-study rules.
Can I use the money for living costs?
Yes. The official summary describes course-related costs and living expenses, and the regulations permit tuition, course costs, compulsory student services fees, and other living costs. Follow the current award terms and budget carefully.
Is the award paid for the entire degree?
No. It is for one academic year. You may reapply in a later year, but future funding is not automatic.
What happens if I fail a first-semester course?
The second-semester funding is conditional on passing all first-semester courses. Contact your provider and review the award conditions immediately if your results put the second payment at risk.
Where do I apply?
Apply online through Universities New Zealand using its Community Force platform. Immigration New Zealand’s official programme page links to the application route and lists separate contacts for scholarship questions and application-process questions.
Official links and next steps
Read the Immigration New Zealand programme page first. Then review the Universities New Zealand scholarship page, its linked regulations, and the live Community Force application form. For programme questions, email [email protected]. For help with the application platform, email [email protected].
Before submitting, confirm your refugee-background evidence, residency status, eligible full-time course, remaining study period, transcripts, references, financial statement, and intended contribution to refugee health. Complete the online form before 1 October 2026 and retain the confirmation for your records.