University of Canterbury 1st Year Incoming Students Scholarships

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury offers a range of scholarships for incoming first-year students. The scholarships are described as recognising academic and sporting excellence, leadership, cultural and community involvement, and overcoming of barriers and personal challenges. The stated purpose is to nurture personal growth and support future success.

Incoming First-Year Scholarships are available specifically for Māori and Pacific students, students who can demonstrate leadership potential, students with financial hardship or other personal circumstances, students moving away from home to study at UC (with accommodation costs), and International Students. Each scholarship has different eligibility criteria such as subject area, level, and/or qualification planned at UC.

For eligibility, the scholarships’ criteria also include age, gender, ethnicity, and citizenship, and which high school and/or region the applicant is coming from. Eligibility differs by scholarship, so students are directed to check the relevant scholarship details through the Scholarships Database and its filters.

Support duration and any obligation after receiving an award are not described for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships in the provided information. The page states that recipients have found benefits including reduced stress and anxiety and support for study and student life, but it does not set out how long support lasts or what conditions apply after the scholarship.

• Intended enrolment: applicants must plan to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UCApplicant groups (for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships): Māori and Pacific studentsApplicant groups (for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships): students who can demonstrate leadership potentialApplicant groups (for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships): students with financial hardship or other personal circumstancesApplicant groups (for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships): students moving away from home to study at UC with accommodation costsApplicant groups (for the Incoming First-Year Scholarships): International StudentsEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including subject area, level, and/or qualification the applicant plans to study at UCEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including ageEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including genderEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including ethnicityEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including citizenshipEach scholarship may require additional eligibility criteria, including the high school and/or region the applicant is coming from

• Helps ease financial stresses of study, accommodation, and student life

1. Search the Scholarships Database.
2. Use the filters in the Scholarships Database to find scholarships available for new students.
3. Check the “Apply for Incoming First-Year Scholarships” webpage for further details.
4. Applications for students who plan to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at UC opened 11 June and closed 6 August 2026.