AUT International Scholarship 2026

Overview

AUT runs its International Scholarships every intake to help new international students cover part of their first-year tuition at Auckland University of Technology. The awards aren't a full ride. They're a fee credit applied to your tuition, sized by your study level and how strong your academic record is. If you're starting a bachelor's or a postgraduate qualification at AUT and you're paying full international fees, this is one of the easier wins to apply for because it piggybacks on the offer you already hold.

There are a few versions of the scheme. The main International Scholarship is open across study levels, and AUT also runs regional rounds (South Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia, Europe) tied to specific semester intakes. The money and the closing dates shift between those rounds, so always read the regulations PDF for the exact round you're applying to before you submit.

AUT sits in central Auckland and pulls a large international cohort across business, engineering, computer science, health, design and the creative arts. The scholarship is meant to take a bit of the sting out of full international fees in that first year, when your costs are highest and you're still finding your feet in a new country. It won't replace a budget for rent, food and insurance, but it's real money off your tuition bill and it stacks neatly on top of an offer you already hold.

One thing worth getting straight up front: this is a tuition credit, not a cash payment. AUT applies it against the fees you owe in your first year. You won't see a deposit in your bank account. For most students that's fine, because tuition is the single biggest line item, but plan the rest of your finances accordingly.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Host country: New Zealand
• University: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
• Study levels: Undergraduate and postgraduate (taught)
• Undergraduate award: NZD $5,000 tuition contribution, first year
• Undergraduate Excellence award: NZD $10,000 tuition contribution for top applicants (around B+ GPA equivalent or higher)
• Postgraduate award: NZD $7,000 tuition contribution, first year
• Who it's for: New full-fee-paying international students
• Application mode: Online via AUT's scholarships portal
• Selection: Reviewed monthly until places fill

Eligibility Criteria

The rules are straightforward, but you have to meet all of them. Read the specific round's regulations to confirm, since regional intakes add their own conditions.

• You're a new full-fee-paying international student, not a domestic or returning student.
• You hold a current conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible AUT programme starting in the relevant semester.
• You haven't previously studied at AUT, and you haven't already started the programme.
• Your programme qualifies. Most bachelor's degrees of 120 points or more, and eligible master's and postgraduate qualifications, are in scope.
• For the Excellence category at undergraduate level, you'll need roughly a B+ AUT GPA equivalent or better in your most recent qualification.

The Excellence category isn't a separate form. The selection panel looks at undergraduate applicants and moves the strongest ones, generally those at B+ equivalent or above, into the higher award. So your job is to make sure your transcript is clean, complete and easy to read, then let your grades do the talking. If you sit on the borderline, a well-documented application that clearly shows your grading scale gives the panel what it needs to assess you fairly.

Scholarship Benefits

The award is a credit against your tuition. It doesn't pay living costs, flights or insurance, so plan the rest of your budget around it.

• Undergraduate: NZD $5,000 toward first-year tuition, or NZD $10,000 if you're selected in the Excellence category.
• Postgraduate: NZD $7,000 toward first-year tuition.
• The credit is applied to your fees in the first year of study, not paid out as cash.
• You can combine it with the confidence of a confirmed AUT offer, which makes the whole enrolment process simpler.

To put the numbers in context: an international bachelor's at AUT runs into the tens of thousands of New Zealand dollars a year, so a $5,000 or $10,000 credit knocks a meaningful slice off your first-year bill. For postgraduate students on shorter, more intensive programmes, the $7,000 contribution often covers a noticeable chunk of a single year's fees. Either way, the benefit lands when it matters most, in the year you're spending the most on setup costs.

How to Apply

You apply online. There's no separate paper form to post.

• Accept or hold a valid AUT offer first. The scholarship application references it.
• Go to AUT's scholarships and awards database and open the International Scholarships listing for your intake.
• Pick the right round. If a regional round (e.g. South Asia or Southeast Asia) applies to you, use that one rather than the general listing.
• Complete the online form, upload your documents, and add your AUT student ID where asked.
• Submit before the round's closing time. Late or incomplete applications usually aren't considered.

The form itself is short. Most of the work is having your offer and documents ready before you open it. Because AUT reviews applications monthly until the places run out, there's a real advantage to applying early in the window rather than waiting. If you submit on the last day of a popular round, you may be competing for whatever places are left.

Required Documents

Keep these ready before you start so you don't get stuck mid-application.

• A detailed academic transcript for your most recent qualification, including the grading scale.
• Your completion or graduation certificate where relevant.
• Your AUT student ID, which you get once you have an offer.
• Any extra documents the specific regional round asks for in its regulations.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Closing dates depend on the round and the semester you're entering. AUT publishes a fixed deadline per intake, and selection then runs monthly until the places are gone. Recent rounds have closed in the second half of the year for Semester 1 entry and mid-year for some Semester 2 regional rounds.

• Check the exact closing date on the round's regulations PDF before you apply.
• Uploads usually have to be in by 5pm New Zealand time on the closing day.
• Apply early. Because review is monthly until full, earlier applicants have a better shot.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Sort your AUT offer first. Without a valid offer you can't be assessed.
• Aim for the Excellence threshold if your grades are close. The extra NZD $5,000 is worth the effort of a clean, well-documented transcript.
• Make sure your transcript shows the grading scale. Assessors need it to convert your marks to an AUT GPA.
• Apply as soon as the round opens rather than near the deadline, since funds are awarded as applications come in.
• Double-check you've used the correct regional round. Submitting to the wrong one can cost you the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a full scholarship? No. It's a tuition fee contribution for your first year, not full funding.

Can returning AUT students apply? No. It's only for new students who haven't studied at AUT before.

Do I need an offer before applying? Yes. You need a current conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible programme.

How do I get the Excellence award? It's awarded to high-achieving undergraduate applicants, generally those at a B+ AUT GPA equivalent or higher. You don't apply for it separately.

When will I hear back? AUT reviews applications monthly until all places are filled, so timing varies.

Can I get it for postgraduate research degrees? The International Scholarship is aimed at taught undergraduate and postgraduate study. If you're heading into doctoral research, look at AUT's separate doctoral and research funding instead.

Does the award affect my visa or other funding? It's a tuition credit from the university and doesn't replace your proof-of-funds for a student visa. You'll still need to show you can cover living costs.

Related Scholarships

• Massey University Doctoral Scholarship for PhD candidates in New Zealand.
• Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships for students from eligible developing countries.
• University of Melbourne and University of Adelaide international awards for study in Australia.
• Australia Awards Scholarships for long-term development study.