Scholarship FAQs
Explore our list of frequently asked questions tailored for students wanting to know about University of Waikato Scholarships.
If you don’t find the answer below then please contact us.
Current scholarship recipients (including current doctoral scholars) can use the Scholarship Variation Request Form to request a variation to their scholarship which is outside the approved regulations.
To learn more and/or submit a variation request via the Scholarship Variation Request Form.
If you missed the deadline to accept your scholarship offer, don’t worry—there may still be funding available to support you.
Please contact us with your scholarship details to explore your options.
For scholarship information we recommend that you check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions just for International Students.
For further details on how to apply to enrol is provided in the International Students section.
Applying for a School Leaver Scholarship is just like applying for any other scholarship. Follow the steps outlined in the scholarship application process to get started.
How do my referees submit a reference to support my scholarship application?
- If you have applied for a scholarship through your MyWaikato portal, an email requesting a reference or academic assessment will automatically be sent to the referee whose email address you provide.
- The email will include instructions on how to complete and submit the reference.
- If you have applied for a scholarship through your MyWaikato portal, an email requesting a reference or academic assessment.
How do I know if my references have been received?
- You can verify whether your referees have submitted their references by clicking the hyperlink under 'Referee Responses'. This section will display the names of referees whose responses are still pending.
- Please note that referees are responsible for uploading their responses directly to your application, and we are unable to assist with late submissions.
- To make changes to a referee and/or their details, use the Manage referee(s) action in the Scholarships tab in your MyWaikato portal.
- Select the relevant referee and click on Manage.
- The Edit referee and Replace referee actions can be used edit the referee and response status.
- Use the Edit referee function to change the name(s) of your referee. Please note that the email address can't be changed for an existing referee. If a change to the email address is required, the referee must be replaced.
- Use the Replace referee to change your referee or update an email address. Selecting Replace & notify will send a notification to the current referee to advise them a reference is no longer required, followed by a notification to the new referee to request a reference.
If you're experiencing difficulty submitting the online reference form, please try the following steps:
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
- Ensure your device’s software and browser are up to date.
- Try using a different browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge).
- Disable any VPN you may be using.
- Try accessing the form from a different device, if available.
These steps often resolve common issues related to form access and submission.
I’ve tried all the steps, but the form still isn’t working. What should I do next?
If you're still unable to complete the form, please gather the following details so we can assist you:
- The type of device you're using (e.g., laptop, tablet, phone).
- The operating system and version (e.g., Windows 11, macOS Sonoma).
- The web browser and version (e.g., Chrome 125).
- Any screenshots of the issue or error messages you're seeing.
Providing this information will help us support you more effectively when you contact us.
For school leaver applications, Academic Assessments will be requested directly from your school. Please note that these assessments will not be sent to your referee until after the closing date.
They will be due to be provided 10 days after the scholarship closing date.
I have been awarded a scholarship to pay for my tuition fees but the online enrolment form does not show this option. What do I need to select?
- If the scholarship was awarded through MyWaikato: Please contact us to have the scholarship amount deducted from your fees before accepting your enrolment agreement.
- If it is an external scholarship: Print and sign a copy of your enrolment agreement (found in your MyWaikato Portal) and clearly indicate the name of the scholarship that will cover all or part of your tuition fees and email this to info@waikato.ac.nz or deliver it in person to the Te Manawa | The Student Centre.
- If your scholarship doesn’t cover the full amount, use an alternative payment method to pay the remaining tuition fees after submitting your enrolment agreement
- Log in to your MyWaikato Portal and navigate to the Finance tab.
- If you are eligible for a personal refund, click Apply for a refund and follow the instructions provided.
- StudyLink refunds are processed automatically over time. However, if you’d like to expedite your StudyLink refund, you can also apply for a refund through your MyWaikato Portal.
The outcome of scholarship applications normally takes 6-8 weeks from the closing date. You will receive a MyWaikato portal in-tray message when your application has been processed and when a decision has been reached by the Selection Panel.
- Log into your MyWaikato portal.
- Select Edit Details from the drop-down list next to your name in the yellow bar.
- Click on Bank Details.
- Enter in your bank account number and name and confirm that the bank account listed is your own. Make sure the account number is input correctly.
- Click Submit.
- You can keep track of all your scholarship applications in your MyWaikato portal.
- From the Scholarships tab you will be able to see the list of Scholarships that you have applied for. This is also where you may withdraw your application.
- If the status of your scholarship is Incomplete you have not submitted your application and you will need to click Continue Application.
- You will also be able to check if your references have been received by clicking on the hyperlink under Referee Responses to see the email addresses of those that have not yet been submitted.
- The outcome of your scholarship applications will normally take 6-8 weeks from the closing date. You will receive a MyWaikato portal in-tray message when your application has been processed and when a decision has been reached by the Selection Panel.
If you’re fortunate enough to receive more than one scholarship offer, and the regulations of those scholarships prevent you from accepting both, please contact us.
The Scholarships Team will provide guidance on what each scholarship provides, and so you can decide which scholarship to keep.
If your scholarship includes a cash component, you’ll be prompted to enter your bank details when accepting the offer. The scholarship regulations will specify when your cash instalment(s) are due, and this information will also appear in your MyWaikato portal under the Scholarships tab.
Payments are typically processed overnight on the first Wednesday following the listed date.
If you haven’t received your payment by Friday of that week, please contact us for assistance.
If you have any questions about the tax implications of your scholarship, it is recommended that you seek independent financial advice for guidance.
For additional information, you can visit the New Zealand Legislation website.
If you have been unsuccessful for a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship and would like to be considered a second (and final) time, you have two options:
-
Commence study with the possibility you might be nominated for a reduced-tenure doctoral scholarship at a later date; or
-
Reapply to be reconsidered for a doctoral scholarship in the next selection round.
If you want to reapply to be reconsidered a second time, please follow the instructions provided in your unsuccessful scholarship email by the date advised. Your application will be lodged and appear in your MyWaikato portal and you will receive an outcome by the date you were advised.
No new documents will be accepted by the Scholarships Team for the reconsideration of your scholarship. Any additional information (e.g. recent qualifications, publications) needs to be communicated to your supervisor to be considered in the selection process.
You can be considered twice for a University of Waikato funded doctoral scholarship:
- Once, after your offer of a place in the doctoral programme has been confirmed, and if you selected you wanted to be considered for a scholarship, and one additional time.
- If you are unsuccessful and wish to be considered a second time, you have two options:
- Commence study with the possibility you might be nominated for a reduced-tenure doctoral scholarship at a later date; or
- Reapply to be reconsidered for a doctoral scholarship in the next scholarship selection round.
If you are unsuccessful twice, you will not be eligible to be considered further for a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship.
The Scholarships Team will not assess new information as a part of the scholarship application. Any new information can be provided to your supervisor, who will be responsible to ensure the new information is considered in the scholarship selection process.
The Scholarships Team will not assess the new qualification as a part of the scholarship application. You will need to ensure that this information is provided to your supervisor, who will be responsible to ensure the new information is considered in the scholarship selection process.
If your GPA has changed since your application to enrol was assessed, your supervisor can ask the Scholarships Team to update the GPA record for your scholarship application. If the qualification is from an institution other than the University of Waikato, you will also need to provide an academic transcript to your supervisor so the GPA can be recalculated.
No, each student may only apply twice for a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship, irrespective of topic/panel. However, you may apply for special consideration by submitting a Scholarship Variation Request.
Yes, you can only be considered twice for a University of Waikato funded doctoral scholarships. If you are unsuccessful on your first application and choose to reapply for reconsideration for a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship, you will not be able to be nominated for a reduced-tenure doctoral scholarship after reaching confirmed enrolment.
If you have withdrawn from a scholarship application you will need to email scholarships@waikato.ac.nz with your name, student ID and the scholarship application you wish to re-open. You will be notified when you are able to edit your application again.