Funding your global experiences
Costs, StudyLink, scholarships and other ways to fund your global experience, plus tips for saving and fundraising before you go.
Having a global experience is without a doubt life-changing, but we understand that the financial element can be overwhelming. This page breaks down the costs involved and outlines what funding options may be available to you. Most students fund their global experience through a combination of StudyLink, scholarships, and personal savings.
Budgeting and planning for your global experience
The earlier you start planning, the more options you'll have.
- Track your spending when you begin planning your global experience so you arrive knowing exactly what you need, and how far your money will go.
- When choosing an exchange option, the Global Experiences portal can filter by destination. Compare options across different regions and costs. Choosing a destination with a lower cost of living can make a difference to your overall budget.
- Book flights as soon as the Global Experiences team have given you the green light. This typically means lower flight costs.
StudyLink
StudyLink and student exchange
If you are currently eligible for a student loan and/or student allowance or living costs, you will still be eligible for these while on exchange. If you are receiving StudyLink support, you will be required to complete a form (which we will provide to you) confirming your participation in a University of Waikato student exchange programme as part of the exchange pre-departure process. More information is available on the StudyLink website.
StudyLink and global internships
While our global internships are non-credit-bearing, if you are receiving academic credit for your internship, you may also be able to use StudyLink towards the cost. Your eligibility for student loan, allowance, or living costs will depend on the number of hours worked each week of your internship. Visit the StudyLink website for more information.
StudyLink and short-term experiences
If you’re studying an academic short-term experience, you may be eligible to get a student loan to cover the tuition fees of the programme, or a student allowance to support you during the experience. Visit the StudyLink website for more information.
Scholarships and Awards
Divisional scholarships
There are several Division-specific scholarships available for you to apply for as part of your Global Experience application. Make sure you read through the Eligibility and Regulations for each scholarship.
Applying for Divisional scholarships is done on the same timeline as your Global Experience application. You will need to apply for these through your MyWaikato portal. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and then ensure you get your scholarship application in at the same time you get your Global Experience application in.
Global Experiences Travel Award
The Global Experiences Travel Award is an initiative to support students with travel costs associated with their exchange programme. While tuition fees remain the same during your exchange, we understand that international travel can be expensive.
For students applying to undertake an exchange in A Trimester 2027, five awards of $2,000 each will be available for those accepted to the following partner institutions:
- The University of Newcastle, Australia
- University of Helsinki, Finland
- University of Malaya, Malaysia
- Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Mexico
- University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA
Recipients will be selected based on the quality of their application and may be invited to participate in a brief interview as part of the selection process. Conditions apply.
Note: Partner institutions and award amounts are confirmed each application round. Check back at the start of each application round for the latest information.
University scholarships
Some university scholarships can continue to be received while on exchange. Please check if your scholarship is eligible by emailing scholarships@waikato.ac.nz
Fundraising for your experience
It's completely normal to not have all the money upfront for a student exchange, global internship, or short-term experience. StudyLink and Scholarships can help with the cost of each programme type, but most University of Waikato students will need to do more to put together the funds required for a global experience.
Here are some practical ideas to help you raise funds for your global experience.
Extra shifts in retail, hospitality, or campus jobs are one of the most reliable ways to save. Casual tutoring, note-taking, peer mentoring, and casual or short-term work during university breaks — such as events work, fruit picking, or temporary office roles — are all worth considering. If possible, keep your exchange savings in a separate account so you always know exactly how much you have saved.
If you have skills in writing, design, editing, social media management, or data entry, freelance platforms offer flexible earning options that fit around study. Some of this work can continue while you're overseas, which means it can support you beyond just the savings phase.
Study guides, templates, and art prints can all be sold through platforms like Ko-fi. If you've already created materials for your own study, selling them to others is a low-effort way to earn a little extra.
Platforms like Givealittle allow you to set up a personal fundraising page and share your story. The more specific and personal your story, the more effective it tends to be: explain why the global experience matters to you academically, professionally, and personally, and let people know exactly what their contribution will go toward. Small gestures of thanks, like postcards from overseas or a photo update when you arrive, go a long way.
The communities you're already part of — whether cultural, religious, sporting, or civic — are often willing to support members pursuing meaningful opportunities. Consider reaching out to iwi, church communities, service clubs like Rotary, or cultural organisations you're connected to. Asking for contributions toward your global experience instead of birthday or holiday gifts is also worth considering.
Before you go, have a clear-out. Clothes, textbooks, furniture, and other items you won't need while you're away can be sold through Facebook Marketplace or TradeMe.