School leaver scholarships

It’s an exciting time – you’re about to finish school and are thinking about what’s next. If you’re considering university study in your future, you could apply for a range of school leaver scholarships to support your studies at AUT, no matter where in New Zealand you come from or what your background is.

Find out more about the different scholarships you can apply for to support you financially while you settle into university study and this exciting new time in your life. You can find more information about the scholarships below or other scholarships you can apply for in the AUT scholarships database.

2024 AUT Welcome to Auckland Scholarships

Because we recognise the challenges students may face when moving to Auckland, the three-year AUT Welcome to Auckland scholarships make a contribution towards students' accommodation and study fees. These scholarships recognise high-achieving secondary school students living outside of Auckland who intend to enrol in bachelor’s degree study starting in 2024.

Closing date: 1 September 2023
Value of scholarship: Up to $23,800.00 (over three years)

Not sure if your permanent address is within the Auckland region?

Application Form

2024 AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarships

AUT Find Your Greatness scholarships for school leavers reflect our commitment to creating great graduates. These three-year scholarships recognise students' academic achievement, as well as students' potential leadership ability and contribution to their school or community, cultural pursuits or sport at a representative level.

The nationally contestable AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarships are offered in the four categories below for study starting in 2024:

  • Academic Excellence
  • All Rounder
  • Hiki Ake (Lift Up)
  • Kiwa (Māori and Pacific Students)

Applicants will be considered in all categories for which they are eligible.

Closing date: 1 September 2023
Value of scholarship: Up to $23,800.00 (over three years)

Application Form

Academic Excellence

  • Awarded to students demonstrating leadership through academic excellence

All Rounder

  • Awarded to academically able students demonstrating leadership through achievement at a high level in school, sporting, cultural pursuits or community involvement

Hiki Ake (Lift Up)

  • Awarded to academically able students who can demonstrate leadership potential and are experiencing barriers to undertaking tertiary study

Kiwa (Māori and Pacific Students)

  • Awarded to academically able students demonstrating leadership potential who register with either Māori or Pacific ethnicity in the AUT student management system (Arion)

Other AUT scholarships for school leavers include

2024 AUT Accommodation Scholarship – Office of Māori Advancement

The Office of Māori Advancement provides accommodation scholarships to support Māori students residing in approved AUT accommodation.

Opening date: 1 July 2023
Closing date: 30 September 2023, 11.59pm
Value of scholarship: $6,500 in the first year of study (paid direct to AUT accommodation as a contribution to rental)

Application Form

Woolf Fisher First in Family Scholarships

These scholarships are for applicants who are the first in their family to seek to complete a degree. First-in-family normally means that neither of the applicant’s birth parents has successfully completed a degree level qualification.

Opening date: 1 November 2023
Closing date: 30 June 2024

Application Form

Keir Trust Study Award

These scholarships are to encourage students from both the Auckland area and beyond who are facing financial barriers to undertake tertiary studies at AUT by offering financial assistance and on-going non-financial support.

Opening date: 1 July 2023
Closing date: 30 September 2023

Application Form

Search our scholarships database

Our scholarships database lists all the scholarships above and many others including the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust scholarships for those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Search for Undergraduate (1st year) to find scholarships for your first year of study at AUT and beyond.

Search the scholarships database

Scholarship student support

As the recipient of an AUT school leaver scholarship you have access to an extensive programme of support including:

  • A special scholars’ welcome at Orientation
  • Professional development and networking opportunities
  • One-on-one support throughout the year

Check your eligibility for AUT scholarships

A rank score calculator is available for both NCEA and CIE, so you can calculate your rank score.

Calculate score