The scholarship award ceremony was organized by Education New Zealand (ENZ) on the afternoon of 23/11.

Scott James, Consul-General of New Zealand in TP HCM, praised the students as not only talented but also as cultural and intellectual bridges between the two nations. He expressed hope that these students would leverage New Zealand's educational values to contribute to Vietnam's future development.

Representatives from the New Zealand Consulate General in TP HCM, ENZ, and the NZUA scholarship recipients for 2025. Photo: ENZ

The NZUA scholarship was announced by the New Zealand Prime Minister during a visit to Vietnam in February, commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is the first full government undergraduate scholarship offered by New Zealand exclusively to Vietnamese students. The total value of this year's scholarships is nearly VND 3,3 billion.

To apply, students needed to submit their final year transcripts, English language certificates, a video (maximum 1,5 minutes) introducing themselves, demonstrating their understanding of New Zealand, and outlining their study plans if awarded the scholarship. A letter of offer and a scan of a valid passport were also required.

According to ENZ, eligible students had a grade 12 academic average of 8,5 or higher and an English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 7,0.

New Zealand currently hosts over 63,000 international students, with approximately 1,700 from Vietnam. In addition to NZUA, the New Zealand government has previously offered scholarships for Vietnamese high school students (NZSS) and postgraduate students (Manaaki).

All eight of New Zealand's universities, including: the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, and University of Otago, are ranked within the 2% (top 300) globally by the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Khanh Linh