Introduction: A Pathway of Hope and Opportunity
For many former refugees and their children, resettling in a new country comes with both hope and challenges. In New Zealand, thousands of people who arrived through the Refugee Quota Programme, Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship, or as Convention Refugees now call Aotearoa home. While they bring with them resilience, skills, and rich cultural heritage, many face barriers when it comes to higher education and meaningful career opportunities.
One of the sectors where their participation can make a transformative difference is healthcare. New Zealand’s health system has long struggled with workforce shortages, especially in areas where cultural and linguistic understanding is critical. At the same time, many former refugees aspire to careers in healthcare but are often held back by financial limitations, lack of tailored support, and systemic barriers.
Recognising this, the National Leadership and Coordination Service (NLCS), in partnership with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Ministry of Health, and Health New Zealand, has launched a groundbreaking multi-year scholarship programme. Set to open on 15 October 2025, this initiative will provide direct financial assistance and career pathways for former refugees and their children who want to pursue healthcare roles.
This blog breaks down everything you need to know about the programme: who can apply, how it works, why it matters, and how it is set to reshape New Zealand’s healthcare workforce for the better.
Why This Scholarship Matters
The scholarship isn’t just about financial support—it’s about equity, inclusion, and long-term impact.
Here are some of the key reasons it has been introduced:
- Filling Critical Gaps in Healthcare
New Zealand faces a shortage of nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, and culturally trained professionals. Refugee-background students can help fill these gaps while bringing diverse perspectives to patient care. - Improving Education and Employment Outcomes
Former refugees often face financial and systemic barriers when accessing higher education. This scholarship reduces those obstacles, offering a stepping stone toward stable, meaningful careers. - Supporting Fairer Healthcare Access
A diverse workforce ensures that patients from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds feel understood, respected, and supported. - Promoting Culturally Appropriate Care
Refugee-background health professionals can provide services in indigenous and community languages, making healthcare more inclusive and effective. - Reflecting Communities in the Workforce
Representation matters. By supporting refugee-background health workers, New Zealand creates a workforce that mirrors the communities it serves.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to a specific group of applicants, ensuring that support reaches the people it is designed for.
You are eligible if you are:
- A former refugee who arrived in New Zealand through one of these pathways:
- Refugee Quota Programme
- Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship
- Convention Refugee pathway
- Or, the child of a former refugee who arrived through one of the above programmes.
This means the scholarship doesn’t just help first-generation refugees but also ensures that their children—who often balance cultural expectations, financial pressures, and academic challenges—get equal access to opportunities.
How the Scholarship Works
The scholarship has been designed with practical support in mind. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what successful applicants can expect:
- Financial Coverage: Each recipient can receive up to NZD $5,000 to cover 50% of course-related costs such as:
- Tuition fees
- Compulsory student services fees
- Required equipment (like textbooks, medical kits, or technology).
- Living Stipend: On top of tuition support, each scholar will receive NZD $20,000 as a living stipend. This allowance is designed to help with everyday expenses, accommodation, food, and transportation. Importantly, the stipend is granted regardless of living situation or location of study.
- Annual Fund: The total fund for the programme is NZD $400,000 per year, which means up to 16 recipients will be supported annually.
- Duration:
- The scholarship covers one academic year at a time.
- Recipients must pass all first-semester courses to receive second-semester funding.
- Renewal is not automatic—students must reapply each year to continue receiving support.
- Accountability: Scholars are required to submit a satisfactory report and academic transcript at the end of each semester, ensuring accountability and continued academic progress.
This balance of financial assistance, accountability, and reapplication ensures that the programme remains both sustainable and focused on dedicated, progressing students.
Why Healthcare Needs Refugee Voices
Healthcare is about more than just medicine—it’s about trust, empathy, and communication. For many refugee and migrant communities in New Zealand, navigating the healthcare system can be daunting due to language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, or lack of representation.
Here’s how refugee-background healthcare workers can make a difference:
- Cultural Knowledge: They bring firsthand understanding of cultural practices, traditions, and sensitivities.
- Language Skills: Many speak multiple languages, helping patients who struggle with English to feel understood.
- Representation: Seeing someone from your community in a trusted healthcare role builds confidence in the system.
- Bridging Gaps: They serve as cultural mediators, ensuring that treatment plans are followed and understood.
By opening doors to healthcare careers, this scholarship not only uplifts individuals but also strengthens entire communities.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
If you or someone you know is eligible, here’s a clear guide to applying:
- Check Your Eligibility
Make sure you are a former refugee or the child of one, as defined by the scholarship criteria. - Prepare Your Documents
You’ll likely need:- Proof of refugee status or family background
- Academic transcripts
- Course enrolment confirmation
- A personal statement outlining your goals and reasons for applying.
- Application Opens
- Date: Applications open on 15 October 2025.
- Platform: Applications are made via the Universities New Zealand website.
- Submit Early
Don’t wait until the last minute. Ensure that your application is complete and accurate before submission. - Await Results
Applications will be reviewed by a panel that includes representatives from academic institutions, government bodies, and refugee advisory panels. - Accept and Begin
If selected, you’ll receive financial support for the 2026 academic year. - Ongoing Requirements
- Pass your first-semester courses.
- Submit reports and transcripts.
- Reapply for future years if needed.
For further questions, applicants can email: nzrefugeehealthscholarships@mbie.govt.nz
Long-Term Impact: Building an Inclusive Healthcare System
This scholarship is about more than financial aid—it’s about reshaping New Zealand’s healthcare landscape.
- For Individuals: Refugee-background students gain access to life-changing education and careers.
- For Families: Stable jobs in healthcare create generational change, lifting families out of economic hardship.
- For Communities: Access to culturally competent care improves trust and health outcomes for refugee and migrant groups.
- For New Zealand: The country benefits from a more diverse, skilled, and representative healthcare workforce.
By investing in refugee-background talent, New Zealand is making a long-term commitment to equity, inclusivity, and healthcare excellence.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The new Refugee Healthcare Scholarship Programme is more than just financial support—it is a vision for a fairer, stronger, and more inclusive New Zealand. It recognises the resilience and potential of refugee communities while addressing urgent workforce needs in healthcare.
If you are a former refugee or the child of one, this is your opportunity to step forward, build a career in healthcare, and make a lasting difference in your community.
Applications open on 15 October 2025 through the Universities New Zealand website. Take this chance to transform your future—and help transform healthcare in New Zealand
