Students in the Pacific (including Tonga) selected under New Zealand’s scholarship program in 2019, 2020, and 2021 may be able to start studying in New Zealand in 2022.

COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 have impacted students causing some to return to their Pacific Island countries or to defer their studies.

According to the New Zealand Government’s Scholarship website [2], the program aims for students who were selected in 2019 and 2020 to start studying from Semester 1, 2022 in New Zealand.

The student’s Education Institution will work with them to determine the earliest opportunity that they can enter the country.

Meanwhile, those who are selected in 2021 may be able to start studying from Semester 2, 2022. This is due to ongoing border closures, visa restrictions, and pressure on New Zealand’s managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

All students will be required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in New Zealand.

Students are not able to take dependant family members at this stage.