International students contributed around $3.7 billion to New Zealand's economy before Covid-19 impacted enrollment interest. Photo: Supplied
More than half of New Zealand universities are offering dedicated packages targeting Indian applicants, including scholarships and fee discounts.
Currently, five universities have these offers in place to attract more international students from India.
According to latest Immigration New Zealand data, 62,943 student visas were approved in the first nine months of the year, with 11,610 of these granted to applicants from India.
According to a 2019 study by Education New Zealand, international students contributed around $3.7 billion to New Zealand's economy, with a substantial portion benefiting universities.
However, immigration restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic slashed international student numbers, leading to many universities cutting jobs and forcing the government to introduce funding to help the struggling institutions.
The situation improved in the second half of 2023, with the government agency responsible for promoting the country as a study destination reporting that international student numbers were about two-thirds of the pre-Covid border closure figures.
In August, Education New Zealand unveiled a plan to grow the international education sector over the next three years.
"In the first year of the strategy, the focus is putting additional investment into markets we have identified with growth potential," said Linda Sissons, acting chief executive of Education New Zealand.
"These include India, Vietnam and the Philippines, and some specific sectors within markets like Japan and Thailand."
The agency wants to increase the economic contribution of international education to $4.4 billion by 2027, focusing on growing and diversifying the number of international students studying in New Zealand.
Universities nationwide have introduced a number of special offers aimed at attracting students from South Asia.
In the North Island, the University of Auckland offers an India High Achievers Scholarship worth up to $20,000.
"It is for a student with excellent academic achievement," a spokesperson for the university said.
More than 400 students applied for the scholarship in 2023, with more than 650 applying this year.
The University of Auckland currently offers nine scholarships for applicants from Asian countries, with Malaysia targeted in four of these scholarships.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) also provides a range of scholarships for international students.
One of these, the South Asia Scholarship, is available to students from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.
Successful undergraduate applicants receive $5000 towards their first-year tuition fees, while postgraduate students receive $7000.
"AUT remains 'the university of choice' for Indian foreign and diaspora students, and we are committed to strengthening our relationships with India, its institutions, and current and prospective Indian students in a number of ways, including scholarships," an AUT spokesperson said.
"Additionally, AUT also celebrates the remarkable contribution our Indian students make to life at AUT through events such as our annual Diwali Festival."
Photo: RNZ / Ziming Li
The University of Waikato funds 15 different types of scholarships for international students.
"Of these, one university-funded scholarship, effectively a fee discount, is exclusively for applicants from India," a university spokesperson said.
The university also noted a significant rise in applications from India for 2024.
"The university received 5240 applications in 2024, compared to an average of 2270 per year between 2019 and 2023," the spokesperson said. "It is important to note that not all applications result in enrolments."
In 2024, 451 international students from India enrolled at the University of Waikato.
In the capital, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington does not offer scholarships specifically for Indian applicants.
However, Indian students are eligible to apply for general scholarships available to international students.
"An open scholarship called the Tongarewa International Scholarship can be applied to any programme and, in 2024, approximately 40 percent of recipients came from India," a spokesperson from the university's International Office said.
"The university is constantly looking for new ways to increase the number of scholarships to enable more students to study with us in Wellington."
Massey University confirmed that it does not have any scholarships targeting Indian applicants.
"Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University does not have any scholarships at present that specifically target students from India," a Massey University spokesperson said. "All of our scholarships open to international students are available to Indian students."
The university said it had no plans to introduce scholarships solely for Indian students.
University of Canterbury offers an India High Achievers Scholarship for Indian applicants. Photo: Supplied/ University of Canterbury
In the South Island, the University of Canterbury offers an India High Achievers Scholarship.
The scholarship is designed to "recognise and support international students with strong academic abilities from India who are beginning their educational journey in New Zealand at the University of Canterbury", according to the university.
Another scholarship available for Indian students is the Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Global Scholarship from the University of Otago.
Established in 2024, this scholarship supports international students from selected countries, including India.
Applicants from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam are also eligible to apply.
According to the university, all undergraduate full international fee-paying students, including Indian students, receive a $15,000 scholarship in their first year upon receiving University Entrance.
"Top international students are rewarded with a further $35,000 scholarship. Postgraduate Indian students paying full international fees receive $10,000 if their grade point average is B+ or higher," a University of Otago spokesperson said.
"India remains one of the University of Otago's key growth markets. The university currently has 134 enrolled Indian international fee-paying students, including PhD students. This is close to pre-Covid levels," the spokesperson said.
University of Otago Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Lincoln University does not offer any scholarships specifically for Indian applicants but has general international student scholarships for which Indian students can apply.
Indian applicants can also apply for the New Zealand Excellence Awards, a joint initiative of Education New Zealand and the country's eight universities.
The NZEA 2023-24 awards featured a total package of $320,000, offering eligible Indian students an opportunity to study at New Zealand universities.
Beyond the universities, Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology also offers scholarships for Indian students, with more than 20 scholarships valued at $10,000 each across 12 institutions nationwide.