Toloa Tertiary Scholarships

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships aim to inspire and support Pacific students in their engagement with STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths.

What is the goal?

Toloa’s Vision is to make a transformational impact in the communities we live in. Toloa Scholarships support Pacific students to pursue studies in STEAM. Toloa supports Pacific Peoples in STEAM pathways over a whole-of-life approach from ECE, primary, intermediate, secondary, and tertiary through to the workforce. Now in its seventh year, the Toloa funds are achieving the goal of helping tertiary students to cover their tuition fees and compulsory course-related fees.

What does the scholarship cover?

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarship package includes tertiary tuition fees, compulsory course related fees up to the value of $10,000, for 1 year of fulltime study for STEAM-related tertiary courses and subjects.

Who can apply?

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Demonstrate commitment to Pacific language and/or culture.
• Have completed the equivalent of 1-year full time study at a tertiary or vocational provider
• Be enrolling in the second year or higher of a STEAM related course in 2023 (first year tertiary students are already financially supported by the government's First Year Free Fees Scheme)
• Provide proof of academic record showing B+ average GPA.
• Hold New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. 
• Provide two signed letters of support by two independent referees. These can be an academic mentor, a Pacific Liaison Officer or senior academic referee aligned to your current course of study, plus someone to provide a character reference such as a Pacific Liaison Officer, a senior community member, youth minister, counsellor, sports coach or other mentor. (Referees cannot be friends or family members). In their letters, your referees need to validate the ways in which you are an ideal candidate for a Toloa scholarship.

How to apply

Applications for 2024 scholarships are open now. Here are the steps you need to know:

1. Register an account on our funding application portal. 
2. Select the 'open funding rounds' in the top menu.
3. Select the Toloa scholarship year level you would like to apply for and fill in an application.

More information

If you have any further queries, please send an email to toloa@mpp.govt.nz or visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.