Ara Institute Of Canterbury Scholarships

Ara is proud to offer a wide range of scholarships which can save you thousands of dollars in fees. Some of our scholarships recognise academic excellence, community leadership and sporting achievement. Others are designed to help meet skills shortages in specific industries, or to encourage individuals from under-represented sectors of the community into higher education. There are also scholarships provided by our industry partners, for specific areas or programmes of study.





If you meet the scholarship criteria (and are not eligible for fees-free), we encourage you to apply. You can do this at the same time as you apply for your programme of study.



Ara Advantage

  • A fee reduction of up to $2500 to assist individuals facing financial, disability or other challenges to undertake study at tertiary level.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Closed

Ara Inspiring Leaders

  • A fee reduction of up to $3000 to help individuals with an inspirational approach and strong leadership skills to achieve their goals.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Closed

Beca Engineering Scholarship

  • Ara, in association with Beca, is providing a mechanical engineering student the opportunity to gain a $2500 scholarship toward continued study.This award is to encourage students with potential to add value to the engineering profession.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: Closed

CMCA Scholarship

  • Fee reductions for registered players of a Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket Association affiliated club over 16 years old.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton; Online
  • Closing Date: Ongoing until awarded

Freemasons Christchurch Nursing Scholarship

  • A cash award of up to $1,500 to help individuals who are high academic achievers to achieve their career goals.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru
  • Closing Date: Closed

Graduate Women Placement Support

  • Assists women studying a programme which incurs expenses (e.g. travel, accommodation, childcare) related to compulsory placements or block courses.
  • Location: All Locations
  • Closing Date: Closed

Hugh McDougall Rankin Scholarship

  • A fee reduction of up to $7000 for students enrolled in engineering, nursing or applied sciences degrees who have successfully completed one year of study with a B+ Grade average.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: 1 March 2021

Inde Technology – Women in Tech Infrastructure

  • A fee reduction of $3,500 for women enrolled in Year 2 of the BICT Networking and Infrastructure pathway.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: Closed

Inde Technology – Women in Tech Kickstart

  • A cash grant of $1,000 and free laptop for women enrolled in the first year of the Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: Closed

Lifelong Learning

  • A fee reduction of up to $2,500 to help individuals over 25 to change career or upskill. Specific programmes only.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Closed

Māori & Pacific Childcare Scholarship

  • Assist fully enrolled Māori and Pacific students while their programme of study is in progress with the unsubsidised portion of their childcare costs at any licensed childcare centre or facility.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Ongoing

Māori Higher learning

  • A fee reduction of up to $5000 to support Māori students to succeed in tertiary study at higher levels.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Closed

Pacific Higher Learning

  • A fee reduction of up to $5000 to support Pacific students to succeed in tertiary study at higher levels.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Closed

Pūtea Tautoko – Māori Laboratory Technology

  • A fee reduction of $5,000 and access to a $1,000 study support fund for students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Laboratory Technology.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: Closed

Rama Family Trust Scholarship

  • A fee reduction of up to $3,300 to help individuals who are high academic achievers to succeed.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru
  • Closing Date: Closed

Study and Living

  • For learners who are experiencing suffering, deprivation or financial hardshipwhich is impacting with their study.
  • Location: All locations
  • Closing Date: 12 April 2021

The Rika Fund

  • A grant of up to $2000 to support students in the final year of their degree.
  • Location: Christchurch
  • Closing Date: 15 April 2021

Women in STEM

  • A fee reduction of up to $3000 for women entering careers in science, ICT and engineering.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru
  • Closing Date: Closed

Women in Trades

  • Full cover of course fees for women starting a career in trades. Training areas include agribusiness, construction, electrical, motor industry and engineering.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru
  • Closing Date: Ongoing until awarded

World Boost

  • Grants to enable students to attend national or international competitions, events and experiences related to their area of study.
  • Location: Christchurch; Timaru; Oamaru; Ashburton
  • Closing Date: Ongoing until awarded