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Toloa Tertiary Scholarships (STEAM)

Toloa Tertiary Scholarships (STEAM)

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships aim to support Pacific students to  pursue STEAM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths.

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships cover tertiary tuition fees and compulsory course related fees up to $10,000 for 1 year of fulltime study for STEAM-related courses and subjects.

Now in its seventh year, the Toloa funds are achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa thrive in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Maths.

STEAM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths subjects.

STEAM skills and knowledge are not new to Pacific people.

The Toloa programme champions that Pacific peoples come from a lineage of navigators, explorers, innovators, and experts in STEAM. STEAM skills  are adaptable in a vast ocean of career pathways and opportunities.

The Arts is defined within the Toloa programme as creative and innovative skills, processes and knowledge that are transferable into science, technology, engineering and maths careers.

About the scholarships

Applications open on Monday 20 September, 2021.

Applications close on Monday 18 October, 2021.

Applicants are informed about the outcome by Wednesday 10 November, 2021.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be of Pacific descent.
  • Have completed the equivalent of 1 year full time study at a tertiary or vocational provider and enrolled in a STEAM related course.
  • Have a B+ average GPA.
  • Hold New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. Consideration is also extended to applicants with migrant status.
  • Provide a signed reference letter by one senior academic referee aligned to your current course of study and one character reference. Referees can’t be friends or family. Your referees need to validate the ways in which you are an ideal candidate for a Toloa scholarship.
  • Demonstrate commitment to Pacific language or culture.

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships offer:

  • Tertiary tuition fees up to $10,000 for STEAM-related courses and subjects.
  • Wellbeing coaching sessions throughout the year.
  • Toloa 2-day STEAM conference in February 2022.
  • Toloa Alumni programme with access to STEAM networks, mentors, employers.


The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships are not available for:

  • The health sciences.

  • Course related costs such as equipment.

  • Living expenses.

  • Travel expenses locally, nationally, and internationally.

  • For-profit activities.

  • Initiatives that are not aligned with the priorities of this fund.

  • Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.

  • Wages, salaries, infrastructure, fixed assets and capital expenditure.

  • Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

The Toloa Tertiary Scholarships open on Monday 20 September, 2021.

Gather the supporting documents for your application:

  • A copy of your most recent academic transcript. 
  • A copy of your 2020 academic transcript.
  • Supporting letters from two independent referees. One academic and one character referee (cannot be a family member).
  • Evidence of New Zealand citizenship or residency status.

If you need more information about the Toloa Secondary School and Vocational Scholarships, email [email protected]