Toloa Tertiary Scholarships (STEAM)

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.

We acknowledge there are different interpretations and understandings of defining ‘A’ in STEAM, it’s important to note that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples offers a unique perspective when defining ‘A’ in STEAM, which is presented through a Pacific perspective.

Defining ‘A’ in STEAM through a Pacific lens

• The incorporation of ‘A’ reflects the blending of Pacific arts, knowledge, and creative approaches with scientific knowledge in technical contexts.
• ‘A’ in STEAM encapsulates Pacific cultural knowledge and expresses creativity and its connection to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
• ‘A’ is the intertwining and weaving together of Pacific creativity and traditions with the exploration of the natural world across different subjects. It’s also about nurturing and growing your creative skills along your STEAM journey.

STEAM in Tertiary study

For our Toloa Tertiary Scholarships, the priority of Focus STEAM Specialties include Engineering, Architecture, Surveying, Spatial Science, Business and Systems Analysts, Software Programming and Multimedia.

For guidance on securing financial and tech support, as well as exploring STEAM career pathways, read our Toloa Scholarship User-Guidelines below. 

Toloa Secondary and Tertiary Scholarship User-Guidelines

Applications for the 2024 Toloa Tertiary Scholarship Fund have now closed. The closing date was Monday 30 October 2023. 

If you are looking at applying for MPP funding, check out the Applying for MPP funding: How To Guide.

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 courses and subjects.
• Toloa alumni programme – access to STEAM networks, mentors, employers.

An invoice from your Tertiary Provider will be required for your course of study, and funds will be paid directly to your tertiary provider.

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.

Applications for 2024 scholarships have now closed. Here are the steps you needed 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.

Applying for MPP funding: How To Guide

Toloa Tertiary Scholarships are not available for:

• Costs associated with accommodation
• Course related costs such as equipment or transport
• Students that are not enrolled in a formal New Zealand tertiary institution or approved vocational training provider
• Students that are not enrolled in STEAM subjects
• Travel expenses locally, nationally, and internationally
• For-profit activities
• Initiatives that are not aligned with the priorities of this scholarship fund
• Programmes and activities delivered overseas, including the NZ realm countries
• Wages, salaries, infrastructure, fixed assets and capital expenditure
• Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

If you are enrolled in STEAM subjects at a New Zealand secondary school, please apply for the Toloa Secondary School Scholarships instead.

If you need more information about the Toloa Tertiary Scholarships, email [email protected]

Got a question? Check out our FAQs for Toloa Tertiary scholarships. 

Below are recipients of the Toloa Tertiary Scholarships for 2023 (for applications closed in 2022):

Below are recipients of the Toloa Tertiary Scholarships for 2022 (for applications closed in 2021):