A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
Becoming a teacher in New Zealand
Te Karahipi Huri Aramahi o Te Huawhiti

Te Huawhiti Career-Changer Scholarship

If you're looking to change careers and become a teacher, a Te Huawhiti Career-Changer Scholarship can financially support you in your journey
A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
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Last updated 5 August 2026

Each year, we offer 85 Te Huawhiti Career-Changer Scholarships to people looking to change their career and teach in priority subjects and education settings. The scholarship gives you financial support to offset the loss of income you experience while studying, and to reduce the barrier to becoming a qualified teacher.

As a Te Huawhiti scholar you gain access to:

  • programme fees to study an approved teaching programme
  • an allowance of NZD$30,000 per year, over the period of your study (limited to 3 years).

If you’re changing careers and are enrolled, or planning to enrol, on an approved teaching programme, this could be the scholarship for you.

Application period now open

Applications for 2027 Te Huawhiti Career-Changer Scholarships are now open
Apply now launch

Please note the following for the 2027 round:

  • All required documents must be certified by an authorised person.
  • Resident visa holders are now eligible to apply.
  • You will be required to upload a video with your application. 

For more information on how to certify your documents, and apply for and accept a TeachNZ scholarship, read the guidance documents in the popular resources section on this page.

Past scholar's story

Key scholarship information

Te Huawhiti Career-Changer Scholarship
Scholarship type
Career-changer – priority subjects and education settings
Application period
3 August to 31 August 2026
Fees
Paid
Allowance
NZD$30,000 per year
Scholarships available
85

Bonding period

All TeachNZ scholarship recipients must complete a bonding period. You will teach in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school or kura, or early learning centre for a set period of time. The bonding period will depend on the length of your scholarship.

Study duration
Bonding period length
2 years of part-time study, no allowance payment
Teach for 1 year in the 2 years after completing study
1 year of full-time study or 2 years of part-time study
Teach for 2 years in the 4 years after completing study
2 years of full-time study or 4 years of part-time study
Teach for 4 years in the 6 years after completing study
3 years of full-time study or 6 years of part-time study
Teach for 6 years in the 10 after completing study

Requirements

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:

  • be changing your career or profession to teaching
  • have at least 7 years of work experience or equivalent experience (either paid or unpaid) since leaving school.

or, you can:

  • be an unqualified teacher currently working in a centre or school – such as a teacher aide
  • be an unqualified teacher with a Limited Authority to Teach
  • be working as a kaiārahi i te reo or kaiāwhina.

and

  • be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or resident
  • be enrolled, have applied for, or be planning to enrol in an approved initial teacher education course listed on the Teaching Council website or programme finder tool (linked in the popular resources section of this page). These programmes may be updated during the year.

You are not eligible for the scholarship if you:  

  • have already received a TeachNZ scholarship
  • have already completed initial teacher education training or are already a registered teacher
  • are participating or considering participating in the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP). 
Unpaid work experience

This includes:

  • any involvement you have had in the community or with community groups
  • stay-at-home parents who have community/school involvement
  • vocational placements
  • unpaid internships. 

 

  • Students planning to teach science, technology or maths.
  • Students planning to teach in ECE or in secondary settings.
  • Students who are Māori, Pacific or planning to teach in bilingual or immersion settings.
  • Students from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

We're also looking for applicants who are currently working in a school as a:

  • teacher aide
  • teacher on a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT)
  • kaiāwhina
  • kaiārahi i te reo.

If there are large numbers of applications, we will shortlist based on these priorities.

Contact us

If you have any questions, we’re here to help.  

Send us an Email

Popular Resources

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