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Toloa Scholarships aim to encourage Pacific students to pursue learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
About the Toloa Scholarships
Le Va administers the Toloa Secondary and Tertiary School Scholarships on behalf of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Le Va manages the application process, disbursement of funds, and reporting.
The scholarships are available at both secondary and tertiary levels, along with a community fund to foster STEM engagement across Pacific communities.
There are 400 secondary scholarships and 10 tertiary scholarships on offer for the 2026 academic year.
How to apply
- Register an account on Le Va’s application portal.
- Answer eligibility questions to confirm your eligibility.
- If eligible, select the Toloa Scholarship year level and complete the application.
- Agree to the declaration and complete the final checklist, ensuring all required documents are uploaded and responses are accurate.
- Submit your application.
Download our ‘How to’ guide for more detailed information: Applying for Toloa Scholarships: ‘How to’ guide
Important Information
- If you are submitting applications for multiple students, please note that each student requires a separate application, with a unique email and profile.
- You can return to your application anytime before submission by logging in and selecting the “Apply” tab.
- Incomplete applications will not be successfully submitted – incomplete tabs and fields will be highlighted red.
Get in touch
For any questions about your application, please contact us at toloa@leva.co.nz
Important dates
Applications open at 10am Tuesday 18 November 2025.
Applications for secondary students close at 5pm Friday 23 January 2026.
Applications for tertiary students close at 5pm Monday 9 February 2026.
Secondary students will be notified of the outcome mid-February 2026.
Tertiary students will be notified of the outcome in late February 2026.
Toloa community fono
The Toloa team will be hosting two online fono to give our community the opportunity to address any questions they may have.
This will be held online on Zoom on the following days and times:
- Friday 5 December 6pm
- Friday 12 December 6pm
More information, including registration links, will be added here soon.
How much financial assistance is provided
- Secondary students will receive $1,000 (excluding GST) towards their school fees, school uniforms, stationery, STEM school trips, and STEM programmes/courses organised by your school. This year’s secondary scholarships will no longer include digital devices as part of the non-monetary benefits, unlike in previous years.
- Tertiary students in STEM courses can receive up to $10,000 for one year of full-time study. This may cover tuition, compulsory course related costs, accommodation expenses for university halls and, for PhD students, research or fieldwork expenses.
For more information on what is approved for Toloa Scholarship use, download the file at the link below.
Who can apply
The scholarship is only open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of Pacific Islands descent.
Secondary students
To be eligible, you must:
- demonstrate you are of Pacific Indigenous descent
- be enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school, alternative education or verified home school
- provide school reports and academic results from the past 12 months (2025 academic year)
- be enrolled in at least two STEM subjects for Year 9/10 or three STEM subjects for Year 11-13 in the upcoming academic year. Evidence will be required for Year 11-13 students.
Tertiary students
Scholarships for tertiary students in 2026 are available to those who have completed at least one year of study and are continuing full-time STEM study. Students entering their second year or beyond may apply. Students in their final year, or in Year 3 of their STEM studies, can access the Government fees-free programme and therefore will not be eligible for Toloa Scholarships.
To be eligible, you must:
- demonstrate you are of Pacific Indigenous descent
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be enrolled full-time in your second year of study in a STEM-related programme at a New Zealand tertiary institution in 2026, and provide proof of enrolment
- declare all scholarships awarded or pending for the 2026 academic year
- provide academic records for the past academic year (2025) as part of their application
- not be eligible for the final-year free fees scheme.
STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects.
The Toloa programme celebrates the rich history of Pacific peoples as navigators, explorers, innovators, and experts in STEM. These skills are valuable and open a wide range of career pathways and opportunities.
Download our guide get more information on what qualifies as a STEM subject:
