New Zealand Space Scholarship

About the scholarship

This initiative seeks to better prepare students for future careers in the New Zealand space and advanced aviation sectors. This is a unique opportunity to research world-leading space missions and science, alongside our US space partners’ scientists and engineers.

Successful applicants will travel to the US for a 3-month internship where they will research innovative and complex projects under the supervision of a mentor. The 2026 scholarship recipients will intern at JPL. This is an intensive experience and require a high level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and self-management.

In addition to this exceptional research experience opportunity, scholarship recipients will be asked to give back to the wider New Zealand space and advanced aviation sectors and US space partners through outreach and social media activities.

Candidates who are selected for internship placement at JPL will be eligible to have the costs of their internship supported through the New Zealand Space Scholarship.

Read about previous Space Scholarship recipients

2025 Space Scholarship recipients

Previous scholarship recipients’ experiences

Available funding

Successful applicants will be awarded the New Zealand Space Scholarship to support the costs of their internship.

What does the New Zealand Space Scholarship cover?

The scholarship covers specified costs relating to the internships as follows:

• Return economy airfares to the United States
• Accommodation
• A daily allowance for living expenses
• Funding for reasonable travel-related expenses, such as insurance cover.

The scholarship only covers costs associated with participating in the United States based internship. Expenses exceeding the scholarship amount are entirely the beneficiary’s responsibility.

Obtaining the scholarship is conditional upon the successful candidate signing a contractual agreement with MBIE and includes a number of obligations.

Eligibility criteria

To apply, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be a New Zealand citizen (NASA requirement).
• Be 18 years or older.
• Be enrolled for 2026 in a post-graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) at a New Zealand tertiary institution in a field relevant to NASA’s mission priorities.
• Students completing their graduate degrees in 2025 can note their intention to enrol in post-graduate study in a New Zealand tertiary institution and must confirm enrolment before a scholarship can be awarded in early 2026.
• Have a high academic standing and have obtained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0. You will need to convert your New Zealand grades to the US GPA 4.0 scale.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English (NASA requirement).
• Be available to participate in person from June to September 2026 (dates subject to change).
• Be willing to undergo any required health and security checks for travel to the US and entry into US federal facilities.
• Be eligible for a J1 or an F1 visa to the United States and have read and understood the visa terms and conditions.
• Be able to obtain appropriate insurance cover for travel and stay in the United States.

People who hold or have previously held citizenship in a country listed on the NASA Designated Countries List are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. The list is available on the NASA website. 

OIIR Export Control and Interagency Liaison Division (ECILD)(external link) — NASA

Topics of study

To support the preselection process, candidates are asked to specify in the application form up to 2 topics from the list below, the subject areas that relate most closely to their current field of study.

Research topics

• Advanced aviation (including aerosciences, autonomous flight systems, and air traffic management)
• AI, machine learning, and advanced computing
• Astrobiology and biology (including human performance in extreme environments)
• Astrophysics, space sciences, and exploration
• Autonomy and robotics
• Deep space communications
• Earth observation and Earth science (including airborne science)
• Instrument and sensor design and development
• Planetary science
• Science and Space Communication
• Other related fields

Selection process

This is a highly competitive process. The evaluation criteria, used to select candidates to be put forward for consideration by JPL, include:

• Academic excellence
• Relevance of the candidate’s experience to the projects currently underway at JPL
• Personal characteristics, self-management, and interpersonal skills
• Motivation to contribute to JPL and the New Zealand space sector.

Candidates on the final shortlist will be submitted to JPL for final selection.

Scholarship recipient obligations

Successful candidates will need to comply with certain obligations including, but not limited to, the following:

• a participant code of conduct
• securing appropriate travel and medical insurance cover for the duration of the internship
• participation in promotional and alumni activities.

General notes

• Participation in the programme does not count towards academic credit for any New Zealand qualification.
• Students must be pursuing a relevant graduate degree at the time of the internship. Students not currently undertaking post-graduate studies are eligible to apply only if they will be undertaking graduate studies at the time of the internship and must submit proof of enrolment as part of their application, or if not possible, before any scholarship can be awarded early in 2026.
• Recipients who take up this scholarship but do not complete their applicable tertiary qualification may be required to pay back the full value of the scholarship received.
• Internships are to be undertaken in person at JPL. Candidates should be aware that public health conditions, the availability of consular services and travel, as well as US institutional operating status and policies, may affect their ability to travel to the US and participate in the internship.

Learn more about past scholarship recipients' experiences

How to apply

The New Zealand Space Agency at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the only New Zealand entity permitted to submit internship candidates for consideration by JPL.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 19 October 2025.

Apply for the New Zealand Space Scholarship(external link)