New Zealand Space Scholarship
The New Zealand Space Scholarship allows successful recipients a unique opportunity to research space missions and science, during a 3-month internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California.
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2026 New Zealand Space Scholarship recipients
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 space missions and science, alongside our US space partners’ scientists and engineers.
Successful applicants will spend a 3-month internship in the United States where they will research innovative and complex projects under the supervision of a mentor. 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 are 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:
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.