Scholarships for Witt nursing students

Six new scholarships will be available for Witt nursing students

Six new scholarships, worth $63,000, are now being offered for nurses training at polytech in New Plymouth.

Southern Cross Health Trust is offering scholarships to students at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (Witt) who are “passionate about pursuing a career in nursing and are experiencing personal challenges or disadvantage, including financial and family circumstances”.

The Southern Cross Nursing Scholarship – Undergraduate scheme is offering six scholarships for Year 1, 2 and 3 Bachelor of Nursing students for the 2026 academic year, at a total cost of $63,000 annually.

The scheme provides two scholarships for each year of the three-year degree. First-year recipients will receive the funding support for the full three years, while second year recipients are covered for two years, and third year students for one year.

Witt was excited to work with Southern Cross Health Trust to offer this scholarship, Witt head of nursing Helen Lelean said in a press release.

“This will not only ease the financial burden of study for the recipients but will also reduce barriers to their learning. This is huge investment for our future nurses and goes some way to ensuring equity of access to education.”

Recipients will get $500 per week while on clinical placement, a $5000 contribution towards course fees each year as well as $500 per year for general health and wellbeing.

The Nursing Council of New Zealand state exam, taken to become registered nurses, will also be paid for in the final year of study.

Beyond financial assistance, scholarship recipients would receive priority clinical placements in Southern Cross hospitals, and a mentorship with a Southern Cross Healthcare nurse.

Southern Cross Healthcare chief nursing officer Monica Goldwater said the programme reflected the organisation’s ongoing commitment to New Zealand’s nurses.

“We know that highly skilled, supported nurses are at the heart of great healthcare,” she says.

“Through these scholarships, we’re investing in the ongoing education and development of our nurses, and in doing so, we’re helping ensure New Zealanders can continue to access exceptional care now and into the future.”

Applications for the 2026 Nursing Scholarship Programme open September 8, 2025, and close on October 31, 2025.

Further details, including eligibility criteria and application forms, are available on Witt’s website.