Applications are now open for the 2026 New Zealand Space Scholarship, giving post-graduate students the chance to work on world-leading space missions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

The programme offers three-month internships where students will join scientists and engineers developing cutting-edge space technology.

Each scholarship covers flights, accommodation and a living allowance.

Students studying engineering, science, computer science, technology or mathematics in 2026 are eligible to apply.

Applications close on Sunday, 19 October 2025.

Since its launch in 2018, 28 students have already taken part in overseas placements through the scholarship.

It sits alongside the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes as part of New Zealand’s strategy to build a highly skilled aerospace workforce.

The sector is booming, with a recent report showing space industry revenue grew 53% in the five years to 2024, contributing $2.47 billion to the economy.

Advanced aviation added a further $480 million.

For young Coasties, this is a rare pathway into one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.

The skills gained overseas can be brought home to help shape the future of New Zealand’s aerospace sector — and open doors to career opportunities far beyond the Hibiscus Coast.

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