Te Whakangungu Rangatahi

Youth Guarantee

Are you under 25 and have not achieved NCEA Level 3? You might be eligible for a Youth Guarantee Scholarship at UCOL as part of the government’s Youth Guarantee initiative

Youth Guarantee Government Website

UCOL’s Youth Guarantee scholarships for a range of our programmes at Level 3, helping to catapult you onto your dream career pathway.

This opportunity is designed to provide 16-24-year-olds with the opportunity to study towards NCEA Level 3, aligned with Vocational Pathways, or equivalent.

Key eligibility criteria

  • You must be under 25 years of age at the start of your chosen programme.

  • You must attend an interview and engage in a personal education planning process.

  • You must not have studied at a tertiary institution before or have achieved a level 3 qualification. (This does not include U-Skills programmes).

  • You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

  • You should be enrolling in one of the programmes identified by UCOL as meeting the criteria for funding.

At UCOL, the programmes included in our Youth Guarantee initiative for 2026 are:

  • New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Pre-Trade (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair and Automotive Refinishing (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Introductory Skills) (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3)

  • New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Pre-Trade (Level 3)