Applications for 2026 postgraduate funding will open between 18 August and 17 October 2025.
The Postgraduate Nursing Funding Programme prioritises those working towards a qualification, rather than individual papers i.e. Postgraduate Certificate (60 pts), Postgraduate Diploma (120 pts) or Master of Nursing (180 and 240 pts). Prioritisation follows the initial application and career conversation supported by your line manager and Associate Director of Nursing (for prescribing pathways).
The following criteria is the minimum requirement for eligibility and must be included with your application:
- Letter of approval & evidence of career conversation supported by your line manager.
- Copy of your APC as downloaded from the NCNZ register.
- Copy of your Career Development Plan
- Evidence of a current Professional Development Recognition Portfolio.
- Proof of residency/citizenship if you were not born in New Zealand.
Prioritisation for papers include:
- Prioritised papers include pathophysiology/anatomy and physiology, advanced assessment, pharmacology for nurses on the clinical pathway. Other papers may be funded where directly relevant to the nurse’s role or strategic goals e.g. Māori Health and wellbeing, Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing.
- Māori and Pacific applicants prioritised per Te Pae Tat
- Graduates on completion of NETP will be prioritised for funding in their second year of employment to complete their PG certificate (Health New Zealand Whanganui applicants only).
- Applicants embarking on a Nurse Prescriber pathway and includes evidence that the “Nurse Prescribing Pathway” policy has been processed and approved (applies to Health New Zealand – Whanganui staff only).
- Applicants who require postgraduate papers as per role requirements.
- Applicants working in key service and/or those areas which meet the requirements of the system level measures and district/national priorities.
- Applicants in a designated leadership role.
Prioritisation Framework and Criteria
PDRP Expectation
- PG Certificate applicants must hold a minimum level Competent PDRP
- PG Diploma applicants must hold a minimum level Proficient PDRP
- Masters applicants must hold an Expert PDRP
- Leadership applicants must hold a Senior PDRP
Clinical Mentoring
Clinical mentoring is the provision of clinical teaching and coaching to support the RN to extend knowledge and skills through clinical experience, critical thinking, skilled health assessment and comprehension of diagnostic measures and outcomes.These skills are required for evidence based clinical reasoning.
This funding is available for papers/courses that require clinical mentoring/clinical mentor in addition to academic teaching/mentoring. It is for the provision of teaching, coaching and mentoring by a relevant registered health professional (experienced competent practitioner and/or prescriber) to support the trainee to integrate their postgraduate learning into the practice setting.
Application for up to 10 hours clinical mentoring support must be approved prior to undertaking a course requiring this.
Clinical mentoring must be negotiated by the applicant in consultation with your Manager. The mentoring plan should be provided with your application and a record of hours kept during the period of study.
Contact information: