A first-year humanities student at the University of Otago, Mr Ammar (18) said that gaining the Girdlers' Scholarship, which provides £25,000 ($NZ53,000) a year for three years, was a "life-changing thing".
"I'm still struggling to comprehend how huge this is. I'm just over the moon."
He will begin studying for an English tripos, a three-year honours degree, at Cambridge University, England, in October.
Born in Dubai, he moved to New Zealand with his family when he was 5, later studying at Timaru Boys' High School, where he was head boy.
The 2011 Girdlers' Scholarship enables him to study at Cambridge's Corpus Christi College, funding his tuition and accommodation costs.
The opportunity to study at a university with such a long history, and involving so many celebrated scholars, was a "daunting prospect but a very exciting one".
He hoped to combine his interests in Shakespeare's plays and New Zealand literature while studying at Cambridge.
The Middle East was a favourite place, and one of his long-term aims was to become a diplomat, employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to represent New Zealand interests there.
His father, Dr Mostafa Ammar, a Timaru ear, nose and throat surgeon, was born in Egypt and his mother, Anne-Marie Ammar, in New Zealand.
One Girdlers' Scholarship is awarded to a New Zealand all-round student each year, and it is administered by Universities New Zealand.
While studying at Timaru Boys', Mr Ammar received many academic, cultural and sporting awards, and gained the dux medal in year 13.
Last year, he was also selected to represent New Zealand as a member of the Young Shakespeare Company, which travelled to London to perform Macbeth at the Globe Theatre.
In 2009, he also wrote and narrated the winning entry in the Royal Society of New Zealand's Big Science Adventures DVD competition.
An accomplished sportsman, he is also a keen musician who plays piano and saxophone.
