phd economics in new zealand

PhD in Economics

A PhD in Economics is an essential qualification for an academic career – and it is also invaluable for any professional research-oriented economist.

The PhD is a programme of supervised individual research in an approved topic area. The PhD is by thesis only, although you may be advised to take some papers to strengthen your background in relevant areas.

Study for a PhD in Economics

A PhD in Economics from Otago University:

• Is likely to take about three to four years of full-time study to complete (note that the scholarships discussed below are only tenable for three years)
• May be studied on a part-time basis
• May involve a research topic that would be supervised across more than one department

To be considered for PhD study, you either need to have a Master's degree with a research thesis/dissertation or an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma with a research thesis/dissertation. The thesis/dissertation component of your degree needs to be worth approximately ¼ of your total credits for your final year of study. We require at least a B+ (or equivalent) average for your degree.

The fact that the Otago PhD does not include coursework means that you need to have obtained the skills (either theoretical, empirical, or both) required for your proposed research before coming to Otago. In addition, you must have good written and spoken English skills.

We expect that you will have taken courses that prepare you for your proposed research topic. Normally, this would include postgraduate courses in Economics, but can include, for example, courses in Mathematics, Statistics, Finance, Psychology, or other Social Sciences. If you do not have an adequate background in Economics for your chosen topic, you may be required to take some courses to strengthen your background in relevant areas.

PhD Scholarships and financial support

There are a few potential avenues of financial support for PhD students at Otago. The University of Otago has in excess of $15 million worth of scholarships available for students to study at the University of Otago, and for Otago students to study at other institutions around the world.

Find out more about possible ways of financing your study below:

• The University of Otago awards several scholarships each year . These are competitive and are awarded on the basis of academic merit. Please note that in order to be considered for a scholarship, the absolute minimum required is an "A" grade average (14 out of 20 for France; 1.4 for Germany; 3.8 out of 4 for ECE), aside from other academic achievements.
• From time to time individual staff within the Department obtain research grant funds that include funding for PhD students. This funding, when available, will be advertised on our web pages.

Please note, the Department requires that all doctoral applicants meet the English language requirements when formally applying, unless you hold a degree from a university in an English speaking country.

How to apply for a PhD in Economics at Otago

Interested in applying for a PhD in Economics at Otago? If so, you should email your application documents to the Department of Economics. If your background satisfies our requirements we will then advise you on how to formally apply for admission through the University's website. It is important that you do not formally apply to the University without having your application assessed by the Department first.

Please email the following (and only the following) documents to [email protected] and include the words “PhD application” in the subject line.

• A copy of your final academic transcripts (in English)
• A research proposal that provides a clear statement of the hypotheses you wish to test, the research methods you will use to test them, and presents a time line for the research. You should briefly discuss how your research will extend the existing literature. The proposal should not exceed 5-10 pages.
• A copy of your Honours or Master's dissertation or thesis. If this is written in a language other than English please supply an English translation of the abstract and introduction.

What topic areas are suitable for PhD research?

The key factor is the availability of appropriate supervision. For information on the current research interests of staff and topics they are interested in supervising please see below links:

• Department of Economics staff profiles
• Information on current research programmes within the Department

Where our recent PhD graduates have been employed

Study with us, and you could fulfill your own career ambitions as a professional research-oriented economist.

Recent Department of Economics graduates have filled a variety of interesting and challenging positions around the world:

• Trudy Sullivan: Lecturer, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago
• Aurelia Lepine: Research Fellow, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Elodie Blanc: Postdoctoral position at MIT
• Willie Lahari: Statistical Office for the Government of Papua New Guinea
• Marie-Claire Robitaille-Blanchet: Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham (China), (previously Postdoctoral position, University of Western Australia)
• Jan-Jan Soon: Lecturer, Utara University of Malaysia
• Alvin Etang Ndip: Consultant, World Bank (previously Postdoctoral position, Yale University)
• Onur Koska: Assistant Professor, University of Tubingen (Germany), (previously Postdoctoral position, University of Würzburg (Germany)
• Kelvin KC Seah: Lecturer, Department of Economics, National University of Singapore
• Eng Joo (Andrew) Tan: Research Associate, University of New South Wales (previously Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University)

Further information on doctoral study at Otago

For further information about studying for a PhD at Otago, please:

• Read general information about doctoral study at Otago
• Contact the Department with any questions about the PhD degree in Economics

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School of Economics and Finance

The School of Economics and Finance is a New Zealand centre of expertise for the areas of finance, economics and property.

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The Massey University Trading Room was the first of its kind in New Zealand - fully-functional trading room to aid student learning.

It contains Bloomberg financial terminals, a live stock price ticker and information and news screens and gives Massey's finance students real-life fund management experience.

Location: Auckland campus

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Investment room

Massey's investment room in Palmerston North is a live trading room for finance students and others interested in investment, with computers displaying financial market dates and screens with rolling news coverage.

Location: Manawatū campus

Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the School of Economics and Finance.

Professor Sasha Molchanov

Sasha became the Acting Head of School of Economics and Finance after serving six years as an Associate Head of School. His research interests are in the fields of investments, international finance, econometrics, politics, and market design. Sasha is a faculty mentor of the Student Investment Club

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Professor Ben Marshall

Ben is currently ranked in the top 1% of authors on the international working paper website SSRN (based on downloads of his papers) and his work has been discussed in numerous newspapers and investment blogs and has won numerous other prizes and awards.

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Associate Professor Jing Chi

Jing’s prior work experience includes issuing IPOs in Huatai Securities Company in China and working as an Analyst in the London Stock Exchange. Jing became a CFA charter holder in 2005 and received the 2013 New Zealand National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award.

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Professor Hatice Ozer Balli

Hatice is an internationally recognised Applied Econometrician whose research spans international economics/finance, banking, property, energy economics, Islamic finance/economics and tourism economics.

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Professor Faruk Balli

Building on his PhD in International Economics, Faruk’s research and collaborations have spanned across the fields of International Economics/Finance, Islamic Finance Energy Economics and Tourism Economics.

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Associate Professor George Wu

George’s research focuses on empirical asset pricing models/theories and corporate finance theories, particularly in the fields of corporate social responsibility and investors’ lottery investing behaviour.

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Associate Professor Hung Do

Hung’s research focuses on energy finance, financial risk management, behavioural finance, sustainable finance, and financial markets. His works have been disseminated in well-regarded international conferences and published in high-quality journals. Hung has won several prizes and awards in both research and teaching.

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Associate Professor Yuk Ying Chang

Yuk Ying Chang has diverse research interests, including the impact of cross-border moves and capital flows, the survival of firms, forecast accuracy, and stock liquidity. Her professional activities involve grant application assessment, conference organisation and participation, journal editing, journal reviewing, and thesis examination.

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Meet our graduates

“During my study at Massey, I had opportunities to learn from the excellent professors and the students from different countries, to develop the ability to solve problems, and to build my own research capability. All of these are extremely useful in my daily work as a portfolio manager.”

Fund manager, Shanxi Securities

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“While challenging, I found the economics major at Massey to be extremely versatile, interesting and valuable. I developed strong quantitative, qualitative and critical thinking skills throughout. Skills that have enabled me to apply for, and deliver tangible change within, a wide range of jobs.”

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“Massey provided a supportive, affectionate and comfortable learning environment. The good databases, the facilities, the technical and administrative support, and support for international students such as myself significantly contributed to the accomplishment of my doctoral degree.”

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Economics and finance discussion papers

A number of research projects are in progress at Massey's School of Economics and Finance.

The current series contains papers primarily from the economics discipline. Comments and criticism are invited. Quotations may be made on explicit permission of the author(s). Papers that have been revised and published are not downloadable, but where available, the publication reference is made available.

2022 discussion papers

The effects of natural resource extraction on household expenditure patterns: Evidence from Mongolia , O. Narantungalag, 22 April

No pain, no gain? Mining pollution and morbidity , O Narantungalag, S. Hasan & M. Berka, 22 March.

The intended and unintended consequences of large electricity subsidies: evidence from Mongolia , O. Narantungalag, S. Hasan & M. Berka, 22 February

Proximity to health care centres and service intake: The case of Community Clinics in Bangladesh , S. Hasan, T. Akter (University of Technology Sydney), M. Jahan (UNICEF, Bangladesh), and A. Dewan (Curtin University), 22 January

2021 discussion papers

The Economics of Global Warming 1959 - 2020, W. Razzak, 21 March

The Ownership of Oil, Democracy, and Iraq's Past, Present and Future, W. Razzak, 21 February

Large-scale mining and local development: Evidence from Mongolia, O. Narantungalag, 21 January

2020 discussion papers

Measuring the Effect of Negative Interest Rate on New Zealand Banks , W. Razzak, 20 August

The Dynamic of COVID-19 New Infections under Different Stringent Policies , W. Razzak, 20 July

The Riddle of the Natural Rate of Interest , W. Razzak, 20 June

Does Testing for Coronavirus reduce Deaths? W. Razzak, 20 May

Modelling New Zealand COVID-19 Infection Rate,and the Efficacy of Social Distancing Policy , W. Razzaak, 20 April

Article length and citation outcomes , S. Hasan, R. Breunig (Australian National University), 20 March

Research Effort and Economic Growth , W. Razzak, 20 February

The Transitional Dynamic of Finance-Led Growth , W Razzak, E. Bentour (University of Grenoble Alpes), 20 January

2019 discussion papers

Consumers’ Perception of Food Safety Risk From Vegetables: A Rural - Urban Comparison , Thanh Mai Ha, Shamim Shakur, Kim hang Pham Do, 19 February

Exchange rate, remittances and expenditure of foreign-born households: evidence from Australia , S. Hasan, N. Ratna (Lincoln University), S. Shakur, 19 January

Email Kim Williams: [email protected]

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In Wellington we have a smaller number of staff, predominantly teaching staff. The Westpac Massey Fin-Ed Centre is also based in Wellington.

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Wellington School of Business and Government Ōrauariki

Phd programmes.

Victoria University of Wellington is the number one research institution in New Zealand—there’s no better place to gain your PhD.

Studying for a Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree represents the high point of academic achievement. It involves original and sustained research under academic supervision, and demands considerable intellectual ability, academic rigour, self-discipline, and dedication.

A PhD normally follows a Master's or Honours degree, or extensive relevant experience.

Key benefits of the PhD programme

PhD study offers many benefits including:

• the opportunity to make a significant contribution to both scholarship and practice
• the rewards of pursuing a topic of deep personal interest to you, building on prior education and experience through an individualised course of study
• the development of skills in research, analysis, theorising, methodology, and communication
• the opportunity to develop valuable networks with Wellington School of Business and Government’s interdisciplinary academic members and your fellow PhD candidates.

Application deadlines

There are three application deadlines— 1 March , 1 July , and 1 November each year.

To be considered, applications must be completed online and before the deadline.

More information

For any enquiries about PhD admission and enrolment, email [email protected]

Faculty of Graduate Research

The Faculty of Graduate Research (FGR) has overall responsibility for the University's PhD programmes.

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PhDs and Doctoral degrees

A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree offered at UC. Those who earn it must show significant intellectual achievement, high scholarly ability, and great breadth of knowledge. Studying towards a doctoral degree will give you fresh knowledge, enable you to discover new things, and develop new skills. Check out the options and requirements.

Perhaps you have a burning intellectual curiosity about something, wish to advance your career or even change career direction and increase your employability and earning capacity. Either way you can be sure that studying towards a doctoral degree will give you fresh knowledge, allow you to discover new things, and develop new skills.

A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree offered at UC. Those who earn it must demonstrate significant intellectual achievement, high scholarly ability, and great breadth of knowledge.

In addition to your thesis research, UC offers a number of workshops and seminars for thesis students to develop general skills such as career planning, time management, networking, and communication skills. See the 'Further study' section below for more details.

A number of  scholarships and awards  are available for doctoral students.

Qualification options keyboard_arrow_down

Doctor of philosophy (phd).

A  Doctor of Philosophy  involves extensive and sustained original research in a subject of your choice, with the results being presented in a thesis. It is normally the highest academic qualification available and is a mark of intellectual ability and independence, critical thinking, self-discipline, and commitment. PhDs are offered in a wide range of subjects at UC, and are by thesis only.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

A  Doctor of Education  is a specialised doctorate designed for professionals in education and related fields. Built on a cohort model of inquiry, the Doctor of Education provides a structured, supportive, rigorous approach to doctoral study. The Doctor of Education builds leadership and commitment, fosters scholarly excellence, and allows candidates to connect educational research with questions of professional practice. Please note that this programme is not open to international students as the first two years of study are conducted part-time, and student visa conditions only allow for full-time study.

Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc)

The  Doctor of Health Sciences  offers clinical and non-clinical professionals collaborative research opportunities and contacts with local industry. Please note that this programme is not open to international students as the first two years of study are conducted part-time, and student visa conditions only allow for full-time study.

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

The  Doctor of Musical Arts  is a doctoral degree that is specific to advanced research in music composition or performance. It comprises scholarly research in the form of a supervised research thesis and performance practice in the form of public music performance or the presentation of compositions. International students will need to pay international fees for this doctorate.

Entry requirements keyboard_arrow_down

The minimum requirements to apply for doctoral study are that you should have completed, or be in the process of completing, a research-focused  honours degree  or  master's degree . For PhD study you must achieve this degree at either the level of First-Class or Second-Class Division I (or equivalent).

For international applicants, our International Office, in consultation with your host department, look at your previous qualifications and transcripts to ensure that you have the necessary background required to complete a doctoral degree at UC. You are also required to meet UC's  English language requirements  for admission.

Find out how to  apply for PhD and Doctoral degrees .

See also  Financial and Enrolment Information — Doctorate, Master's Thesis, and Dissertation Students Policy .

Identifying a supervisor

As part of the admissions process, you must  identify a potential research supervisor  before submitting a formal application to enrol in a PhD. A supervisor must be an academic member of staff at UC. Over 500 academics at UC have expertise in a large variety of topics. To identify experts in a given area and to find out about the research interests of staff in your discipline, you can search the school or department website, or the  UC Research Profile database .

If you identify any possible supervisors, please contact them directly to discuss your potential research topic and ascertain whether suitable supervision might be available. When you have identified a supervisor who is willing to support your application to enrol please  complete the admissions documents.

For more information visit the  Find a Supervisor webpage .

Specific qualification entry requirements

If you are applying for  Doctor of Musical Arts  study, you will typically require an audition, interview, and/or submission of previous academic work and recommendation from  Te Kura Puoro | School of Music .

A  Doctor of Health Sciences  requires at least five years of relevant professional practice in the clinical or non-clinical industry.

How do I plan my degree? keyboard_arrow_down

During your doctoral degree you will investigate a research topic and develop your research skills, culminating in the submission of a thesis for examination. The thesis undergoes examination by two independent examiners prior to you having an oral examination.

Your thesis must:

• be an original contribution to knowledge/understanding in its field
• meet internationally recognised standards for doctoral research in its field
• demonstrate knowledge of literature relevant to the field to which it belongs, and the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgment of that literature
• be satisfactory in its method, in the quality and coherence of its expression, and in its scholarly presentation and format.

The doctoral programmes are structured in PhD reporting milestones to track your progress. These must be submitted to the  Dean of Postgraduate Research  and approved every six months.

The exact structure of programme will vary based on the nature of the research being undertaken and agreed to with your senior supervisor.

You can begin a  Doctor of Philosophy  or  Doctor of Musical Arts  on the first day of any month of the year, and should regard study and research as a full-time occupation throughout the calendar year. The minimum period of enrolment if you are a full-time student is 3 years (PhD students should normally complete their thesis within 4 years). There are provisions for you to apply for part-time study, in which case the minimum period is 4.5 years, and you should complete your thesis within 6 years.

The first two years of the  Doctor of Education  and  Doctor of Health Sciences  degrees are part-time for all. These doctorates will take 4-6 years to complete, or part-time only for up to 6 years.

Further study keyboard_arrow_down

Additional skills and training opportunities.

In addition to providing world-class research supervision and facilities, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury is committed to providing PhD students with a range of opportunities to engage in a broader research-based experience, equipping students with research skills, introductions to professional networks, and enhanced career opportunities.

A UC doctoral graduate will not only be recognised for the quality of their research thesis, but will also have additional research skills and experiences.

While doing a doctorate at UC, you will have the opportunity to participate in:

• transferable skills workshops
• research design and statistical analysis workshops
• 'Surviving your Thesis' seminars
• networking opportunities, within and outside the University
• presentation experience
• social events.

Many doctoral students also have the opportunity to undertake teaching assistance work.

For social networking and events,  UC Postgraduate Students' Association (UC PGSA)  is run by students and works closely with the Dean of Postgraduate Research to enhance the UC postgraduate student experience.

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Why study Economics?

Studying Economics will help you see the world in a different light; and understand how to apply this new perspective to help resolve issues in our society. You'll learn how to help people, governments and businesses make better decisions about using natural and financial resources to meet different goals.

Economists contribute to government decision-making on many different issues, such as shaping new laws and taxes, or advising on international trade agreements. They can also be involved in recommending incentives and penalties geared towards changing people's behaviour, such as encouraging people to leave their car at home.

You'll learn how to explain the reasons for different market structures, analyse the implications of government policy, anticipate how people might react to price changes, and demonstrate the gains from trade.

If you're passionate about business, current affairs, finance or maths then economics may be a good fit for you. Economics brings together ideas from many different areas: politics, psychology, sociology, geography, law and statistics.

Career Opportunities

• Business analyst
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Study Economics in these qualifications

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Climate Change
• Postgraduate Diploma
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Learn from the best

You'll be taught by lecturers who are also world-leading economists. Waikato is not only ranked #1 in New Zealand, but also in the top 3% of institutions globally for economics research over the last 10 years (IDEAS/RePEc rankings). Six of the country’s top 20 research economists are based here at Waikato Management School.

While studying at Waikato, there'll be plenty of opportunities for you to make new friends, such as through the  Economics Discussion Group . This is a student-led group that gets together regularly to discuss economic issues.

Internationally recognised

You'll study at our internationally recognised Waikato Management School, which is in the top 1% of business schools globally thanks to our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA.

Waikato is also ranked in the world's top 175 universities for Business and Economics in the  Times Higher Education World University  Subject Rankings .

Qualifications

If you wish to take Economics as your 1st Major subject, you'll need to enrol for either the Bachelor of Business , the  Bachelor of Arts , the  Bachelor of Social Sciences , or the  Bachelor of Climate Change .

Otherwise you can normally take it as a 2nd Major (8 papers) or Minor subject (4 papers) for any other bachelor's degree offered at the University of Waikato.

If you'd like to gain specialist expertise through postgraduate research, take a look at our  Master of Management Studies in Economics.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies

This course is available

Level of Study

Doctoral Degree

Next start date

Expected Jul 2024

University of Auckland

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

This course is also offered at overseas locations.

Development Studies seeks to understand how societies, regions and communities change and critically examines the policies and practices of governments, NGOs, international donors and other development agents to facilitate social transformation and improve the quality of life in so-called ‘developing’ countries.

Our programme brings together students from diverse academic, professional and cultural backgrounds. Our high-quality academic training will give you a strong foundation to take on some of the most pressing issues facing humanity, such as hunger, poverty, social injustice and rising inequality.

Research opportunities

We welcome PhD research proposals in areas such as:

• Community-driven development
• Gender, health and education
• Migration and displacement
• Land policies and land grabbing
• Climate adaptation and mitigation
• Post-disaster response and recovery
• Tourism and development

We look forward to your contribution to the intellectual life and research profile of Development Studies.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On possible to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.

Entry criteria

Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours

Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

English language requirements

• IELTS (Academic) - Overall score of 6.5 and no bands below 6.0
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) - Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21
• Paper-based TOEFL - Overall score of 68 and a writing score of 21
• C1 Advanced (previously - Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) - Overall score of 176 and no bands below 169
• C2 Proficiency (previously - Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)) - Overall score of 176 and no bands below 169
• University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) - Grade of B-
• University of Auckland English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) - Grade of B-
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 and no PTE Communicative score below 50
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) - 85
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) - ISE III with a pass in all 4 components
• LanguageCert - International ESOL - C1 Expert (LRWS) with a high pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill OR C2 Mastery with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill
• AEMG English for Academic Purposes Direct Entry Program (AEAP DEP) Final Exam - Overall score of 70% with no section below 65%
• English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment - Assessment Level 3 overall and no skill below Level 2

Studying in NZ

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• Ngā akoranga | Study
• Scholarships and awards
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University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships

Find information about the doctoral scholarships offered by the University of Auckland.

The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship (UoADS) is a competitive scholarship scheme in 4 rounds each year. This is what you can get:

In 2024, the University of Auckland Scholarship comprises:

• a tax-free stipend of $33,825 per annum with an annual CPI adjustment to the stipend value for up to 36 months FTE*
• tuition fees for up to 36 months FTE
• single student Health Insurance compulsory charge
• a further six months of scholarship funding may be available following the initial scholarship

* Duration of stipend varies according to doctoral programme, see the Regulations for more details.

CPI Adjustment

To maintain the real value of the UoADS, from 2024 onwards an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment will be made to your stipend. This will come into effect on 1 January each year. The CPI adjustment reflects the November Monetary Policy Statement, put out by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). In that Statement, the Reserve Bank forecasts the expect annual CPI movement for the following year. You can find the Policy Statement on the RBNZ site (just search for ‘November monetary statement’). We use the annualised December forecast for the following year, and adjust the UoADS stipend accordingly. When we make the annual adjustment, we also take into account any difference between the current year’s CPI forecast and the actual CPI movement in that calendar year. That way, the spending power of the stipend is maintained. Why do we use the RBNZ forecast?  The RBNZ’s forecast is a crucial component of the Bank’s monetary policy decisions, and thus is critical to the economy of New Zealand. Using their November forecast for the following year means we’re using the most up-to-date information we have, from a trusted, external source. Why do we use the annualised December forecast?   The RBNZ provides both quarterly and an annualised forecast. As we’re setting the stipend for the entire year ahead, we use the annualised December forecast, as that accounts for the 12 month period. Why do we use a forecast rather than an actual CPI movement?   We want to ensure that your stipend reflects anticipated costs for the year, rather than making you wait a whole year, and then ‘back paying’ actual CPI. This is particularly important if this is your final year of UoADS. What happens if the forecast isn’t accurate?   When we set the stipend for the following year we adjust the amount to take into account any difference between the forecast for the current year and the actual CPI movement PLUS the forecast CPI for the following year. That way we can make sure that your stipend maintains its real value. Does this mean my stipend could decrease?   Potentially, yes. If New Zealand experienced negative CPI (which has only happened once in the last 60+ years) we might reduce your stipend. But if actual CPI during any given year is below the forecast, we won’t make an adjustment during that calendar year. We will only make a negative adjustment as part of the annual review process, based on the RBNZ November Monetary Policy Statement. That might mean that the stipend for the following year doesn’t increase as much. The key point to remember is our aim to maintain the buying power of your stipend. What does this mean for my stipend in 2024?   When we refreshed the UoADS scheme in 2023 we increased the stipend more than actual CPI. For 2024, based on the RBNZ forecast, we will increase your stipend by 2.5%. This means the stipend increases to $33,825.00 from 1 January 2024. The payment you receive on 11 January 2024 will reflect the new stipend rate (from 1 January).

How to apply

It’s easy! Any student who is to be offered a place in a doctoral programme will be eligible for scholarship consideration prior to receiving their offer of place.

When you apply for your doctoral programme, you will have the opportunity to confirm whether or not you also wish to be considered for a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship — you don’t need to apply separately.

If you already have scholarship funding and/or don't want to be considered for this scholarship, confirm this in your application form so that your application can be processed as quickly as possible.

If you are still completing your qualifying programme and/or have not yet received your final grades from your qualifying programme, you can still be considered for a scholarship. It might mean that you receive a conditional offer for a scholarship and/or admission to the doctoral programme.

Scholarship offers will be made alongside offers of places in doctoral programmes, so if you indicate you wish to be considered for a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, your admissions offer will be made as part of one of the four annual rounds below.

If you change your mind at any time during the admissions process, please let our Doctoral Admissions team know so that your admissions offer does not need to be made during one of the four annual rounds below.

The University reserves the right to determine an application during a later round if it is not possible to conclude the matter in accordance with the dates specified.

Guaranteed scholarships

There are guaranteed scholarships for:

• Māori applicants with a New Zealand university qualifying programme GPA of 7.0 or above who are offered a place in a doctoral programme
• Pacific applicants with a New Zealand university qualifying programme GPA of 7.0 or above who are offered a place in a doctoral programme.

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations

Waipapa taumata rau | university of auckland doctoral scholarship strategy.

• To nurture, recruit, and retain outstanding research talent (candidates and supervisors)
• To support excellent research and the creation of high-quality research outputs
• To grow Māori and Pacific research scholarship (candidates, topics, supervisors)
• To develop / strengthen relationships with Māori and Pacific communities
• To support Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) in research (candidates, topics and supervisors)
• To strengthen, grow, and diversify the pipeline of research and external research income
• To develop / strengthen transdisciplinary research collaborations
• To boost knowledge mobilisation, research translation, and research impact

Faculty/LSRI/URC Doctoral Scholarship Strategies and Opportunities

Each faculty/Large Scale Research Institute (LSRI)/University Research Centre (URC) will advertise their scholarship opportunities and strategies for selection on their websites:   

MĀPIHI: Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre . Size: 82.0 kB. Type: PDF .

Download this PDF file. Size: 82.0 kB .

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The University's objectives include supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion. Scholarship selection committees will consider these objectives when making their scholarship recommendations.

As an applicant to the University, you have already shared some information with us about your gender and ethnicity, and this information will be available to the scholarship selection committee.

You may have also disclosed whether you are disabled, belong to the Rainbow community, or have a refugee background. You have the option to share this personal information as part of your personal profile, at https://iam.auckland.ac.nz/identity .

If you choose to share this personal information with the University, and indicate that you would like the scholarship selection committee to be aware of your personal information when they consider your application, the scholarship selection committee will be able to access your information. This information will remain confidential to the selection committee. It will not be used by the committee for any purpose other than considering your application. If you decide not to disclose your information then the committee will only be aware of your gender and ethnicity.

Taking up your scholarship

Scholarships must be taken up by one of the dates prescribed in the letter of award, otherwise the Scholarship offer will be forfeited. Enrolment dates are shown in the tables above.

If you are an international student, you may need a letter confirming your funding for your visa application. You can request this letter through Student Services Online. For instructions on how to do this visit Doctoral scholarships information and forms .  

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the information we have supplied is correct and up to date. However, the  University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations  take precedence over all other material.

You are strongly advised to read the scholarship regulations for complete information, to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for scholarship consideration, and that you understand the implications of any regulations, awarding value and selection criteria.

Related links

• Doctoral scholarships information and forms
• University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship Extension
• Academic Career Advancement Programme (ACAP)
• Doctoral training, development and opportunities
• Doctoral research and travel scholarships

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