The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship is the university’s main doctoral award, granted by the Vice-Chancellor on faculty or institute nomination.
It funds high-achieving domestic and international candidates who are admitted to a PhD or another named doctorate in Auckland and whose research fits the university’s and faculty’s strategy.
Benefits & funding
- Tax-free stipend of NZ$35,468 a year (2026 rate, CPI-adjusted; pro-rated in the first year).
- Compulsory tuition fees and Student Services Fee; compulsory health insurance for international students.
- Up to 42 months FTE (EdD and DHSc: stipend for up to 24 months of the thesis part).
- No more than 750 hours of paid work per 12 months; cannot be held with another University-funded doctoral scholarship or a foreign-government postgraduate award.
Eligibility
- Applying to a PhD, DMedSc, DClinPsy, DocFA, EdD or DHSc at the University and eligible (or conditionally eligible) for admission.
- Domestic students, or international students eligible to pay domestic fees. For the PhD, non-NZ citizens qualify while living in New Zealand for the whole enrolment (5 weeks’ leave a year; up to 12 months abroad in total for research that cannot be done in NZ).
- International students cannot hold it for the DMedSc, DClinPsy, DocFA, EdD or DHSc.
- Not if you already hold a doctorate, have been paid this scholarship before, or are already enrolled in a doctorate (approved transfers excepted).
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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Application process
- 1Apply for admission to the doctoral programme by a round’s closing date (this round: 1 November 2026).
- 2In that application, indicate that you wish to be considered; there is no separate scholarship form.
- 3The faculty, institute or centre committee nominates candidates; the Vice-Chancellor grants awards.
Program timeline
1 November 2026
Round 4 closes (other rounds close 1 February, 1 May and 1 August)
Scholarship offers
By 1 February 2027
Enrolment and start
March–June 2027 (domestic) / April–September 2027 (international)