Woolf Fisher Scholarship at Cambridge — PhD Scholarship

The Woolf Fisher Trust offers up to three scholarships each year for doctoral research and study at the University of Cambridge. Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara administers the award, with the Cambridge Trust supporting the Cambridge scholarship listing.

Recipients relocate to Cambridge for three years of full-time study, or four years when their faculty requires a four-year doctoral programme. The award seeks applicants with outstanding academic ability, leadership potential, integrity, vision, energy and a commitment to contribute to New Zealand.

Benefits & funding

The current Universities New Zealand scholarship page lists a maintenance allowance of £21,500 per year of full-time study. Its linked regulations PDF still lists £18,000 per year, so applicants should confirm the current amount with the administrator.
The Trust pays the approved University Composition Fee, including the College Fee.
The award provides one non-transferable economy airfare to and from London each year.
Universities New Zealand estimates the total value at approximately NZ$70,000 per year.
Up to three scholarships are normally awarded annually.
Funding normally lasts three years and may extend to four years for a faculty-mandated four-year doctoral programme, subject to satisfactory progress.

Eligibility

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens.
Applicants must be living in New Zealand when they apply; applications from students already living overseas are not considered.
Applicants must be under 30 in the application year, meaning they must not reach their thirtieth birthday by 31 December of that year.
Applicants must have attended secondary school in New Zealand for at least two years.
Applicants must hold, or expect to receive, a first-class honours degree from a New Zealand university and be eligible for doctoral study at Cambridge.
The scholarship does not fund postdoctoral study.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Eligible nationalities
New Zealand
Residence required
New Zealand
Education required
Bachelor · Master
Age requirement
≤ 29 yrs

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Application process

1
Check the eligibility rules and research the intended Cambridge doctoral programme, including possible supervisors.
2
When applications are open, create or use an account in the Universities New Zealand online scholarship system and submit the application by 1 August.
3
Provide proof of New Zealand citizenship, academic records, a photograph, three confidential referees and a document covering the proposed research, leadership, activities beyond academic work and future contribution to New Zealand.
4
If shortlisted, attend an in-person selection interview in Auckland.
5
Successful candidates receive guidance on Cambridge admission; the scholarship is confirmed after acceptance by a University faculty and a College.

Program timeline

Applications open.
1 April each year
1 August each year
Applications close; the most recent deadline was 1 August 2026.
Decisions are made after shortlisted candidates are interviewed in Auckland.
September
Scholars begin residence at Cambridge.
October in the year following selection