About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington offers funding for high-achieving domestic and international students pursuing a PhD in New Zealand.
The scholarship supports doctoral research across a wide range of academic disciplines and offers approximately 110 scholarships each year.
Successful recipients receive an annual NZ$32,000 stipend together with domestic tuition fees for up to three years, subject to the scholarship's terms and conditions.
Areas of Study
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship is available across a broad range of academic disciplines at Victoria University of Wellington, including:
Architecture
Business and Government
Design Innovation
Education
Engineering
Health
Humanities and Social Sciences
Law
Music
Technology
Science
This broad disciplinary coverage allows applicants from different academic and research backgrounds to apply for doctoral funding.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful Wellington Doctoral Scholarship recipients are eligible for:
NZ$32,000 annual stipend
Domestic tuition fees for up to three years
Full-time support for doctoral research
Access to the university's research environment and academic resources
Opportunities to work with experienced researchers and supervisors
The scholarship is normally tenable for three years.
However, the scholarship duration may be reduced for candidates who have already been enrolled in a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington for more than six months when the scholarship is awarded.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is open to New Zealand and international applicants who intend to undertake a full-time doctoral programme at Victoria University of Wellington.
Graduates of universities both inside and outside New Zealand are eligible to apply.
Applicants may either be preparing to begin their doctoral studies or, subject to the applicable conditions, may already have commenced doctoral study at Victoria University of Wellington.
The scholarship is specifically intended for candidates pursuing their first doctoral qualification. Applicants who already hold a doctorate are not eligible.
Academic Requirements
Selection is highly competitive and is based primarily on academic merit and research potential.
Successful candidates are generally expected to have completed a bachelor's or master's degree with academic distinction equivalent to a First Class Honours degree at a New Zealand university.
Strong applicants are expected to demonstrate some or all of the following:
Excellent academic performance
Strong academic references
Demonstrated potential for high-quality research
A record of publication in high-quality academic journals appropriate to their level of experience
Strong alignment between their proposed research and the university's research priorities
The selection process may also consider how closely a candidate's research interests align with the relevant school, institute, centre or potential research partnerships.
Application Deadlines
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship has three application rounds each year.
The current closing dates are:
Application RoundDeadlineRound 11 MarchRound 21 JulyRound 31 November
Completed online applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm on the relevant closing date.
Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. All required supporting documents, including references, must also be received by the applicable deadline.
How to Apply
Applicants interested in the Wellington Doctoral Scholarship should prepare their application according to the university's requirements and submit it through the designated online application system.
Before applying, candidates should ensure that they:
Meet the academic requirements for doctoral study.
Have a suitable research area or proposed research direction.
Prepare the required academic and supporting documents.
Arrange the required academic references.
Ensure their research interests align with the relevant university research areas.
Submit the complete application before the applicable deadline.
Scholarship Summary
DetailInformationScholarshipWellington Doctoral ScholarshipHost InstitutionTe Herenga Waka—Victoria University of WellingtonStudy LevelPhD / DoctoralStudy LocationNew ZealandEligible ApplicantsNew Zealand and international studentsAnnual StipendNZ$32,000Tuition SupportDomestic tuition feesFunding DurationUp to 3 yearsApplication Rounds3 per yearDeadlines1 March, 1 July, 1 NovemberApplication Closing Time4:30 pm on the relevant deadline
How to apply