The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship (UoADS) offers an excellent opportunity for outstanding PhD candidates to pursue their research at New Zealand’s leading university. This competitive scholarship is available in four rounds each year and supports doctoral students in all fields of study.

In 2025, recipients will receive a tax-free annual stipend of NZD $34,569, full tuition fee coverage for up to 36 months, and compulsory health insurance for international students. An additional six months of funding may be available depending on the doctoral programme.

Starting 1 January 2026, new updates will take effect, extending the scholarship duration to 42 months for most doctoral candidates and 30 months for those in DHSc or EdD programmes. The scholarship will also allow part-time study without special approval, and the application process will be separate from program admission for greater flexibility.

Applications are considered automatically when applying for a doctoral programme at the University of Auckland—no separate scholarship form is needed. Offers are made alongside admission decisions in four annual rounds: March, June, September, and December for 2025, with similar cycles for 2026.

The UoADS aims to nurture world-class researchers, promote equity and diversity, and strengthen Māori and Pacific peoples’ participation in research. Guaranteed scholarships are available for Māori and Pacific applicants with a GPA of 7.0 or higher from a New Zealand university.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline (2025):
  • 1 March, 1 June, 1 September, 1 December
• Application Deadline (2026):
  • 1 November 2025, 1 February 2026, 1 May 2026, 1 August 2026
• Scholarship Offer Dates: Two months after each deadline
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Host Institution: University of Auckland
• Eligible Countries: All countries
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: High-achieving doctoral applicants in any research field
• Field: Open to all fields under
• Study Level: Doctoral (PhD, DHSc, EdD)
• Duration: 42 months
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: New Zealand

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship benefits are as follows:

• Annual Stipend: NZD $34,569 (tax-free) per annum, adjusted annually based on the CPI (Consumer Price Index)
• Tuition Fees: Full tuition coverage for up to 36–42 months (depending on program)
• Health Insurance: Single-student compulsory health insurance, if applicable
• Extension: Additional 6 months of scholarship funding possible
• Guaranteed Scholarships:
  • Māori and Pacific applicants with a GPA of 7.0+ from New Zealand universities are guaranteed funding upon admission.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold or expect to hold an offer (or conditional offer) for a doctoral program at the University of Auckland.
• Have outstanding academic records (especially research-based qualifications).
• Meet the English language requirements of the doctoral program.
• Commit to full-time or approved part-time doctoral study.
• Demonstrate research potential aligned with the university’s priority areas.

Selection Criteria

Selection is competitive and based on:

• Academic excellence (GPA and research background)
• Research proposal quality and potential contribution
• Alignment with the university’s strategic research areas
• Recommendations from academic referees
• Consideration of equity, diversity, and inclusion factors, including Māori, Pacific, refugee background, disability, or gender identity (optional disclosure)

How to Apply?

• Apply for a doctoral program at the University of Auckland.
• During the application, indicate your interest in being considered for the Doctoral Scholarship — no separate scholarship application is required.
• If you already have other funding, indicate it in your application.
• Applications are automatically considered in one of the four annual rounds.
• Successful applicants receive both admission and scholarship offers.

Apply Now

Further details are available on the official University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships website.

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