The University will be awarding University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships to high-achieving doctoral candidates applying for admission to an approved doctoral programme at the University of Auckland for 2020. Scholarships are guaranteed for all ‘straight-A’ students, provided their most recent qualifying programme was completed at a New Zealand university.
Students can be considered for a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship only at the time of application for a place in the programme.
University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship:
Doctoral stipends are increasing for 2020 to $28,200 p.a. (plus domestic fees), with the possibility of a six-month extension. There will be an annual cost-of-living adjustment to the doctoral stipend.
New doctoral applicants with a grade point average (GPA) of 8.00 or above, from their most recent qualifying programme, will be guaranteed a scholarship provided the qualifying programme was completed at a New Zealand university.
New Māori and domestic Pacific doctoral applicants with a GPA of 7.50 or above,* from their most recent qualifying programme, will be guaranteed a scholarship provided the qualifying programme was completed at a New Zealand university.
1. A PhD, DClinPsy or the research component of an approved doctorate.
2. There are eight universities in New Zealand: University of Auckland, AUT, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, Massey University, University of Otago, University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington.
3. Citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand.
- Outstanding new doctoral applicants who completed their most recent qualifying programme for doctoral study at an overseas institution will be considered for a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship based on performance in the qualifying programme (including the standing of the awarding institution).
- Other new doctoral applicants may be considered for a scholarship at the discretion of the Faculty Dean, provided they have a GPA/E of no less than 7.00 in the programme that qualifies them for doctoral study or are being considered for doctoral admission on the basis of an exceptional research record. The number of scholarships available across the University through the discretion of Faculty Deans is very limited, and the Faculty Dean may choose not to exercise this discretion in any given year. All University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships are awarded at the time of offer of place only.
For full eligibility and selection criteria, please consult the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations.
Candidates who are not successful in securing a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship are encouraged to apply for other scholarships offered by both the University and generous donors and organisations. You can find a list of these on the Scholarships website.
University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations
For more information, please read the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships regulations.
How can I find out if I am eligible for a guaranteed scholarship?
The University does not assess eligibility for a University of Auckland postgraduate scholarship prior to application for a place on a programme. So you must submit an application for admission in order to be considered for a scholarship. You will be advised of your eligibility once we have received your final grades and you have a firm offer of place for your chosen programme.
If you need to find out your grade point average (GPA) and you are a current student at the University of Auckland, the grades from your current programme of study are shown on your transcript, which can be accessed from Student Services Online at any time.
How to apply
It’s easy! When you apply for a place at the University, 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.
There are no scholarship “rounds” or application forms. This means you can apply for a place on a doctoral programme when you are ready, safe in the knowledge that you will also be assessed for the scholarship when your grades are confirmed.
Scholarship offers will be made alongside offers of places in doctoral programmes.
Taking up your scholarship
While you will be asked to initially confirm acceptance of a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship within two weeks of it being offered, you will also need to enrol at the University in order for the scholarship to be awarded.
Once you receive a firm offer of place, you then have up to three months to start your programme and take up your scholarship if you are a domestic student, or up to six months if you’re an international student. For the Doctor of Clinical Psychology and the Doctor of Education, you need to be enrolled by the fixed start date of those programmes for the scholarship otherwise your scholarship will lapse.
What is a qualifying programme?
A qualifying programme is the most recently completed programme of study that qualifies you for entry to the doctoral programme for which you are applying.
Please see the FAQs and the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations for further information.
How is the qualifying programme grade point average (GPA) calculated?
The GPA is usually calculated across all courses attempted in the qualifying programme. For exceptions, such as undergraduate honours degrees, see the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship regulations.
New Zealand university grades are assigned a numerical value on a nine-point scale:
9 for an A+
8 for an A
7 for an A-
6 for a B+
5 for a B
4 for a B-
3 for a C+
2 for a C
1 for a C-
0 for a D+, D, D-; did not sit; did not complete
Courses where the only grades are Pass, Fail, Completed (CPL) or W (Withdrawn) do not contribute to the GPA.
Each grade value is then multiplied by the points value for that course.
The grade points are added together, and the sum divided by the total points value of all courses counting towards the GPA.
*If your whole programme at a New Zealand university consists of only one course (e.g. a thesis enrolment), the numerical GPA value for your grade in that course is your GPA for the programme (e.g. 7 for an A-; 8 for an A). A fractional GPA (e.g. 7.50) is not possible.
If your qualifying programme is from a recognised overseas university, we will convert your final grades into a University of Auckland equivalent.
Courses that are not assigned to your qualifying programme will not be included in the qualifying programme GPA.