Support and Resourcing

Explore some of the research resources available to you at Victoria University of Wellington during your doctoral study.

In addition to the guidance you will receive from your academic supervisors there is a variety of practical support available to you during your doctoral study.

Resource Agreement for Thesis Students

In 2021 the University and the Postgraduate Students’ Association (PGSA) negotiated the Resource Agreement for Thesis Students (RAfTS). The agreement applies to PhD and professional doctorate students as well as those undertaking a Master’s degree with a 90 or 120 point thesis.

RAfTS guarantees, among other things, your access to the following services:

  • A desk with an ergonomic chair and university computer (subject to the exceptions in paragraph 4C of the agreement)
  • Common rooms and kitchens on the same basis as staff, except in situations, agreed in writing with the Dean FGR, in which it would be impractical to provide such access
  • Standard office consumables for research purposes, including pens, paper, notebooks, scissors and staplers
  • Printing and photocopying for research purposes

Contact your school’s Postgraduate Coordinator or Postgraduate Administrator if you have any questions about the provision of these services.

Administrative support

For any School specific information or questions contact your school administrator, they can also talk to you about how you can participate in your school’s research community while studying from a distance. Your school administrator can help with login details to access the VUW system, office space and building access.

Find your School contact details from the Faculties and Schools list.

The Postgraduate Research Student Advisers can answer questions about your enrolment, doctoral regulations and procedures. If you have questions, you should contact: fgr-postgrads@vuw.ac.nz

Statistical advice

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers a number of undergraduate and graduate courses in applied statistics which you may be able to enrol in during the provisional period of your doctoral studies.

The University also has a statistical consulting service. You should contact our consultant at an early stage of your project, to help ensure that the planned procedures and study size will be appropriate for the proposed work.