Create new knowledge through original research
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) involves original and sustained research, mentored by an academic supervisor. It’s an opportunity to make new discoveries, address some of the big issues of our time, challenge yourself, and develop a mix of transferable and specialised skills.
A PhD is the starting point for most careers in research and higher education. Our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in the world, and often become leaders in industry and government.
You’ll be mentored by our researchers, and work with them to find solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. They’ll support you on your journey to produce innovative, robust, and relevant research.
PhD study at Victoria University of Wellington
Who can apply to study for a PhD
A PhD normally follows another postgraduate degree, such as a Master’s or Honours degree. For some programmes, you may also need relevant experience.
To study a PhD you’ll need to either:
- have a Bachelor’s degree with Honours from a New Zealand university, with an overall GPA of no less than 6 (letter grade B+)
- have a Master’s degree from a New Zealand university, with an overall GPA of no less than 6 (letter grade B+)
- be enrolled in a Master’s degree by thesis at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and meet the requirements to convert it to a PhD
- provide the Dean – Faculty of Graduate Research with adequate evidence of your training and ability to study a PhD.
As well as qualifying for entry, you’ll need to be accepted by the relevant Head of School and the Associate Dean – Postgraduate Research.
How you’ll study
Full time students are expected to complete their research and submit a thesis within three to four years.
We foster multidisciplinary research and single-area projects across our academic faculties.
When you start
You can start your PhD study on the first day of any month from February to November.
Finding your supervisors
You don’t need to have a confirmed supervisor before you apply. However, we do encourage you to research potential supervisors and discuss your project ideas with them.
The relevant School will allocate your supervisor—they’ll take into account your research interests and the available resources.
You can search our directory to find academics working in your area of interest.
Working with your supervisors
PhD research is always done under supervision. You’ll normally have two academic supervisors who have considerable research experience and knowledge of your discipline.
You’ll work closely with your academic supervisors throughout your studies—they’ll be your guides, critics, and mentors.
Your thesis
The PhD thesis is a major piece of work that demonstrates your ability to research independently. Your thesis must make a significant new contribution to knowledge or understanding in your field.
Your research may include critical, experimental, theoretical, or creative components, but the end result must be a single, integrated study that’s a maximum of 100,000 words.
Unless you have approval from the Dean – Faculty of Graduate Research, your thesis must be written in English or te reo Māori.
If you have appropriate language skills and choose to write your thesis in te reo Māori, you should discuss your plans with your supervisor as early as possible and get approval from the Dean – Faculty of Graduate Research.
Examination
Your thesis must meet international standards of excellence. It will be assessed by three examiners—one from this University and two external examiners.
This assessment is then followed by an oral examination, known as a ‘viva’.
What you’ll learn
Completing a PhD takes at least three years of largely self-directed study, demanding intellectual effort, self-discipline, and dedication.
You can study for a PhD in a wide range of subjects, if appropriate supervision is available.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student, you can study part time and complete your PhD in up to eight years.
Professional doctorates
As well as the fully research-focused PhD, we offer professional doctorates for emerging leaders in health, music, or composition. This study combines coursework and sector-relevant research, often studied part time.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for full-time PhD study vary depending on the area of your research. The average yearly fees are listed by subject category in the postgraduate thesis section of the fees for domestic students page.
The New Zealand Government subsidises fees for international PhD candidates who live and study in New Zealand. This means that international PhD students may be eligible to pay the same ‘domestic’ fees as PhD students who are citizens, residents, or permanent residents of New Zealand.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. Before enrolment, a candidate for the PhD degree shall:
(a) have completed a Bachelor’s degree with Honours or a Master’s degree at a New Zealand university, with an overall GPA of no less than 6 (letter grade B+); or
(b) be currently enrolled in a Master’s thesis at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and meet the requirements for conversion to a PhD (refer to the PhD Procedures); or
(c) produce evidence to the satisfaction of the Dean, Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research (FGR), of adequate training and ability to proceed with the proposed course for the degree.
2. Candidates must qualify for entry and be accepted by the head of school and the relevant Associate Dean (PGR).
3. Where a candidate qualifies for entry under 1(b) above, the candidate will be deemed to have been provisionally registered for the PhD from the date of first enrolment for the Master’s thesis.
If you have qualifications from outside New Zealand
- If you have a four-year Bachelor's degree graded in a four-point GPA system, you need to have a GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0.
- If you have a Bachelor's degree graded in the British system—including India—you must have been awarded the degree with first or upper second-class Honours.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the PhD
4. The course of study for a PhD consists of a programme of research and the completion of a thesis carried out under supervision as set out in the Doctoral Regulations.
5. The research will normally be conducted at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
6. The thesis must be a body of work that demonstrates the candidate’s ability to carry out independent research, and constitutes a significant and original contribution to knowledge or understanding. This contribution may include critical, experimental, theoretical, or creative components, but the end result must be a single integrated study.
7. The work for the thesis must not have been submitted for another qualification at this or any other university.
Enrolment and registration
8. A candidate must be continuously enrolled until the completed thesis is lodged in the University Library, unless they withdraw from the qualification, or have their enrolment terminated by the University, or fail the qualification.
9. A candidate shall in the first instance be provisionally registered for the degree.
(a) Full registration is gained by demonstrating satisfactory progress during the provisional period, and meeting criteria as set out in the Doctoral Regulations.
(b) Up to 60 points of coursework may be required as part of the PhD and any coursework undertaken must normally be completed within the period of provisional registration.
(c) When full registration is confirmed, the period of provisional registration is counted as part of the minimum and maximum periods as defined in section 10 below.
10. Except with the permission of the Dean (FGR), the minimum and maximum periods from the time of first enrolment (excluding any approved period(s) of suspension) until submission of a PhD thesis for examination shall be as follows:
(a) A full-time candidate shall be enrolled for a minimum of 36 months.
(b) A full-time candidate may be enrolled for a maximum of 48 months.
(c) For a candidate permitted to enrol part time for part, or all, of their programme, the minimum and maximum periods shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.
11. On application from a candidate, the Associate Dean (PGR) may approve a suspension of registration, for a period of not less than one month. During a student’s candidature, the total period of suspension shall not usually exceed 12 months. During a suspension the candidate will pay no tuition fees.
12. Extensions to the maximum period prior to submission of the thesis may be granted by the Dean (FGR) and shall not usually exceed 12 months. Consideration of extensions shall take account of the candidate’s personal circumstances and the nature of the research project and consent shall neither be unreasonably withheld nor given without good cause. All calculations will exclude any periods of approved suspension.
13. A candidate’s enrolment may be terminated if they fail to make satisfactory progress or if they do not fulfil the requirements of the examination process.
14. Enrolment for the PhD degree may be converted to an enrolment in a Master’s degree.
Note: refer to Doctoral Regulations: for PhD and other Doctorates with Theses, and procedures.
Examination
15. The examination for the PhD degree will comprise an examination of the thesis and an oral defence of the thesis as set out in the Doctoral Regulations. Examination 15. The examination for the PhD degree will comprise an examination of the thesis and an oral defence of the thesis as set out in the Doctoral Regulations.
Applying to study
All applications are made online. To apply, you need to:
- check that you meet the entry requirements
- arrange references from two referees
- provide a sample of your academic writing in English
- prepare an overview of your intended research project
- provide certified copies of academic transcripts for all qualifications—except those you received at Victoria University of Wellington.
You don’t need to provide a full research proposal.
Application deadlines
There are three application deadlines each year:
- 1 March
- 1 July
- 1 November.
When you’ll hear from us
You can generally expect to hear back from us within six to eight weeks after the application deadline.
How we make decisions
PhD study is highly competitive—we accept fewer than half the applications we receive each year.
Even if you meet one or more of the four application criteria, you’re not guaranteed admission to a PhD programme.
Admission is based on a range of factors, including:
- the strength of your academic and research background
- the availability of appropriate supervision
- the availability of resources required to support your proposed research
- the overall capacity of the University to support research in your chosen field.
Why Wellington
Study at Victoria University of Wellington—Te Herenga Waka for research-informed learning in a compact, vibrant capital city. Wellington and our University has strong links to government, law, policy, creative industries, and environmental science.
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities available for your area of study.
Wellington Doctoral Scholarship
These are the main scholarship for our PhD students—they’re awarded on academic merit and are open to all full-time applicants. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and availability is limited.
The scholarship will pay you a $32,000 annual living allowance and will cover the cost of your tuition. It won’t cover additional fees such as insurance and the Student Services Fee.
You don’t need to submit a separate application for a Wellington Doctoral Scholarship—the application is part of your overall PhD admission application.
Find out more about the scholarship
Student Services Fee information
Guaranteed Wellington Doctoral Scholarship
You’re guaranteed a scholarship if you've achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 8.5 or above in your qualifying Master's or Honours degree. This degree needs to have been completed at a New Zealand university within 12 months before your PhD application.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Scholarships for PhD study
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This scholarship is offered to women graduates intending to study at Victoria University of Wellington in a course leading to a higher degree, which includes research in some field related to the general purpose of teaching or promoting the knowledge of home or domestic science among the women of New Zealand (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Education or Science).
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This scholarship has been established in honour of Sir Lloyd Geering to support students undertaking postgraduate study in Religious Studies. Sir Lloyd was the founding Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He contributed greatly to the study of religion in New Zealand and to thinking about transformations of religion in modernity. The horizons of his...
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These Scholarships, established in 2003 as The HOPE Foundation Scholarships, are intended to support scientists in the early stages of their careers conducting research into ageing. The name of the scholarships recognises the partnership between The HOPE Foundation for Research on Ageing and The Selwyn Foundation. These Foundations seek to encourage research into ageing phenomena both individual and societal, because...
Scholarships for international students
Explore scholarship opportunities available for your area of study.
Wellington Doctoral Scholarship
These are the main scholarship for our PhD students—they’re awarded on academic merit and are open to all full-time applicants. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and availability is limited.
The scholarship will pay you a $32,000 annual living allowance and will cover the cost of your tuition. It won’t cover additional fees such as insurance and the Student Services Fee.
You don’t need to submit a separate application for a Wellington Doctoral Scholarship—the application is part of your overall PhD admission application.
Find out more about the scholarship
Student Services Fee information
Guaranteed Wellington Doctoral Scholarship
You’re guaranteed a scholarship if you've achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 8.5 or above in your qualifying Master's or Honours degree. This degree needs to have been completed at a New Zealand university within 12 months before your PhD application.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Scholarships for PhD study
-
This scholarship is offered to women graduates intending to study at Victoria University of Wellington in a course leading to a higher degree, which includes research in some field related to the general purpose of teaching or promoting the knowledge of home or domestic science among the women of New Zealand (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Education or Science).
-
This scholarship has been established in honour of Sir Lloyd Geering to support students undertaking postgraduate study in Religious Studies. Sir Lloyd was the founding Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He contributed greatly to the study of religion in New Zealand and to thinking about transformations of religion in modernity. The horizons of his...
-
The Jack Pearce Research Scholarship in History (the "scholarship") was established through the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation and offers students the opportunity to gain postgraduate experience in the area of History.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Get in touch
Explore your options for postgraduate study—talk to someone from the Faculty of Graduate Research.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.