Thinking about a PhD in New Zealand? Victoria University of Wellington awards around 110 doctoral scholarships every year, and international students can apply.
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship offers a $32,000 annual stipend plus tuition fees, normally for three years. The next closing date is 1 November 2026.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: Scholarship (PhD)
- Host Organization: Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
- Location: Wellington, New Zealand
- Format / Mode: In-person (On-Campus)
- Duration: Normally three years
- Funding / Financial Support: Paid-stipend supported: annual stipend plus tuition fees (the university lists domestic tuition fees as included)
- Stipend / Salary: $32,000 per year
- Application Fee: Free
- Nationality: Domestic and international students
- Degree Required: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with academic distinction equivalent to First Class Honours
- Age: None
- Work Experience: None
- Deadline: 1 November 2026 at 4:30 PM New Zealand Time
What Is This Opportunity?
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship supports students starting their first doctoral qualification at Victoria University of Wellington. There are three rounds each year, closing on 1 March, 1 July and 1 November.
Approximately 110 scholarships are awarded each year.
Who Can Apply?
- Nationality: Open to domestic (New Zealand) and international students
- Degree: Graduates of any university, in or outside New Zealand, with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with academic distinction equivalent to a First Class Honours degree
- Doctoral status: You must be seeking your first doctoral qualification; applicants who already hold a doctorate are not eligible
What Do You Get?
- A stipend of $32,000 per year
- Tuition fees (the university states domestic tuition fees are included for the scholarship period)
- Support normally for three years (shorter if you have already done more than six months of doctoral enrolment)
No other allowances (such as travel or relocation) are specified by the university.
What Will You Do?
- Undertake a doctoral research degree at Victoria University of Wellington
- Complete your first doctoral qualification within the scholarship period
How to Apply
- Read the official scholarship page.
- Complete the online application by 4:30 pm on the closing date.
- Submit your supporting documents and references by the same deadline.
- Questions can go to the Doctoral Admissions Office at pg-research@vuw.ac.nz.
Exploring more funded study options? Browse our Scholarships category.
Important Deadline
1 November 2026 | 4:30 PM
Documents and references all need to be in by the closing time, so it helps to start early and ask your referees well ahead.
Where could a PhD take you if the funding question were already answered? Plenty of programmes are still waiting for the right applicant.
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