Location: New Zealand
Program: Postgraduate Program (PhD Degree)
Eligibility: Domestic and International students
Duration: Up to 3 years
Deadline: Three rounds per year: March 1, July 1, and November 1 2026
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The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship is one of New Zealand’s most generous and widely available doctoral funding awards, offered by Victoria University of Wellington to encourage and support outstanding doctoral study across all academic disciplines. Approximately 110 scholarships are awarded each year, providing a stipend of NZD $32,000 per annum plus domestic tuition fees for up to three years, and are open to graduates of any university worldwide who are about to commence or have recently commenced full-time doctoral studies at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship is awarded purely on academic merit, with no restriction on nationality, field of study, or research area, making it one of the most accessible and inclusive doctoral funding opportunities available in New Zealand.
Victoria University of Wellington, known as Te Herenga Waka, is New Zealand’s capital city university and one of the country’s most research-intensive institutions, consistently ranked among the world’s top 250 universities in the QS World University Rankings. Located in the heart of Wellington, New Zealand’s vibrant and culturally rich capital, the university is home to a strong research community across law, government, social sciences, engineering, science, architecture, and the arts, with close ties to government, industry, and international research networks. Wellington offers doctoral students an exceptional quality of life combined with access to New Zealand’s major policy, cultural, and research institutions, and the city’s compact and walkable layout makes it one of the most student-friendly capitals in the world.
Benefits of the Scholarship
This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:
- Annual stipend of NZD $32,000 for up to 3 years
- Full domestic tuition fees for up to 3 years
- Open to both domestic and international students in any discipline
- Other benefits
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Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be a graduate of any university within or outside New Zealand
- Must intend to enrol full-time for a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington, or must have already commenced doctoral study at the university
- Must be eligible at the time of application, or must reasonably expect to become eligible within three months of their application, to register as a candidate for a doctoral degree at Victoria University of Wellington
- Must submit a completed online application
- All required supporting documentation including academic references must also be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date
- Must have a strong academic record and excellent academic references, or demonstrated potential for high-quality research, or a record of publication in high-quality journals commensurate with experience and education
- Applicants who have not completed all their study at Victoria University of Wellington must include a copy of their academic record from other institutions with the application
- For students already enrolled at the time of the scholarship offer: maximum tenure may be reduced at the discretion of the Victoria University Research Scholarships Committee for those who have already been enrolled for more than six months
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements
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Selection Criteria
The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship selection process is based entirely on academic merit and is conducted by the Victoria Research Scholarships Committee, which makes the final selection from candidates put forward by the relevant school and faculty. Academic performance is fundamental, with the committee reviewing academic transcripts, references, research potential, and publication record, and strong applicants are those who demonstrate a consistently outstanding academic history combined with clear evidence of capacity for high-quality independent doctoral research relevant to the strengths and strategic interests of their chosen school, institute, or centre. Other factors such as alignment between the applicant’s research interests and those of the school, potential for institutional collaboration, and strategic research priorities may also be taken into account, with scholarship offers made to the top-ranked candidates in each round approximately six weeks after each closing date.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
