AUT Doctoral Scholarships

AUT Doctoral Scholarships are available to both domestic and international students. Aimed at attracting outstanding doctoral research candidates and strengthening AUT’s research capabilities, these scholarships support high-achieving individuals pursuing AUT-approved doctoral programs. To be eligible, applicants must first secure admission into a doctoral program before applying for the scholarship.

Host Country	New Zealand
Host Institute	Auckland University of Technology
Scholarship Level	PhD
Scholarship Types	1. AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships 2. AUT Doctoral Scholarships
Scholarship Value	Full fees plus an annual stipend
Closing Date	AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships – offered all year long AUT Doctoral Scholarships – March 1, July 15, and November 1

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Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Auckland University of Technology (AUT), formerly a technical college, gained university status on January 1, 2000, becoming one of New Zealand’s leading universities. It comprises five faculties along with specialized centers, including the AUT Millennium, the Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory, and the AUT Centre for Refugee Education.

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, AUT was ranked 24th globally for its international outlook and secured the top spot in New Zealand in this category.

Categories of Doctoral Scholarships at Auckland University of Technology

Doctoral students at AUT can apply for two main types of scholarships:

AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships
AUT Doctoral Scholarships

1. AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships

Applicants who completed their most recent qualifying program at a New Zealand tertiary institution may be considered for a doctoral scholarship on a case-by-case basis under the following conditions:

General Applicants: Must have a GPA of 8.0 or higher and meet additional specified requirements.
Māori and Domestic Pacific Applicants: Must have a GPA of 7.5 or higher, meet additional specified requirements, and be New Zealand citizens or hold legal residency status.

2. AUT Doctoral Scholarships

All applicants who meet the admission requirements—regardless of nationality—are eligible to apply for AUT Doctoral Scholarships. If the applicant’s faculty offers other scholarship opportunities, these may also cover doctoral fees or provide a stipend and will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Value of the Scholarship

A full scholarship typically includes the following:

Tuition fees (charged at the domestic rate) and the mandatory student services fee
An annual stipend of NZ$30,000

The following Faculty- or School-funded options may also be considered for AUT Doctoral Scholarship candidates:

Full tuition coverage, including the compulsory student services fee
A stipend of at least NZ$20,000 per year, or the minimum living expenses required for an Immigration New Zealand student visa—whichever amount is higher

Duration of Scholarship

All AUT PhD scholarships are awarded for a maximum duration of three years. For Professional Doctorate candidates, support is limited to a maximum of two years.

Scholarships are renewed annually based on satisfactory academic progress, as demonstrated by meeting the milestones outlined in the AUT Postgraduate Handbook.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an AUT Doctoral Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Typically hold a qualification equivalent to first-class honours.
Have received an Offer of Place (OOP) for a doctoral program at AUT and meet the standard doctoral admission requirements.
Demonstrate a strong academic record, supported by credible academic references.
Show clear evidence of the ability to conduct high-quality research.
Academic merit is the primary selection criterion. Applicants are generally expected to have completed research-focused coursework, including research methodology papers and an independent research project with a written report.
Meet the English language proficiency requirements specified in the AUT Academic Calendar at the time of application (http://www.aut.ac.nz/calendar).

Applications Will Be Accepted Under Two Categories

1. AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships
These scholarships are available year-round.

a. New doctoral applicants who completed their most recent qualifying program at a New Zealand tertiary institution may be considered for a scholarship on a case-by-case basis, provided they meet the additional eligibility criteria.
b. New Māori and domestic Pacific doctoral applicants with a GPA of 7.5 or higher from a qualifying program completed at a New Zealand tertiary institution may also be considered, subject to meeting additional requirements. These applicants must be New Zealand citizens or hold legal permanent residency.

2. AUT Doctoral Scholarships
Applications open one month prior to the deadline for each round.

a. These scholarships are awarded through three competitive rounds annually and are open to all eligible applicants, including international students, New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents.
b. Applicants must have final grades available for their qualifying degree at the time of application. Those still awaiting final results should apply in the next available round.

Application Deadlines

AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships – Available year-round with no fixed deadline.
AUT Doctoral Scholarships – Offered in three competitive rounds each year, with application deadlines on March 1, July 15, and November 1.

Application Process for AUT Doctoral Scholarships

To apply for an AUT Doctoral Scholarship, applicants must complete the following two steps:

Apply for Admission to the PhD program at AUT.
Submit a Scholarship Application for the AUT Doctoral Scholarship.

1. Apply for Admission to the PhD Program at AUT

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must first be accepted into AUT’s doctoral program. Those who have not completed the PhD admissions process are not eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Since the admission process can take up to two months, applicants are strongly advised to begin their application well in advance—at least two months prior to the scholarship deadline.

For guidance on starting your PhD application, contact the Graduate Research School at: doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz.

Alternatively, visit the AUT website for detailed information and to complete the online admission process.

2. Apply for the AUT Doctoral Scholarship

Once you have applied for admission to the PhD program, you can proceed to submit your scholarship application. Applications must be submitted through the AUT scholarship application portal, CommunityForce.

To be considered, applicants must complete all sections of the application and upload the required supporting documents. Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the selection panel.

The following documents must be uploaded as part of the online application:

Academic transcripts from all previous tertiary institutions (excluding AUT)
A copy of your Offer of Place (conditional or unconditional)
A concise CV (maximum three pages)
A two-page research proposal using the required template provided in the online application form, covering:
- Proposed topic/title
- Rationale and significance of the study
- Research question/hypothesis/problem/issue
- Study design, including methodology and research methods
- Anticipated benefits of the research
- References

Reference Letters:

Applicants who completed their qualifying program outside AUT must submit two academic reference letters.
Applicants who completed their qualifying program at AUT need to provide only one academic reference letter.

Submit your completed application to the Scholarships Office using the online portal. Once you have filled out all required sections, you must submit your application—even if your referees have not yet provided their reference letters.

Apply through the Online Scholarships Application Portal using the link below:

For more information about AUT Doctoral Scholarships or to submit your application, click here.