The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded doctoral award at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, New Zealand. It pays a stipend of NZ$35,468 a year (2026 rate, adjusted for inflation each year) plus the Student Services Fee and compulsory tuition fees for up to 42 months of full-time doctoral study.
Indian and other international students are eligible for the award for a PhD, provided they qualify to pay domestic PhD fees. There is no separate scholarship application – you are considered for it when you apply for a doctoral programme and indicate that you wish to be considered.
This page carries the exact value, the eligibility rules, the four closing dates and the application steps, all taken from the university’s official scholarship regulations.
University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship 2027: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, New Zealand |
| Scholarship value | NZ$35,468 per annum stipend (2026 rate) plus tuition fees and the Student Services Fee |
| Tenure | Up to 42 months full-time equivalent |
| Study level | Doctoral – PhD, DMedSc, DClinPsy, DocFA, EdD or DHSc |
| Who can apply | Domestic students and international students eligible to pay domestic doctoral fees |
| Last date to apply | No separate application – closing dates are 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November |
| Official website | auckland.ac.nz – University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship |
What is the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship?
The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship is the university’s main funded doctoral award. Its stated objective is to encourage and support excellent domestic and international doctoral candidates whose research aligns with the university’s strategic objectives. Recipients may use the funds for costs directly related to study, including living expenses.
The award is granted by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Graduate Research. It is assessed on academic merit and the standing of your qualifying programme, so a strong research record and academic references matter.
Because international PhD candidates at Auckland normally qualify for the domestic fee policy, the scholarship is one of the few fully funded routes to a doctorate in New Zealand for Indian students, with no separate scholarship form to fill in.
Auckland Doctoral Scholarship value: what it covers
- A stipend of NZ$35,468 per annum in 2026, pro-rated in the first year depending on your start date, for up to 42 months of full-time equivalent enrolment.
- The stipend is adjusted for inflation (CPI) each year as determined by the Director.
- The Student Services Fee and compulsory tuition fees for your prescribed doctoral study are covered.
- For international students only, the single student health insurance compulsory charge shown on the tuition fees invoice is also covered.
- For part-time PhD enrolment the same components apply, with the stipend paid pro-rata up to 42 months of full-time equivalent study.
- Payments remain tax-free as long as they are used for study and living costs.
Eligibility: who can get the Auckland Doctoral Scholarship
According to the university’s official regulations, an applicant must be either:
- a domestic student; or
- an international student who is eligible to pay domestic fees for enrolment in the doctoral programme.
For Indian applicants this means the PhD. The regulations state clearly that international students are not eligible to pay domestic fees for the DMedSc, DClinPsy, DocFA, EdD or DHSc, and accordingly cannot hold this scholarship for those doctoral programmes.
You must also indicate in your doctoral programme application that you wish to be considered for the scholarship. No separate scholarship application form is required.
Who is not eligible
- Applicants who already hold a doctorate degree.
- Anyone who has previously received a payment under a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship.
- Anyone already enrolled in a doctoral programme – except the specific transfer cases the regulations allow (an approved transfer from a master’s, a transfer from another doctoral programme without an existing Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, or a doctoral bridging programme applicant who has met the condition).
- International students applying for a DMedSc, DClinPsy, DocFA, EdD or DHSc – domestic fees, and therefore this scholarship, are not available to them for those programmes.
How to apply for the Auckland Doctoral Scholarship
- Apply for an eligible doctoral programme (for most international applicants, the PhD) through the University of Auckland’s normal doctoral admission route.
- In the doctoral application, tick the option to be considered for the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship. This is the only step needed – there is no separate scholarship form.
- Submit your academic references, CV and research record, which are used to assess academic merit.
- If you are awarded the scholarship, confirm unconditional enrolment in your doctoral programme within the timeframe set out in the regulations (generally four calendar months after the scholarship grant or when you become eligible for admission, depending on your qualifying programme).
- Start your doctoral enrolment – the scholarship commences on the date of your first enrolment in the programme.
Important dates
| Closing dates (up to four rounds a year) | 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November |
| Application route | No separate form – indicate interest in your doctoral programme application |
| Tenure | Up to 42 months full-time equivalent |
| Stipend rate | NZ$35,468 per annum in 2026, CPI-adjusted annually |
| University | Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, New Zealand |
Frequently asked questions
It provides a stipend of NZ$35,468 per annum in 2026, pro-rated in the first year, plus the Student Services Fee and compulsory tuition fees for up to 42 months of full-time equivalent doctoral study. The stipend is adjusted for inflation each year.
Yes. International students who are eligible to pay domestic PhD fees can hold the scholarship for a PhD. Because international PhD candidates at Auckland normally qualify for the domestic fee policy, Indian PhD applicants are eligible.
No. You are considered for the scholarship when you apply for a doctoral programme and indicate that you wish to be considered. No separate scholarship application form is required.
The scholarship has closing dates of 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November, so there are up to four chances to be considered each year.
Yes. For international students the single student health insurance compulsory charge shown on the tuition fees invoice is covered, in addition to the stipend and tuition fees.
The regulations allow co-tenure in limited cases, and the scholarship cannot be held concurrently with a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship duplication or other ineligible awards. Always check the full regulations before accepting a second award.
Up to 42 months of full-time equivalent doctoral enrolment. It ends earlier if you submit your thesis for examination, withdraw from the programme, or your candidature is terminated.
Official links
Related reading: University of Auckland – Doctoral Scholarship (official page)
University of Auckland – Doctoral Scholarship regulations (PDF)
University of Auckland – find a scholarship (full catalogue)
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