An applicant applying under the Vice-Chancellor's category must be applying as a new doctoral candidate and meet the conditions below. Applications will be considered at the time of acceptance into the doctoral programme only.
a) New doctoral applicants with a GPA of 8.0 or above in their most recent qualifying programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis for a scholarship provided the qualifying programme was completed at a New Zealand tertiary institution.
b) New Māori and domestic Pacific doctoral applicants with a GPA of 7.5 or above, from their most recent qualifying programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis for a scholarship provided the qualifying programme was completed at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Applicants applying under 1b) must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand.
How we assess applications
Applicants must have gained admission into the doctoral programme before applying for a scholarship. AUT uses a number of criteria when assessing scholarship applicants.
AUT calculation of GPA and ranking of applicants [PDF, 384.2 KB]
Our PhD students are at the heart of our research culture. In order to attract and to recognise highly achieving research students AUT provides doctoral scholarships.
Postgraduate study areas
Research at AUT
AUT offers doctoral scholarships to attract highly achieving doctoral research students and encourage and stimulate doctoral studies in areas that enhance AUT's research capability. AUT awards scholarships to high achieving candidates applying to an approved doctoral programme at AUT. Applicants must have gained admission into the doctoral programme before applying for a scholarship.
Each Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship in 2024 consists of an annual stipend of NZ$33,000 plus tuition fees and student services levy for up to three years.
AUT Doctoral Scholarships normally consist of the following:
All AUT PhD scholarships are tenable for up to three years. Support for a Professional Doctorate will be for up to two years only.
1) Apply for admission into the PhD programme at AUT
The holding of this scholarship is conditional on acceptance into the AUT doctoral programme. Applicants who have not completed the process of applying for admission into the PhD programme are not eligible to apply. As the admissions process may take up to two months to complete it is essential that applicants allow at least two months prior to applying for this scholarship.
For information on how to commence your application for admission to the PhD programme contact the Graduate Research School doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz
2) Apply for an AUT Doctoral Scholarship
It is strongly advised that you complete an application for admission prior to applying for the scholarship. Application for the scholarship will be through the AUT scholarship application portal (CommunityForce).
Application form and supporting documents
Applicants are notified of the outcome by the University Scholarships Office.
Selection by the sub-committee will be based on demonstrated excellence in the following:
Please see Regulations document for full conditions.
University Scholarships Office
Applications will be accepted under this category at any stage during the year apart from between 1 December to 15 January.
All recipients of an AUT Doctoral Scholarship will normally have the equivalent of first-class honours.
Applicants must meet the admission criteria for a doctoral programme, for example a relevant master’s degree or a bachelor's (honours) degree with first or second class (first division) honours and have completed the application for admission process as outlined below.
International applicants must meet the English language proficiency requirements.
Consideration will be given to all applicants' research experience and publication record and previous study should include evidence of research methodology papers and an independent research project, including the writing of a report on that research. Preference will be given to new applicants to the PhD programme.
Eligibility criteria for doctoral programmes