University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship 2025

The University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship provides funding to support doctoral students studying at the University of Otago.

The Scholarship is available to both domestic and international students.  Candidates for professional doctorates, as well as the PhD, are welcome to apply.

Doctoral scholarships are awarded by the University Council, on the recommendation of the Senate, to candidates proceeding to a course of supervised doctoral study at this University. These scholarships are normally available only to students seeking to obtain their first doctoral qualification. Candidates may be awarded one University of Otago doctoral scholarship only. 

• Table of Content
• About University of Otago
• University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship
• Requirements for University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About University of Otago

The University of Otago, founded in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council, is New Zealand’s oldest university. The new University was given 100,000 acres of pastoral land as an endowment and authorised to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music. The University opened in July 1871 with a staff of just three Professors, one to teach Classics and English Language and Literature, another having responsibility for Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and the third to cover Mental and Moral Philosophy and Political Economy. The following year a Professor of Natural Scie... continue reading

University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship

Doctor of Philosophy - NZ$33,624 stipend per annum plus a domestic tuition fees waiver for 36 months (excludes student services fee and insurance)  

Professional Doctorates (DClinDent, DMA, DBA, EDd) - NZ$33,624 stipend per annum plus a tuition fee waiver for up to 36 months capped at the domestic rate (excludes student services fee and insurance).

Requirements for University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship Qualification

Doctoral and Masters’ scholarships will be awarded on the basis of:

1. The applicant’s academic record:
   • In the case of an applicant for a doctoral scholarship who has completed a Master’s degree by papers and thesis (at least 0.75 EFTS), the grades of all relevant2 advanced level papers counting towards the award of the degree and the thesis will be taken into account. An explanation of the time taken for completion of the thesis may be requested and considered by the Scholarships and Prizes Committee if the thesis has taken more than 2 EFTS (2 full- time years) to complete.
   • In the case of an applicant for a scholarship without a Master’s degree including a thesis, the grades of all relevant2 advanced level papers counting towards the award of the applicant’s most relevant degree will be taken into account.
   • In the case of applicants whose prior qualifications have been awarded by other universities, the University shall calculate a GPA score using what it considers to be the most relevant2 papers and grades provided on the applicant’s academic transcripts.
   • Certificate of Proficiency and Pass/Fail papers will not be taken into account in the calculation.
2. The applicant’s potential for, or record of, research.
3. The advice, recommendation and/or ranking of the relevant Head of Department.
4. The strategic research and business priorities of the Academic Division in which primary supervision of the applicant's research will take place. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit University of Otago scholarship webpage