Fees, funding, and scholarships
Find out how much a doctorate will cost and how you can support your studies with grants and scholarships, including the Wellington Doctoral Scholarships.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for full-time PhD study vary depending on the area of your research. The average yearly fees are listed by subject category in the postgraduate thesis section of the fees for domestic students page.
The New Zealand Government subsidises fees for international PhD candidates who live and study in New Zealand. This means that international PhD students may be eligible to pay the same ‘domestic’ fees as PhD students who are citizens, residents, or permanent residents of New Zealand.
The tuition fees for the professional doctorates—Doctor of Education, Doctor of Health, Doctor of Midwifery, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Nursing—are listed individually as they combine taught and thesis components.
International Doctor of Musical Arts students will need to pay international fees. Our health- and education-sector professional doctorates are not generally suitable for international students.
Scholarships
You can search our scholarships database by category, study area, and study level
Search the scholarships database
Wellington Doctoral Scholarships
Wellington Doctoral Scholarships are the main scholarship for PhD students. They are awarded on academic merit and are open to all full-time PhD applicants. The scholarship will pay you a $30,500 annual living allowance and will cover the cost of your tuition, but not additional fees such as insurance and student levies.
You don’t need to submit a separate application for a Wellington Doctoral Scholarship—the application is part of your overall PhD admission application. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and availability is limited.
Wellington Doctoral Scholarships
Te Herenga Waka Māori Doctoral Scholarship
These scholarships are open to all Māori candidates who intend to enrol for a doctorate at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Applicants will automatically be considered for the scholarship at the time they apply for admission.
Te Herenga Waka Māori Doctoral Scholarship
Wellington Pasifika Doctoral Scholarship
These scholarships are open to all domestic Pasifika candidates who intend to enrol for a Doctorate at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Applicants will automatically be considered for the scholarship at the time they apply for admission.
Wellington Pasifika Doctoral Scholarship
Guaranteed scholarships
If you've achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 8.5 or above (based on the standard doctoral GPA calculation methods) in your qualifying Master's or Honours degree (completed at a New Zealand university within 12 months prior to application) you are guaranteed a Wellington Doctoral Scholarship to support your PhD.
Other funding opportunities
There are a number of ways in which the University can help you with your finances throughout your study. You can find out more on our funding page for current doctoral students.
Student Loans
If you are a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or refugee, you may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan to fund your doctoral study. Find out more information from StudyLink.