Wellington Doctoral Scholarship – Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

🌟 About the Scholarship

Opens
Closes1 Nov, 2026

The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship is a fully funded PhD scholarship offered by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington for outstanding domestic and international students who wish to pursue doctoral studies in New Zealand. The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship provides generous financial support to selected students throughout their doctoral studies. Recipients receive an annual stipend of NZD $32,000 to help cover living expenses. In addition, the scholarship covers full tuition fees for up to three years. Therefore, students can fully focus on their research without major financial concerns. The scholarship supports a broad range of academic fields, including Science, Engineering, Humanities, Law, Education, Business, Health, Design Innovation, Architecture, Technology, and Social Sciences.

🎓 Scholarship Snapshot

Here’s everything you need at a glance: the documents to prepare, what the award covers, and key dates so you don’t miss a beat. From transcripts and essays to tuition and living support, this gives you a clear picture of the Wellington Doctoral Scholarship before you apply.

Eligible Countries

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Seirra Leone, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, South-Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Study Fields

Architecture, Business and Government, Design Innovation, Engineering, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Music, Sciences, Technology

GPA / Grade

GPA 3.2

Languages

C1 Advanced 176, C2 Proficiency 176, DuoLingo English Test 120, IELTS 6.5, PTE A 58, TOEFL iBT 90

Tests

Study Levels

Doctoral, PhD

Total Scholarships

Transcripts

Yes

Degrees

Yes

Essay

Yes

Passport ID

Recommendation Letters

Yes (2-3)

Result Date

Program Start

Tuition Fee

Covered

Living Allowance

Yes

NZD $32,000/year

Travel Allowance

Research Grant

Health Insurance

Visa Assistance

📞 Contact Information

Call if you want a quick answer, send an email for detailed questions, or follow the university’s social channels to keep an eye on updates and reminders. Use whatever fits your style and timezone.

Scholarship Summary

Award AmountNZD $32,000/year
Deadline1 Nov, 2026
LevelDoctoral, PhD
InstitutionVictoria University of Wellington
CountryNew Zealand
ModeOnline
TypeFully funded

Apply Now

The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship is a fully funded PhD scholarship offered by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington for outstanding domestic and international students who wish to pursue doctoral studies in New Zealand. The scholarship supports high-quality postgraduate research across a wide range of academic disciplines. In addition, it aims to attract talented researchers with strong academic backgrounds and excellent research potential. Each year, the university awards around 110 scholarships, making it one of New Zealand’s major doctoral funding opportunities for international and local students.

Background and Purpose

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington established this scholarship to promote advanced research, innovation, and academic excellence. The program encourages students from different academic fields to contribute to global knowledge and research development. Furthermore, the university seeks to strengthen its international research community by supporting highly capable doctoral researchers from around the world. Through this scholarship, students receive access to experienced supervisors, modern research facilities, and a collaborative academic environment that supports professional growth and research success.

Wellington Doctoral Scholarship Benefits

The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship provides generous financial support to selected students throughout their doctoral studies. Recipients receive an annual stipend of NZD $32,000 to help cover living expenses. In addition, the scholarship covers full tuition fees for up to three years. Therefore, students can fully focus on their research without major financial concerns. The scholarship supports a broad range of academic fields, including Science, Engineering, Humanities, Law, Education, Business, Health, Design Innovation, Architecture, Technology, and Social Sciences.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students from any country. Applicants must intend to enroll full-time in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at the university. In some cases, current doctoral students who recently started their PhD studies at the university may also qualify. Moreover, applicants must demonstrate excellent academic achievement, strong research capability, and high potential for scholarly contribution.

Wellington Doctoral Scholarship Application Process

The doctoral admission and scholarship application processes are combined into a single application system. Therefore, students do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. The university offers three application rounds each year, which provides flexibility for international applicants. The Victoria Research Scholarships Committee evaluates applications based on academic excellence, publication record, referee recommendations, research potential, and alignment with university research priorities.

Opportunities for Scholars

The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship offers students an excellent opportunity to study at one of New Zealand’s leading research universities. Scholars gain access to world-class academic supervision, advanced research facilities, and international research networks. Furthermore, students can strengthen their professional skills, expand their academic careers, and contribute meaningful research to their fields and communities worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply?

It is open to both domestic and international students who are starting or enrolled in a full-time PhD at the university.

Do I apply separately for the scholarship?

No, the scholarship is included within the PhD admission application process.

Is there a guaranteed Wellington Doctoral Scholarship?

Yes, high-achieving students may be automatically guaranteed the scholarship.