AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships 2025

The AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships 2025-2026, offered by Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand, aim to attract highly achieving doctoral research students to support innovative research aligned with AUT’s capabilities. These prestigious, merit-based scholarships are available to new doctoral applicants with exceptional academic records, offering full tuition fees, student services fees, and an annual stipend of NZD $33,726 for up to three years. AUT, ranked in the top 1% globally (QS World University Rankings 2025, #229), is renowned for its real-world impact, with over 60 research centers and institutes addressing issues in environment, society, and technology. The scholarships are open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and international students (onshore in New Zealand due to border restrictions), with a focus on fostering creativity and excellence in fields such as bioleather production, health sciences, and data analytics. Recipients are celebrated at the AUT Doctoral Scholarship Award Ceremony (October 15, 2025, City Campus).

To be eligible for the AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarships 2025-2026, applicants must:

• Be new applicants to the AUT doctoral program (PhD or Professional Doctorate) for the first time, not current PhD students.

• Have received an unconditional Offer of Place (OOP) for the AUT doctoral program.

• Meet one of the following academic requirements:

  • New doctoral applicants with a GPA of 8.0 or above (on a 9.0 scale, equivalent to A or higher) in their most recent qualifying program (e.g., bachelor’s with honours, master’s) completed at a New Zealand tertiary institution.

  • Māori and domestic Pacific applicants with a GPA of 7.5 or above from their most recent qualifying program completed at a New Zealand tertiary institution, who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

• Meet English language proficiency requirements as per AUT’s Academic Calendar (e.g., IELTS 6.5 overall with no subscore below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90, or equivalent).

• Propose a research field where AUT can offer supervision, with a confirmed supervisor prior to application.

• Have completed a qualifying program that includes research methodology papers and an independent research project with a written report.

• Enroll in the doctoral program within three months of the scholarship offer.

• For international students: Be onshore in New Zealand at the time of application due to current border restrictions (subject to change; verify with AUT).

• Exclusions:

  • Not available for current AUT PhD students or those with a conditional offer.

  • Not combinable with other AUT scholarships covering full tuition and stipend (e.g., AUT Doctoral Scholarships, faculty-specific awards).

  • Professional Doctorate candidates must apply at the time of PGR9 submission and are eligible for up to two years of support.

• Value:

  • Full tuition fees (domestic equivalent, approximately NZD $8,711/year for domestic students, NZD $46,700/year for international students).

  • Student services fees (approximately NZD $800/year).

  • Annual stipend of NZD $33,726 for up to three years (PhD) or two years (Professional Doctorate).

• Disbursement:

  • Tuition and student services fees are waived upon enrollment each semester.

  • Stipend is paid in monthly installments to the recipient’s nominated bank account, starting after the Semester 1, 2026 census date (March 2026).

• Duration: Up to three years for PhD candidates, two years for Professional Doctorate candidates, contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

• Additional Benefits:

  • Recognition at the AUT Doctoral Scholarship Award Ceremony (October 15, 2025, City Campus, 4:00 PM–5:30 PM).

  • Access to AUT’s 60+ research centers and institutes, such as the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research or the Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute.

  • Support from experienced, research-active supervisors and a global alumni network.

• Note: The scholarship does not cover living expenses beyond the stipend (estimated at NZD $25,000–$35,000/year in Auckland) or additional costs (e.g., visa fees, health insurance for international students, approximately NZD $700/year). Total financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance, and adjustments may be made if combined with external funding.

The scholarship application is submitted alongside the AUT doctoral program application through the online portal. Follow these steps:

1. Apply for Admission to the Doctoral Program:

   • Submit an application for the PhD or Professional Doctorate program via the AUT online portal (www.aut.ac.nz/study/apply).

   • Required documents:

     • Academic transcripts for all previous tertiary study (original and certified English translation if not from AUT).

     • Degree certificates.

     • Curriculum Vitae (CV, maximum three pages).

     • Two-page research proposal (maximum 1,000 words plus references) outlining the study’s significance, design, and methodology, using the template provided in the AUT application portal.

     • Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, or equivalent).

     • Two academic reference statements (one if the qualifying program was at AUT), sent directly by referees via the online system.

     • Evidence of contact with a potential supervisor confirming their availability.

   • Allow up to two months for admission processing; apply by December 2025 for March 2026 enrollment.

2. Apply for the Scholarship:

   • Indicate interest in the Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship in the online application portal.

   • Ensure all required sections of the scholarship application are completed, including the research proposal and referee details.

   • Submit via the AUT scholarships portal (aut.communityforce.com) before the deadline.

3. Evaluation: The Faculty’s Associate Dean Postgraduate reviews applications, recommending awards based on:

   • Academic record (GPA 8.0+ or 7.5+ for Māori/Pacific applicants).

   • Quality and feasibility of the research proposal.

   • Strength of academic references.

   • Alignment with AUT’s research capabilities and supervisor availability.

4. Notification: Successful applicants are notified via email within 6–8 weeks of the application deadline (e.g., by April 2025 for February 20, 2025, deadline).

5. Accept and Enroll: Accept the scholarship offer and enroll in the doctoral program within three months (by June 2026 for March 2026 start).

Note: Applications are accepted year-round, except between December 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026. International students must be onshore due to border restrictions (verify with grs@aut.ac.nz). Referees must submit statements by the deadline, or the application is deemed ineligible.

• Completed online application form for the AUT doctoral program (via www.aut.ac.nz/study/apply).

• Academic transcripts for all previous tertiary study (original and certified English translation if not from AUT).

• Degree certificates.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV, maximum three pages).

• Two-page research proposal (maximum 1,000 words plus references, using AUT template).

• Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90).

• Two academic reference statements (one if qualifying program was at AUT, sent directly by referees).

• Evidence of contact with a potential supervisor.

• Note: Documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations. Submit digital copies via the AUT scholarships portal. Incomplete applications or those lacking referee statements by the deadline are ineligible.

• Application Period: Open year-round, except December 1, 2025–January 15, 2026.

• Key Scholarship Deadline: February 20, 2025 (for primary consideration; additional deadlines may apply, e.g., March 1, 2025, or July 15, 2025, for other AUT Doctoral Scholarships).

• Admission Application: At least two months prior to scholarship application (e.g., by December 20, 2024, for February 20, 2025).

• Notification: Within 6–8 weeks of the deadline (e.g., April 2025 for February 20, 2025).

• Enrollment Deadline: Within three months of scholarship offer (e.g., June 2026 for March 2026 start).

• Award Ceremony: October 15, 2025, 4:00 PM–5:30 PM, AUT City Campus (for 2025 recipients).

• Note: Deadlines may vary; confirm on www.aut.ac.nz or contact grs@aut.ac.nz. Early application is recommended due to competitive selection and visa processing for international students.

• Email: grs@aut.ac.nz (Graduate Research School); scholarships@aut.ac.nz (Scholarships Office).

• Phone: +64 9 921 9907 (Graduate Research School).

• Address: Graduate Research School, AUT, Level 5, WU Building, City Campus, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.

• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (NZST).

• Website: www.aut.ac.nz/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships-and-awards-at-aut/doctoral-scholarships