university auckland phd fees

Student Services Online
Class search
Student email
Change my password
MyCDES+ (job board)
Course outlines
Learning essentials
Libraries and Learning Services
Forms, policies and guidelines
Campus Card
Enrol in courses
Postgraduate students
Summer school

AskAuckland

Student Hubs
Student IT Hub
Student Health and Counselling
Harassment, bullying, sexual assault and other violence
Complaints and incidents
Career Development and Employability Services (CDES)
Ratonga Hauātanga Tauira | Student Disability Services (SDS)
Rainbow support
Emergency information
Report concerns, incidents and hazards
Health and safety topics
Staff intranet
PeopleSoft Financials
Space and resource booker
Enterprise Insights Portal
PeopleSoft HR
Forms register
Jobs at the University
Opportunities
Update your details
Make a donation
Publications
Photo galleries
Video and audio
Career services
Virtual Book Club
Library services
Alumni benefits
Office contact details
Alumni and friends on social media
No events scheduled for today You have no more events scheduled for today
Next event:
Show {0} earlier events Show {0} earlier event
Event_Time Event_Name Event_Description
My Library Account
Change Password
My Service requests
Edit Profile
My GPA Grade Point Average About your GPA GPA not available Why can't I see my GPA?
My Progress
Points Required Completed points My Progress Progress not available All done!
Student hubs
Health and counselling
All support
Health, safety and well-being

The University of Auckland

Doctor of Philosophy PhD

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

Breadcrumbs List.

Ngā akoranga | Study
Study options
Find a study option
You are currently on: Doctor of Philosophy

Programme overview

The University of Auckland PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, available in over 100 different subjects. Candidates will undertake independent and original research, supervised by academic experts and research leaders.

During your doctoral studies, you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal, professional and academic skills. Our doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

All of our doctoral policies and guidelines governing PhD study, including the PhD statute, are available in Doctoral policies and guidelines .

If you are looking for PhD study in a subject not listed here, it may be available under a different title. For more information, please contact a postgraduate adviser in the relevant faculty.

Programme structure

Entry requirements.

Fees and scholarships
Find a Supervisor

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On entry to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of milestones to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

Part-time enrolment is available for New Zealand students, in which case provisional enrolment lasts for 24 months, and you must submit your full thesis for examination no earlier than 6 years, and within 8 years, of your start date.

As part of your PhD study, you have access to our doctoral skills workshops and resources, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes research services advisers to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

For international students, your visa conditions will generally stipulate that you must be enrolled for full-time PhD study.

It may be possible for candidates to undertake a PhD including scholarly creative work and/or publications that they worked on while under supervision for their PhD. For information on including scholarly creative work in a PhD, see the PhD including scholarly creative work policy and procedures . To read the rules about including publications in a PhD, see the Doctoral thesis policy and procedures .

To read the rules about including publications in your PhD, see Doctoral Candidates– including publications in a thesis policy and procedures .

Subjects available in this programme

Anaesthesiology
Ancient History
Anthropology
Applied Linguistics
Architecture
Art History
Asian Languages and Cultures
Behavioural Science
Bioengineering
Biological Sciences
Biomedical Science
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Civil Engineering
Commercial Law
Communication
Comparative Literature
Computer Science
Computer Systems Engineering
Criminology
Dance Studies
Development Studies
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Engineering Science
Environmental Science
European Languages and Culture
Exercise Sciences
Food Science
Forensic Science
Gender Studies
General Practice
Global Studies
Health Psychology
Health Sciences
Heritage Conservation
Information Systems
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
International Business
Latin American Studies
Linguistics
Marine Science
Mathematics
Mathematics Education
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Media and Screen Studies
Medical Imaging
Molecular Medicine
Māori Studies
Māori and Pacific Health
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Operations and Supply Chain Management
Operations Research
Ophthalmology
Pacific Studies
Paediatrics
Perinatal Science
Pharmacology
Politics and International Relations
Population Health
Public Policy
Social Work
Software Engineering
Speech Science
Translation Studies
Urban Design

My highest qualification is from:

Programme requirements, minimum programme requirements.

Minimum requirements listed here are the likely grades required and do not guarantee entry. We assess each application individually and applicants may require a higher grade to be offered a place.

Honours or masters degree
Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

Further programme requirements

Supervision and research requirements.

Meeting our academic requirements does not guarantee entry.

You must demonstrate an ability to research independently, and possess a high level of theoretical understanding. Acceptance is subject to staff availability for supervision, and appropriate resources and facilities.

You must write an initial statement of research intent to demonstrate your research capability and experience.

How to apply

Check out our guide to applying for a PhD or doctorate .

Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours

No bands less than 6.0

See alternative English language requirements

Calculate your Grade Point Equivalent (GPE)

You must write an initial statement of research intent to demonstrate your research capability and experience.

All students must meet our English-language requirements as a condition of entry.

How much does a Doctor of Philosophy cost per year?

A New Zealand government funding scheme enables the University of Auckland to offer PhD study to international students for the same tuition fees as New Zealand PhD students.

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Amounts shown are indicative only. In addition to the tuition fees, there is a Student Services Fee of $8.88 per point, estimated at $1,065.60 for full-time study (120 points). Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

See course fees for each faculty

Find out about financial support information

Scholarships and awards.

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

Eligible candidates can enrol and start their PhD at any time of year. You must enrol within 6 months of your unconditional offer.

A University of Auckland PhD is available in over 100 different subjects but your research project will be unique. As part of the application process, you need to provide an outline of your proposed research project.

Although you are not required to nominate a doctoral supervisor as part of your initial application, you can also look at supervisor profiles and research projects , or to find out more about the research carried out at the University of Auckland, click on the links in the Subjects tab to start exploring faculty research webpages for your area of interest.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own start up. With focused development opportunities available throughout your PhD study, and dedicated postgraduate career advice, we can help you to explore and meet your own career goals, no matter what direction you take.

Student career planning service

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services .

Graduate story: Katherine Higgins

Having supportive doctoral supervisors paved the way for Katherine Higgins to develop and facilitate collaborative projects with visiting artists at MIT.

Do you need help?

Your online help and support centre. Search our frequently asked questions.

Can’t find the answer in AskAuckland?

Need to speak to someone.

You can phone us directly.

University home
Student Services Online
2025 Calendar updates
Key University dates
General information
Statutes and regulations and their application
Admission Regulations
Enrolment and Programme Regulations
Credit Regulations
General Postgraduate Regulations
Fees and Fees Statute 2001
International Students
General Statutes and Regulations
Examination Regulations
Enrolment Limitations
Undergraduate Waipapa Taumata Rau Course Requirement Regulations
Programme regulations
Micro-credentials
University personnel
2025 Calendar: PDF Version
Calendar and Transition Handbook archive

Fees Schedule C - International Students

The 2025 schedule of tuition, examination and research fees (inclusive of GST) for International Students.

A full-time course of study is 120 points. Enrolment in more than or less than a full-time year will be charged on a pro rata basis.
I n all cases the fee per point will be charged at the rate set for that subject irrespective of the qualification the course is taken for.
General Education courses will be charged at the applicable rate for undergraduate courses in the faculty offering the course.
The fees listed in this schedule are per point and include the Course and Materials Fee. Enrolment in a standard full-time course load is 120 points per year. Fees will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis where the enrolment is more or less than a standard full-time load.
Fees for interfaculty programmes, programmes combining undergraduate and postgraduate courses, or courses selected from more than one listed programme, are calculated by deriving a fee for each course from the fees listed in the schedule below.
The Student Services Fee is payable by International Students at the same rates applying to domestic students.
From 1 January 2006, new international PhD students are accorded domestic status for the purposes of tuition fees. A new international PhD student is defined as a foreign student enrolled for the first time after 19 April 2005 in a Doctor of Philosophy programme at a New Zealand university.
BA(Hons), BCom(Hons), BMus(Hons), BNurs(Hons), BProp(Hons), BSc(Hons) and LLB(Hons) are charged as postgraduate programmes.
Faculty of Arts
Business School
Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries
Faculty of Education and Social Work
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Faculty of Science

Site map | Feedback on this page