phd in auckland university

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's highest qualification. The degree is undertaken by research only and leads to advanced academic and theoretical knowledge in a specialist area.

The PhD is suitable for students who want to pursue an academic or research career, or a senior position in the public or private sector. Doctoral studies present you with the opportunity to generate new ideas that can benefit business and society. You will make a significant original contribution to knowledge and understanding in your field of study and meet recognised international standards for your work.

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Applications received after the application date will be considered on a case-by-case basis otherwise the application will be held over for the subsequent start date.

• Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
• Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
• There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay .
• International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.

Indicative 2024 international fees

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Minimum entry requirements

Must normally have completed the following in a discipline appropriate to the proposed research:

• Master’s degree with honours OR
• Bachelor’s degree with honours (equivalent to 4 years of study)

The degree must normally have been gained at the standard of first class or second class (first division) honours from this University or a recognised equivalent. The degree should include advanced learning in research, execution of a research project and a written report on the research.

International student entry requirements

English language requirements

Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences

• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Writing and no band less than 6.0

All other study areas

• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with 7.0 in Writing and no band less than 6.0

Other requirements

Acceptance is subject to the availability of staff for supervision, prior research preparation and appropriate facilities.

How to apply for the Doctor of Philosophy

• Apply online and submit all required documents at least three months prior to the intended start date
• The Graduate Research School will assess your eligibility and forward to the relevant faculty to confirm possible research areas and supervisors
• Where the faculty confirms the availability of resources, including supervision, they will request for you to complete the formal research proposal (PGR2). Your PGR2 Research Proposal, including supervisory signatures, must be submitted to your Faculty Postgraduate Office a minimum of four weeks prior to your intended start date. If you are planning to start on 1 February, submit your signed PGR2 by 15 December.
• Once the research proposal is confirmed by the faculty, it will be sent to the Graduate Research School for approval and to issue an Offer of Place

For general enquiries for the Doctor of Philosophy programme please contact [email protected] .

Preparing a PhD research proposal

Prospective PhD applicants are required to prepare a formal research proposal, specifying the field of research and a general research question you wish to investigate.

Admission to a doctoral programme

Guidelines for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law

Guidelines for the Faculty of Culture and Society

Information we need to assess your application

We require the following information:

• Faculty and/or field you wish to conduct your study in
• Academic transcripts
• Grading scale for postgraduate qualification
• Degree certificates (undergraduate and postgraduate)
• Title of the thesis/dissertation/research project
• 1-2 page document (maximum) outlining your proposed research project
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• If English is not your first language you need to provide evidence of English language proficiency – IELTS (Academic) test results or recognised equivalent. If your postgraduate study was completed in English within three years, this may be waived

Once the required information is received, we will forward your enquiry to the relevant faculty who will communicate to you about the outcome of your application, possible research areas and supervisors.

Requirements for specific subjects

Art & design.

We require a portfolio (between 10-15 annotated images as a pdf or PowerPoint file or a URL for a website)

Provide evidence of completing the courses Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics at postgraduate level. Course syllabus or similar is required for assessment of comparability of those courses to those taken in New Zealand

Doctoral students will attain the knowledge, values and attributes to make significant contributions to their professional communities and societies through further high-quality research, and developments.

You put together a proposal that critically reviews work done in your area of research. This requires a suitable research methodology and a timeframe for completion of the degree. You are expected to publish one or more papers for a reputed international conference in your chosen area of research.

Once you have completed your research proposal, you refine your design, collect data and conduct your research as appropriate. Data is collected and analysed and the results are published at international conferences. A journal publication is also encouraged at this point.

The first step in the final stage of the PhD is finalising the data collection and analysis. You then write your PhD thesis and submit it to the supervisor for feedback. It could take two or three drafts before the thesis is ready for submission and examination.

Skills you will develop as part of the PhD

The outcomes for graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.

Graduate Profile

It is expected that graduates with a Doctor of Philosophy will have gained the necessary skills and qualifications to follow an academic or research career. Alternatively, your research topic may lead you to a position of expertise in your chosen field. The opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills you gain through a PhD will be extensive, both in industry and academia.

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar .

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University of Auckland

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Doctor of Philosophy

Doctorate (PhD)

Key details

About this course, study locations, course structure.

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 .

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University of Auckland

The University of Auckland’s main City Campus is located in the heart of Auckland, which is ranked fourth out of 215 world cities for quality of living in the 2009 Mercer Quality of Living Survey (see www.mercer.com/qualityofliving). Auckland’s harbour setting, magnificent beaches and verdant bush make it a great place to study and work, while the University’s close proximity to New Zealand’s major business city enables staff and students to rub shoulders with leading practitioners in their field. For example, medical students work alongside leading specialists at Auckland City Hospital while the Faculty of Law is within walking distance of the courts and major legal firms. The Business School has a close relationship with leading Auckland companies and academics from our Faculty of Engineering, School of Population Health and School of Architecture and Planning serve on think-tanks helping to shape the city’s future.

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PhD Studentship in Computer Science at the University of Auckland ( 中文版 )

The Formal Engineering research group at the School of Computer Science , the University of Auckland , New Zealand is seeking excellent candidates for its growing PhD programme.

Founded in 1883, the University of Auckland (UoA) is the country's largest university with a student population of 40,000 includes 7,000 international students representing over 120 different countries. UoA is the highest ranked New Zealand university in the main world university rankings systems, e.g., 81st in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings in 2020. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, its Computer Science and Information Systems ranked 51-100 among other top universities around the world.

The university is located in the harbour city of Auckland , New Zealand's economic and cultural hub, with easy access to stunning beaches and rainforests. Auckland was ranked third out of 230 cities in the 2015 Mercer Quality of Living Survey, as well as one of the QS Best Student Cities in 2015.

The Formal Engineering group has a broad range research interests in Software Engineering (SE) related sub-disciplines, including, but not limited to: Requirement Engineering, Formal Methods, Software Testing, Quality Assurance, Software Tools & Techniques, Runtime Verification & Monitoring, Software Automation, Semantic Web, Ontological Reasoning, Machine Learning, etc. For interested candidates, please refer to the information page on Doctor of Philosophy , which specifies the admission requirements, application procedures and other related matters.

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. The 2020 PhD tuition fee is NZ$7250.40 per annum (approximately US$4357.74* per annum).

*Exchange rate at 16 April 2020: NZ$1.00 = US$0.60

In addition, the UoA offers a wide range of benefits for international PhD students.

If you are a top student, the university offers a range of Doctoral Scholarships to support our PhD candidates throughout the programme, e.g.,

• University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships
• China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships
• Other Doctoral Scholarships
• More Country-specific Scholarships

Please note that the selections of above scholarships are primarily based on academic merits, which could be very competitive.

For further information on the PhD study, such as research topics and supervision, please contact Associate Professor Jing Sun for more details.

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Your online help and support centre, applying for a phd with the faculty of medical and health sciences.

If you are interested in applying for a PhD at The University of Auckland, you can make an application using our application portal, so that we can evaluate your academic background and match your research interests with an appropriate supervisor. To make an application, please visit  Apply to Study .

For guidelines on the application process, and the entry requirements of a PhD with the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, please see the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences guide to the doctoral registration process .

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Regulations - Doctor of Philosophy

Statute for the degree of doctor of philosophy – phd.

(i) “Candidate/s” refers to candidate/s for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

(ii) “Candidature” refers to a person’s status as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

(iii) “Doctoral year” refers to each block of 12 months from the initial date of programme enrolment.

(iv) Full-time and part-time enrolment are defined in the doctoral full-time and part-time enrolment policy and procedures.

General Requirements

1 A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is required to undertake an original and coherent research project and to present the outcome of that research project for examination as a thesis.

2 The research project, which may include scholarly creative practice, must involve enquiry that is experimental and/or critical in nature and be driven by an intellectual hypothesis, position, problem or question(s) capable of being rigorously explored and of making an original and significant contribution to knowledge and/or understanding in the relevant field(s) of study.

3 The research project must be conducted under supervision and over the period of enrolment in the PhD programme, and must be conducted in accordance with the Research Code of Conduct Policy.

4 The thesis requirement at Regulation 1 must be satisfied by a cohesive written document, which shall not normally exceed 100,000 words. Scholarly creative work (written or otherwise) that forms an integrated whole with the written document may be submitted for examination as part of the thesis requirement.

5 The thesis must be undertaken and completed in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Policy and Procedures and, where scholarly creative work is (to be) presented for examination as part of the thesis requirement, with the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures.

6 In order for the PhD degree to be awarded, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]) must be:

a satisfied that the requirements of Regulations 1-5 and Regulation 47 have been met

b satisfied that, subject to Regulation 43, the candidate has performed at doctoral level in an oral examination, held in accordance with this Statute on the thesis, the subject of the thesis and the field(s) to which the subject belongs

c satisfied, by the examination process prescribed by this Statute, that the thesis:

(i) makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge or understanding in its field(s)

(ii) meets internationally recognised standards for such work

(iii) demonstrates knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject and the field(s) to which the subject belongs, and demonstrates the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgement of that literature

(iv) is satisfactory in its methodology, in the quality and coherence of its expression, and in its scholarly presentation and format.

7 The thesis must be submitted within a maximum of 48 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme, unless a later submission date is permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in accordance with the Doctoral Extension of Enrolment Policy and Procedures. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions pertaining to the submission of the “thesis” in this regulation and in the remainder of this statute apply to all work (to be) presented for examination in fulfilment of the thesis requirement at Regulation 1.

8 The thesis must not be submitted in less than 36 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme, unless permission is granted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

9 Permission for submission of the thesis must not be granted where a candidate has been enrolled for less than 24 months full-time equivalent from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme.

10 Part-time enrolment may be permitted, subject to the Doctoral Full-time and Part-time Enrolment Policy and Procedures.

11 A candidate may be permitted to suspend their enrolment subject to the Doctoral Suspension of Enrolment Policy and Procedures.

12 The initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme may not be backdated except:

a in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) and up to a maximum of six months

b as permitted under the PhD – Masters Thesis Transfer Policy and Procedures or Doctoral Transfer Policy and Procedures.

13 To be admitted to the PhD programme, applicants must satisfy the University’s Admission regulations and are required to have:

a in their most recent attempt at a relevant qualification:

(i) completed the requirements for a Bachelors Honours or Masters degree or postgraduate diploma in a relevant subject area with at least a B+ average at the University of Auckland, or, where relevant to the intended subject of the PhD, the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland; in all cases relevance is determined by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

(ii) satisfied the requirements of the PhD – Masters Thesis Transfer Policy and Procedures

(iii) completed the requirements for a qualification approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) as relevant, with regard to subject area, and as equivalent to a Bachelors Honours or Masters degree with at least a B+ average at the University of Auckland

b satisfied the requirements of the Doctoral Candidate Research Capacity Policy and Procedures

c satisfied the University of Auckland postgraduate English language requirements and any further requirements for evidence of English language proficiency set by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

d where creative work is to be presented for examination as part of the thesis requirement, have satisfied the eligibility and research project approval requirements of the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures

e have a research project approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) as consistent with the requirements of Regulation 2 and capable of satisfying the requirements for the award of the PhD degree

f have the approval of the Head(s) of the relevant academic unit(s) or their nominee(s) for the purposes of doctoral matters (“the Academic Head(s)”) with regard to the availability of appropriate supervision and the availability of the research resources deemed necessary by the Academic Head(s).

14 In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may, subject to the Doctoral Exceptional Circumstance Entry Policy and Procedures, admit to the PhD programme an applicant whose qualifications do not meet the requirements of Regulation 13a.

15 An applicant may be considered for transfer from an existing doctoral enrolment subject to the Doctoral Transfer Policy and Procedures.

16 An applicant may be considered for off-campus enrolment subject to the Doctoral Off-campus Research Policy and Procedures.

17 The final decision on admission to the PhD programme shall be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

18 Admission to the PhD programme may be rescinded prior to enrolment in the programme where information that was not available to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) at the time the admission decision was made, and which would have resulted in a different decision being made, becomes available, or where, due to circumstances unforeseeable at the time of the decision, supervision and/or necessary resources will no longer be available for the enrolment.

19 Admission to the PhD programme is valid for up to six months (or a maximum of 12 months in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)) from the date of notification of admission to the programme. Where enrolment in the programme does not occur within that time, re-application for admission to the programme is required.

20 Concurrent enrolment in another programme at the University of Auckland or at another institution is not permitted except as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in exceptional circumstances.

21 Persons who are permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to enrol in a joint or dual doctoral degree must satisfy all the requirements of this Statute in order to have the PhD degree awarded, unless an individual requirement is varied under Regulation 53.

Supervision

22 The Academic Head(s) is (are) responsible for the provision of supervision for the duration of the candidate’s enrolment.

23 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint at least two supervisors for each candidate in accordance with the Doctoral Supervision Policy and Procedures.

24 Changes in supervision during candidature are subject to the Doctoral Supervision Policy and Procedures and the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate), with whom the final decision as to the appointment of supervisors rests.

Enrolment and Candidature

25 Except for any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 11, candidates are required to be enrolled continuously from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme until the date of thesis submission under Regulations 7–9.

26 Candidature for the PhD degree commences upon enrolment in the PhD programme and continues, regardless of any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 11, until the date on which any one of the following occurs:

a notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that all requirements for the award of the degree at Regulation 6 have been met

b notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that the final decision under Regulation 46 is that the degree not be awarded

c candidature expires under Regulation 28

d a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 48

e candidature is terminated by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 49.

27 Candidature is provisional until confirmed, and is subject to the Doctoral Confirmation of Candidature Policy and Procedures, the Doctoral Continuation of Confirmed Candidature Policy and Procedures, and the Doctoral Candidature Intervention Policy and Procedures.

28 a Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted for examination by the date required under Regulation 7.

b Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 45.

29 Where candidature has expired under Regulation 28, it may be reinstated only as the outcome of a successful application to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) for a (retrospective) extension of enrolment, or by successful appeal under Regulation 54 of a decision by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to decline an extension of enrolment (retrospective or otherwise).

30 Enrolment in the PhD programme is not possible where candidature remains expired under Regulation 28 or where a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 48.

31 Termination of candidature under Regulation 49 is also termination of enrolment in the PhD programme for enrolled candidates.

32 Candidates who are required, pursuant to Regulation 45, to revise and resubmit their thesis for examination by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) are required to be enrolled for the duration of the period of revision of the thesis. The maximum duration of enrolment for revision and resubmission of a thesis pursuant to Regulation 45 is 12 months full-time equivalent.

33 Candidates who wish to be absent from the University in pursuit of their research for more than one month during enrolment are subject to the Doctoral Off-campus Research Policy and Procedures.

34 Candidates are subject to the Research Code of Conduct Policy and all University statutes, regulations, rules, policies and procedures relating to student conduct and obligations (academic or otherwise) for the duration of candidature.

35 Candidates may change the title of their thesis at any point prior to submission of the thesis for examination, subject to the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

36 All fees required by and pursuant to the Fees Statute and the PhD Domestic Tuition Fees Policy must be paid for the duration of enrolment in the PhD programme.

37 Tuition fees are not payable for any period during which enrolment has been suspended under Regulation 11.

38 a A candidate who withdraws from the PhD programme, or who has their candidature terminated, will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period of withdrawal from the programme or termination of candidature and the end of the current doctoral year.

b A candidate who submits a thesis will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period between the date of submission of the thesis and the end of the current doctoral year, provided the candidate has been enrolled for at least 36 months’ full-time equivalent.

39 Graduation is not permitted until all outstanding monies owing to the University have been paid.

40 The thesis must be submitted in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Pre-Examination Procedures.

Examination

41 For each candidate, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint two examiners, at least one of whom must be based outside New Zealand, in accordance with the Doctoral Appointment of Examiners Policy and Procedures.

42 The examination for the PhD degree must be conducted in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Procedures and/or, where the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) regards it as warranted, with the Doctoral Examination Extraordinary Circumstances and Posthumous Award Procedures. Where scholarly creative work is submitted as part of the thesis requirement, the examination is also subject to the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures.

43 Except where a candidate is exempted pursuant to the Doctoral Examination Extraordinary Circumstances and Posthumous Award Procedures, the PhD degree cannot be awarded where an oral examination has not taken place.

44 Where a candidate advances to oral examination, the oral examination is to proceed in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Procedures and the Doctoral Oral Examination Procedures.

45 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will consider all examination reports and recommendations made pursuant to the Doctoral Examination Procedures and determine the outcome of the examination.

Final Decision

46 The final decision as to the award of the PhD degree will be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]), who may also be the decision-maker at Regulation 45.

47 The final examined and approved thesis must be submitted in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Post-Examination Procedures in order for the requirements of the PhD degree to be met.

Withdrawal from Programme

48 A candidate may withdraw from the PhD programme at any time by notifying the University in writing. Retraction of the programme withdrawal is not permitted.

Termination of Candidature

49 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may terminate the candidature of any enrolled or non-enrolled candidate on any one or more of the following grounds:

a failure to meet the requirements for confirmation of candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

b failure to meet the requirements for continuation of confirmed candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

c failure to satisfy conditions imposed on candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

d failure to comply with candidature reporting requirements pursuant to Regulation 27

e failure to complete or satisfactorily complete revisions to an examined thesis by the date required by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

f failure to comply with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Post-Examination Procedures

g failure to make payment of any tuition fees related to enrolment in the PhD by the due date.

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, termination of candidature pursuant to this Regulation 49 is permanent unless successfully appealed in accordance with Regulation 54(b).

50 Before the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) makes a decision as to termination of candidature pursuant to Regulation 49, the candidate will be given notice of termination proceedings and allowed 14 calendar days to make a submission for the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to take into account in making that decision. This process is subject to the Doctoral Termination Proceedings Policy.

51 Cancellation or prohibition of enrolment and/or candidature pursuant to any disciplinary statute of the University takes precedence over the provisions of this Statute.

52 a Where a candidate withdraws from the PhD programme, or has their candidature terminated, or fails to meet the requirements for the award of the degree, admission to a new PhD or other doctoral programme in the same subject at a later date will not normally be permitted.

b A person who withdraws from any relevant doctoral enrolment or has a relevant doctoral candidature terminated (or equivalent), or who fails to meet the requirements for the award of a relevant doctoral degree, will not normally be admitted to the PhD except in accordance with the doctoral transfer policy and procedures.

c Relevance and equivalence at Regulation 52b are determined by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

53 In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may approve a variation to the policies, procedures and regulations for PhD candidature, except where variation of a national or government directive or requirement is involved.

54 a Candidates may appeal decisions made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pertaining to extension and suspension of enrolment subject to the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

b A former candidate may appeal the decision made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to terminate candidature, or to decline an extension of enrolment, subject to the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

55 Appeals as to extension and suspension of enrolment and termination of candidature will be determined in accordance with the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

56 Candidates and former candidates may appeal the outcome of a PhD examination only on the grounds that the result was materially impacted by a procedural flaw in the examination process, and subject to the Doctoral Examination Appeal Procedures.

57 Appeals as to examination will be determined in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Appeal Procedures.

Dispute Resolution

58 Disputes are to be resolved according to the Resolution of Student Academic Complaints and Disputes Statute.

59 Any matter that has been, could have been or could be appealed under the provisions of Regulation 54 or 56 is precluded from consideration as a dispute under Regulation 58.

Further Provisions

60 a The PhD programme is subject to the Limited Entry Statute.

b Candidates are subject to:

(i) the Degrees and Diplomas Statute and the Conferment of Academic Qualifications and Academic Dress Statute

(ii) the provisions of the Enrolment and Programme regulations pertaining to members of the security intelligence service, rescindment and surrender of qualifications and the Provost’s Special Powers

(iii) the Examination Regulations, where coursework is prescribed pursuant to Regulation 27.

61 The doctoral policies and procedures cited in this Statute may be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

62 PhD candidates are subject to any additional doctoral policies and procedures devised in support of this Statute, and amended from time-to-time.

63 This Statute may itself be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

64 This Statute came into force on 1 October 2020.

65 For candidates initially enrolled under a previous statute, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may agree to vary the application of the provisions of this Statute to ensure consistency with the provisions of the statute under which the candidate was enrolled, where it is satisfied that the candidate would otherwise be at a disadvantage.

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New zealand’s phd package.

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Medical and Health Sciences

Doctor of Medicine DMedSc

Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMedSc) is a professional doctorate that provides an opportunity for experienced medical clinicians to undertake advanced study and research.

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Programme overview

This programme used to be called the Doctor of Medicine (MD).

The DMedSc is a professional postgraduate doctorate involving advanced study and research. This research can directly investigate current clinical and practice issues.

Completing this degree enables candidates to provide leadership in the profession through their advancement and dissemination of knowledge. The degree may be undertaken on or off campus and may report research that has been undertaken prior to enrolment for the degree if it hasn’t been submitted as part of a previous degree or diploma.

More information

• Doctoral policies and guidelines
• Regulations for the DMedSc

Programme structure

Entry requirements.

• Fees and scholarships
• Find a supervisor

During the DMedSc, you will usually undertake research for three to four years full time. Part time candidates would be expected to complete their DMedSc within 8 years.

• On entry to the DMedSc programme, you will be enrolled provisionally.
• By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the DMedSc programme.
• After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination, usually after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process may include an oral exam.
• There is a provision for candidates to report on original research completed before entry to the DMedSc programme, provided it has not been submitted as part of a previous degree or diploma.

For more information and advice, talk to a postgraduate advisor by contacting the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences .  

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.

• Evidence of significant research experience

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 .

No bands less than 6.0

See alternative English language requirements

Calculate your Grade Point Equivalent (GPE)

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.

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

Programme-specific requirements

You must have at least five years’ professional experience in medical practice.

How much does a Doctor of Medicine cost per year?

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 DMedSc programme at any time of year. If you are a New Zealand student, you must enrol within 3 months of your unconditional offer. If you are an International student, you must enrol in the programme within 6 months of your unconditional offer.

As part of the application process for the DMedSc, 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 currently available through Discovery Profiles , or contact the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences for further advice.

Where could this programme take you?

The research undertaken during your DMedSc can be directly applied toward clinical and practice issues. Completing this degree enables candidates to provide leadership in the profession through their advancement and dissemination of knowledge. We advise that the University of Auckland is not involved in the employment of graduates and can make no guarantee of post-qualification registration or employment in New Zealand or any other country.

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 .

We advise that the University of Auckland is not involved in the employment of graduates and can make no guarantee of post-qualification registration or employment in New Zealand or any other country.

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