How to apply for a PhD and find a supervisor

To apply for a doctoral programme, you need to complete an online Expression of Interest (EOI), which may be submitted at any time during the year. Completing an EOI will allow us to pre-assess your eligibility for doctoral study. It will also assist us to identify potential supervisors who may be available to supervise your research in your chosen field of study.

Familiarise yourself with the regulations and requirements of doctoral study and ensure you meet the academic requirements for entry into your doctoral programme.

Look at the relevant faculty or department websites, and consider the research interests and publications of academic staff members to help you decide on your area of research. 

You can also send an email to the relevant PhD advisers.

Meet our doctoral students and supervisors

Hear a small selection of interviews with our PhD students and Supervisors and find out about their research and what inspires them.

• To complete your EOI, go to The University of Auckland website at www.auckland.ac.nz
• Click on 'Apply Now'
• Click on Doctoral Application Process
• Follow the steps

When submitting your online Expression of Interest (EOI), you will need*:

• Academic transcripts
• IELTS or TOEFL scores**
• Statement of your research intent - an outline of your intended topic and areas of interest; use
• the faculty template
• Two letters of academic recommendation - use the doctoral referee’s report form on the website
• Your CV or résumé
• If your EOI is approved, you will be invited to apply for a PhD.

More details can be found here.

* Your department may request you to provide additional information in order to process your EOI

**IELTS 6.5 overall,
minimum of 6 in all bands
TOEFL 575 paper + TWE 4.5, 90 IBT + writing 21
(Some programmes require higher scores)
 

For information on The University of Auckland Scholarships refer, please click here.

For information on New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) refer to:

www.newzealandeducated.com/scholarships

Every candidate for every doctoral degree must be registered by the Board of Graduate Studies before they may be enrolled for that degree. PhD candidates are initially provisionally registered. Provisional registration includes particular goals for the candidate to achieve in the first twelve months. Upon satisfactory completion of the first year, a candidate’s registration is confirmed.

Click here for more information, including a step-by-step outline of the doctoral application process, from deciding upon your area of research interest and contacting a potential supervisor, to filling in the EOI and doctoral registration.

For assistance and information with PhD administration, contact the School of Graduate Studies.