Doctoral research and travel scholarships

The overlooked X and Y factor in osteoarthritis development

The Department of Pharmacology is offering a scholarship funded by a Marsden Grant to undertake reserach as part of a project to determine how the activity and function of key pathways involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis differ between males and females. This is a first-in-kind study using a unique combination of molecular pharmacology and biomedical techniques.

This project is at the intersect of biomedical science and pharmacology and will suit a student wanting to undertake a PhD in either discipline. The project will involve primary human cell culture from tissue obtained from patients with osteoarthritis as well as use of a range of molecular pharmacology and molecular biology techniques providing you with excellent training for your future research career.

Expressions of interest are sought from high-achieving, motivated students with excellent organisational and time management skills, who have excelled in their Honours or Masters studies and have experience in one or more of the following: cell culture, molecular pharmacology techniques (e.g alphaLISA), real time PCR, western blotting, reporter assays or transfection/viral vector-mediated transduction.

The Scholarship will provide a tax free stipend of up to $35,000pa plus all compulsory fees for three years of enrolment in the doctoral programme.

Candidates should submit an expression of interest, including CV, academic record and the contact details for two referees to Dr Raewyn Poulson (r.poulsen@auckland.ac.nz) by 1 June 2023.

Advanced Rechargeable Batteries Technology

The Advanced Energy Storage Research Group at the University of Auckland (UoA) is offering two PhD research scholarships to outstanding candidates to develop high-performance rechargeable seawater batteries.

The Scholarships are funded by a grant from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund. The principal Investigator Dr. Shanghai Wei is from Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland. The successful PhD candidates will be supervised by Dr. Shanghai Wei and co-investigators from School of Chemical Sciences at the UoA, GNS Science and Georgia Tech (USA).

The award will cover the tuition fees at the University of Auckland, plus a stipend of NZ$29,100 per annum (tax free) for 3 years. This scholarship will also cover student services fees and international health insurance (if applicable).

Candidates should submit an expression of interest, including a CV and supporting statement outlining their skills and interests in battery research area, to Dr. Shanghai Wei (s.wei@auckland.ac.nz).

Doctoral research in the history of Tapu

Applications are invited from qualified students with knowledge of te ao Māori and who have a good understanding of te reo Māori. The programme of research might involve or combine various disciplinary perspectives, but the supervisory team will be convened by staff from Māori Studies, Te Wānanga o Waiapa, University of Auckland.

The scholarship provides a stipend of $35,000 per annum for three years, all tuition fees, and comes with an additional allowance for travel, conference, and other expenses.

The scholarship is endowed by the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi Marsden Fund, and is linked to a complementary project on the history of taboo from a Western perspective being undertaken by Associate Professor Alex Calder (English, University of Auckland). Please send an expression of interest, a CV, and contact details for two referees to: a.calder@auckland.ac.nz

For more information on Associate Professor Calder's Marsden project visit The cultural and literary history of taboo

PhD Scholarship in understanding sympathetic triggering of inherited cardiac arrhythmia: clinical and cellular studies

Applications are invited from high achieving and motivated students interested in clinical and cellular cardiovascular and neurocardiac research. The Scholarship provides a fortnightly stipend, compulsory domestic tuition fees, plus $10,000 research expenses up to a total of $47,000 per annum.

Please send a CV, academic record, and the names and contact details of two Referees to a.winbo@auckland.ac.nz with PhD, LQTS research in the subject line. Please note only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Elizabeth Ewing Memorial Scholarship in Adolescent and Young Adult Health

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts

A $5,000 Scholarship to support a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident enrolled full-time or part-time in postgraduate research focussing on adolescent and young adult health.

HC Russell Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

A Scholarship of up to  $10,000 for PhD level full-time study in Optometry by a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

Heather Leaity Memorial Award

Faculty of Science

A $1,000 Award to assist a student enrolled in the first year of a PhD in Marine Science with research expenses.

J D Sinclair Postgraduate Award in Physiology

An Award to support a PhD candidate in Physiology who previously completed an honours or masters degree in the Department of Physiology.

The Marie Clay Literacy Trust Trainer Doctoral Scholarship

Faculty of Education and Social Work

A Scholarship of up to $70,000 pa for research related to Reading Recovery as part of PhD or EdD in the Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Mercer Memorial Scholarship

Faculty of Engineering

A Scholarship to support a postgraduate student carrying out research in a field related to aeronautics.

Read about the 2021 recipient of the Scholarship at PhD student awarded two scholarships in aerospace and aeronautics engineering.

Rotary Club of Newmarket 75th Anniversary Hauraki Gulf Environment Postgraduate Award

All faculties

An Award of up to $10,000 to support masters or PhD research with the potential to improve the natural environment of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands and environs.

University of Auckland Universitas 21 Doctoral Student Mobility Scholarship

A Scholarship of up to $5,000 to assist doctoral candidates with costs of undertaking short term visits and placements at Universitas 21 institutions.

Read about research visits undertaken by recent recipients at U21 Doctoral Mobility Scholarship.

Faculty of Education and Social Work Doctoral Travel Award

An Award of up to $2,000 to assist doctoral students in the Faculty of Education and Social Work to attend educational conferences in Asia.

Edna and Denis Moloney Scholarship

A $5,000 Scholarship to fund travel and other costs for a full-time MD or PhD student to present an oral paper at a conference in a field related to cancer research.

Search our comprehensive scholarships database for an up-to-date list of all the scholarships and awards available to future and current University of Auckland students.

Antarctica New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarships

External scholarships - Faculty of Science
Ella Yellich-O'Connor Antarctic Doctoral Scholarship

Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde) spent just over a week at Scott Base in 2019; visiting scientists in the field, learning more about Antarctica’s role in the global earth system and the impact climate change is having on the frozen continent. Following her trip, she has created a memoir and photo-book filled with photos and essays called ‘Going South’. Proceeds from the sale of the book fund the Ella Yelich-O’Connor Antarctic Doctoral Scholarship. The scholarship supports research that advances understanding, and promotes protection of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In her own words, ‘this harsh environment feels eternal, but is dangerously vulnerable’.

• For doctoral research
• Stipend of $20,000 per annum over two years (total of $40,000); and
• Logistics support for one season of fieldwork in Antarctica (subject to programme availability, fieldwork must be aligned with an existing Antarctic field event)

New Zealand Post Antarctic Scholarship

New Zealand's presence in Antarctica is important to our nation and New Zealand Post has a long association with the continent – ever since Sir Edmund Hillary was postmaster at Scott Base in 1957. Supporting up-and-coming New Zealand scientists through this scholarship is a key way that New Zealand Post continues its close association with the white continent.

• For master’s or doctoral research
• Stipend of $10,000 over one year; and
• Logistics support for one season in Antarctica (subject to programme availability, fieldwork must be aligned with an existing Antarctic field event)

Register your intention to apply for either scholarship by Friday 24 March.

Applications and references are due by 5pm, Monday 10 April.

NZCS Awards

The New Zealand Coastal Society offers various awards for PhD study related to the betterment of New Zealand's coastal resources to NZCS members.

Student Research Scholarship

The Society offers an annual scholarship of $5,000 to support PhD research that has the potential to contribute towards the aims of the society. The Scholarship includes free attendance to the annual NZCS conference and dinner.

Māori & Pacific Island Research Scholarship

The Society offers an annual PhD research scholarship of $5,000 to anyone of Māori or Pacific Island descent  or with a research topic with a Māori and Pacific Island focus within the coastal environment.An example could be the application of traditional Maori or Pacific Island coastal management techniques to modern day coastal planning. The purpose of this scholarship is also to promote diversity amongst coastal practitioners. The Scholarship includes free attendance to the annual NZCS conference and dinner.

NZ Coastal Society 'Coasts and Ports' Student Award

The award will cover conference registration, attendance at the conference dinner and $1000 towards travel and accommodation for the Australasian Coasts and Ports Conference. The award winner will be judged on the quality of the accepted abstract and alignment with the goals of the New Zealand Coastal Society. To be eligible the abstract must be accepted for presentation at the Australasian Coasts and Ports conference. The lead author must be an undergraduate, masters or PhD student at a recognised Tertiary institution based in New Zealand and a student member of the New Zealand Coastal Society at the time of submission.

For more information or to apply visit NZCS Awards.

The Dick and Mary Earle Scholarship in Technology

Te Pōkai Tara - Universities New Zealand administers this scholarship which provides funds for individuals to undertake masters or doctoral research in innovation and product development and/or bioprocess technology.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, and have completed a BTech, BEng, BE degree or equivalent from a New Zealand university, with honours, in a field appropriate to their intended postgraduate study.

Up to $17,000 per annum at Masters level and $25,000 per annum at PhD level.

Applications close 1 July. For more information and to apply visit The Dick and Mary Earle Scholarship in Technology.