Doctoral study in Property
Why study with us?
- The University of Auckland consistently ranks in the top 100 globally and is New Zealand’s No. 1 university. (QS World University Rankings)
- The Business School at The University of Auckland is part of the 1% of Business Schools worldwide with Triple Crown accreditation.(AACSB International, EFMD-EQUIS, and AMBA)
- The university hosts more researchers in business and economics than any other New Zealand university. This expertise provides opportunities for original and significant contributions to knowledge in various disciplines.
- Students have opportunities to connect with professionals from their discipline through networking event, fostering collaboration and industry connections.
- The Business School offers state-of-the-art facilities, including dedicated workspaces for full-time PhD students.
- Doctoral candidates receive annual Postgraduate Research Student Support (PReSS) funding to cover research expenses.
- The Business School Careers Centre assists students with career planning through skills workshops, employer interactions and individual support.
Research opportunities
As a doctoral student in Property, you'll join a thriving research community. The department offers specialist supervision by highly qualified and internationally recognised academics. We are involved in a wide variety of research activities related to all aspects of property and are engaged in research projects funded by government agencies and the private sector.
The PhD in Property is an interdisciplinary programme traversing a range of fields including property valuation and development, marketing, management, economics and finance.
We welcome proposals that align with our core specialisations in commercial and residential property markets, urban land use policy, property finance, REITs and the wider economics of property markets, urban development and cities. Current departmental research spans:
- Global commercial property markets. Evidence-based studies on investment, risk, finance, REITs, valuation, leasing, and market structure across regions.
- Housing markets and urban change. Property economics, urban economics, affordability, tenure, neighbourhood dynamics, and how housing shapes urban form and wellbeing.
- Innovations and property technologies. PropTech, data pipelines, transparency, and explainable, auditable models for decision making.
- Other areas of research. Indirect real estate markets, smart cities, and urban studies, with links to transport, resilience, and climate risk.
Our people
Work with us and receive high quality support and supervision from internationally recognised researchers.
Professor Deborah Levy
Pursue your topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from internationally recognised researchers.Research interests: behavioural aspects of property, property management, property marketing.
Associate Professor Abdul-Rasheed Amidu
Research interests: behaviouralism in property valuation decision making, operation of property markets in emerging economies, land policies and administration.
Associate Professor William Cheung
Research interests: housing policy, housing markets, urban analysis and development, impacts of tourism, applied economics.
Associate Professor Olga Filippova
Research interests: seismic strengthening and natural hazards, town centre regeneration, climate change impacts and adaptation, spatial econometrics.
Associate Professor Michael Rehm
Research interests: housing affordability, hedonic pricing and GIS applications in property markets, inclusionary zoning, sustainability.
Associate Professor Edward Yiu
Research interests: property economics, housing affordability, retail tenant mix, urban analytics, quantitative methods.
Dr Zhi Dong
Research interests: Property and real estate economics including behavioral aspects, urban economics, property finance, property investment strategies, portfolio analyses and management, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), capital and equity markets. .
Dr Mayowa Adegoriola
Research interests: existing building energy efficiency, net zero buildings, heritage building sustainability, occupant well being, sustainable maintenance.
Dr Sowon Kim
Research interests: urban and regional economics, public economics, housing policy, applied economics.
Past research topics
Note: The following theses were completed under the current PhD Statute 2020. (Source: Wahapū)
- Disruption-Driven Investment Decision Making of Listed Property Trusts in New Zealand | Supervised by Assoc Prof Abdul-Rasheed Amidu, Assoc Prof Olga Filippova, Prof Deborah Levy
- Adoption of Technological Innovations in Valuation Practice | Supervised by Assoc Prof Abdul-Rasheed Amidu, Prof Deborah Levy
- Understanding the Commercial Property Valuation Process from a Collaborative Perspective | Supervised by Assoc Prof Abdul-Rasheed Amidu, Prof Deborah Levy
- Motives and Critical Factors of Sale and Leaseback Transactions in Vietnam | Supervised by Assoc Prof Edward Yiu, Assoc Prof Abdul-Rasheed Amidu
- The New Normal: The Role of Residential-led Regeneration in Revitalising Small Town Centres | Supervised by Prof Deborah Levy, Assoc Prof Olga Filippova
- A Comparative Study of Public-Private Partnerships Stakeholder Management in New Zealand and Malaysia | Supervised by Prof Deborah Levy, Assoc Prof Abdul-Rasheed Amidu
Scholarships and awards
There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in Property.
University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships
Contact us
Phone the University
- 923 7186 (within Auckland)
- 0800 61 62 63 (outside Auckland)
- +64 9 373 7513 (overseas)
For specific information on doctoral study in Property, please contact the Department of Property