Study Doctorate in New Zealand

To study doctorate in New Zealand, one must hold a permanent residency or be a citizen of the country. If you fall under neither of these categories then you can apply as an international doctorate student in New Zealand. The government of New Zealand charges domestic student fees for international students pursuing their PhDs.

The search for a good university to study at starts with identifying those with good faculty members and efficient resources along with scope for fostering research in your chosen field. Your selection also depends upon the research proposal you draft and send to the universities. This gives the universities a chance to understand your project, and evaluate their capacity and expertise to assist you in your research study. Sometimes, the proposal you submit is already an ongoing project; in such cases, the university may offer you a chance to join the current project. Please note, however, that group research does not happen regularly in New Zealand in case of PhDs.

Another important pointer for PhD applications in New Zealand is that you should have a solicitation from a faculty member or an individual academician in the form of an Expression of Interest or a Provisional Approval; failing to do this will mostly result in rejection of your application. The most established way that students connect with potential research fellows is through consultants that identify contacts at universities of New Zealand who can, in turn, contact academicians working in the area of your research interest. However, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate their projects with the faculty and ensure that they are committed and professional, as most faculties have several such research requests with no scope for nepotism.

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for a PhD degree in New Zealand, one has to have an equivalent of an Honors degree in New Zealand, which means a 4th year of education post Bachelor’s in the field of research; not the name for the category of marks scored like it is in the UK. It’s not unusual for a graduate student to directly apply for a PhD, after three years of study, provided the applicant has exhibited outstanding performance in exams, interested in the same field for their doctorate and has relevant experience in the same field. Otherwise, it is advisable that you have a four-year Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree.

Advantages of doing PhD from New Zealand:

1) International PhD students have schooling benefits similar to that of permanent residents of New Zealand till their last year of high school, which exempts them from tuition fees other than an annual donation of a meagre amount.

2) Students are eligible for a work visa that is valid for 12 months from the date of their completion of PhD. The spouse/partner of the main applicant is eligible for a work permit that allows them to work in New Zealand till the end of main applicant’s period of study.

3) Students can pursue part-time work up to 20 hours a week during their study period.

Interested in pursuing your higher studies from New Zealand? At Y-Axis, our experienced counsellors can not only help you choose colleges and countries to pursue your studies but also guide you with the best colleges for the career path you have chosen. Talk to our consultants today, to schedule a free counselling session.