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Find out about pursuing an advanced research degree at our world-class University.

100 Different PhD Subjects

The University of Auckland PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, available in over 100 different subjects.

Doctoral Scholarships

Find information about the doctoral scholarships offered by the University of Auckland.

Our Research

Learn about the exciting research taking place across the University.

Doctoral Applications

If you are applying for a PhD, here’s our step-by-step guide for doctoral applications, admission and enrolment.

Our Doctoral Candidates

Meet doctoral candidates and graduates from across the University.

Three Minute Thesis Presentations

The annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition provides a chance for doctoral candidates to share their research with a broad audience. It is also a lot of fun for the audience.

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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.

Explore our research expertise

AUT's academic supervisors are recognised world-class researchers who have the expert knowledge in their fields to guide you throughout your studies.

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• Architecture & Built Environment (2025)
• Go further with a Doctoral Degree
• AUT Prospectus (2025)

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

Scholarships

• Entry requirements
• Application process
• What you study
• Career opportunities

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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Doctor of Philosophy – PhD

A prestigious research qualification that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent and original research in your chosen field.

Entry requirements

• Qualification structure
• Courses & specialisations
• Fees & scholarships

Type of qualification

Level of study.

Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equal experience – you can study at the postgraduate level. Doctoral qualifications require additional entry requirements.

More about study levels

Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.

Find out more about NZQF levels

Time to complete

Where you can study.

• International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Admission application due dates Course enrolment dates for accepted students Semester dates

Study a Doctor of Philosophy – PhD

To do a PhD you need to have a passion and commitment for your discipline.

The degree is awarded for a thesis that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent and original research. It also needs to provide a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of a field of study.

Opportunities for research and career development

Developing effective communication skills are prioritised at Massey. We support you with research communications events such as the 3MT (Three-Minute Thesis) competition. 

We also place great importance on personal effectiveness. We offer you the opportunity to do the Strengths@Massey programme. This supports the building of good relationships with supervisors and peers and informs effective ways of achieving research outputs.

We also provide opportunities for intensive writing through our three-day thesis writing boot camps. You are provided with the support and infrastructure that allows you to dedicate your time to writing without any distractions

Research training

You will have access to a whole suite of workshops through support services such as the library, the Centre for Teaching & Learning, Career Hub and the Graduate Research School. These include:

• highly tailored writing sessions
• training on using databases and data management
• project management
• understanding research funding
• applying for a grant through to intercultural communications
• entrepreneurship and innovation.

You can find more information on our  prospective doctoral students pages.

A PhD is a good fit if you:

• want a research career in industry or academia
• have a passion for your subject
• wish to become an expert in your field.

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

To enter the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme you will:

• have completed a postgraduate bachelor's (honours) or master's degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Division I) B+ equivalent, or equivalent qualification
• have sufficient independent research experience to satisfy the Doctoral Research Committee that you have the capacity to successfully undertake the programme.

Massey University’s Doctoral Research Committee administers the PhD. Registration must be supported by the relevant Head of School/Centre who will agree to provide supervision and facilities for your research.

Please note that there are more applicants than places on the programme. If you meet the above conditions you will also go through a selection process including an interview. If successful in this process, you will be offered a place.

English language requirements:

Academic IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0* - this must be achieved in one sitting; or a minimum TOEFL iBT of 90 overall (minimum of 20 in writing). These tests are valid for two years.

*Note: The Institute of Education requires an overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 7 in Reading and Writing and a minimum of 6 in Listening and Speaking.

• English language requirements

International qualifications

International qualifications will be assessed in terms of their broad equivalence to a Massey honours or master’s degree with Grade Point Equivalency. Typically this should be 75% or B+. Admissions with Equivalent Status will be used to assess the quality and ranking of the overseas institution.

• Admissions with equivalent status information

A qualifying degree, like domestic qualifications, must include a supervised research component such as a substantial thesis or dissertation and previous research methods study is recommended.

Academic references

You must supply good academic references. The referees should know you in an academic capacity. At least one should be a supervisor for the research component of your most recent qualification (honours/masters). Contact them before you submit your application. Follow up to make sure they have received the request. We do not accept personal friends or relatives as referees.

Documents you need to provide

Following the admission screening stage, we may request verified copies of the following documents:

• transcripts for all tertiary qualifications, master's, bachelor's etc, even if these are incomplete
• grading legends for all tertiary qualifications
• all graduation certificates, unless completion is noted on the transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae
• references to any publications you have
• English language test results (if you are from a country where English is not the first language)
• evidence of your citizenship.

Please make sure you have all of these ready before applying as it will speed up the application process.

Maximum time limits for completion

There are maximum time limits for this qualification. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.

More information

• Read the  regulations  for this programme thoroughly
• Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Official regulations

Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Structure of the Doctor of Philosophy

If you are interested in a PhD at Massey, you should consult with the postgraduate coordinator for the specific subject area you are interested in.

• Staff expertise database

International students are required to have appropriate insurance cover. Massey has a default cover, StudentSafe, which is the preferred insurance provider.

If you have any questions, contact us through the Get advice button on this page.

Courses and specialisations

Credit summary, 360 credits.

Requirements include the completion of a thesis which includes a provisional year. This means your progress will be assessed after 9-12 months (full-time) or 12-16 months (part-time) before you are fully registered as a PhD candidate.

You will be required to report on your progress every six months.

The final examination process includes the submission of a written document (thesis) and an oral defence. If you are in the Creative Arts, the examination may include an exhibition/installation/performance, with an exegesis, and oral defence.

Course planning key

Fees and scholarships, fees, student loans and free fees scheme.

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

• Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
• View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

• Course search

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

• Student loans ( StudyLink )
• Student portal

Doctoral fees

You can start your PhD study at anytime throughout the academic year.

Normally you will pay full tuition fees from the start of each calendar year, with the exception of the first and final year of your study, which may be a partial year, depending on your start date.

Fees are not charged once you submit your thesis for examination.

The New Zealand government provides all international PhD students with a government subsidized scholarship which allows international students to pay tuition at the domestic fee rate. As part of the Immigration New Zealand student visa requirement, you will need to pay your full first year tuition fee at the time of accepting your Offer of Place and before you can enrol.

• Find out more about fees

Scholarship and award opportunities

• Alex C P Chu Trade for Training Scholarship
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship
• Antarctica NZ Postgraduate Research Scholarships
• ANZMES research funding opportunities
• Asia New Zealand Foundation Postgraduate Research Grants
• BRANZ Postgraduate Scholarships
• Catherine Baxter Dairy Scholarship
• China Scholarship Council (CSC) - Massey University PhD Scholars Programme
• Colin Aiken Plant Breeding Bursary
• Dr Eileen Fair Doctoral Scholarship in Earth Science
• Edward & Isabel Kidson Scholarships
• Farmers' Union Scholarship
• Garrick Latch Postgraduate Travel Grants
• George Mason Sustainable Land Use Scholarship
• Gosling Ornamental Horticulture Bursary
• Helen E. Akers Postgraduate Scholarship
• Henry Kelsey Research Scholarships
• Heseltine Ecology Bursary
• He Whenua Taurikura PhD Scholarships
• HOPE Foundation Scholarship for Research on Ageing
• HSANZ Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) - New Investigator PhD Scholarship
• Hurley Fraser Postgraduate Scholarship
• Joe Walding Memorial Bursary
• Johannes August Anderson Postgraduate Scholarship
• John Hodgson Pastoral Science Scholarship
• John Waller Doctoral Scholarship
• Julie Alley Bursary
• Leonard Condell Farming PhD Scholarship
• Leonard Condell Farming Postgraduate Scholarship
• Lois Turnbull Postgraduate Scholarship
• Macmillan Brown Agricultural Research Scholarship
• Mary Mallon Memorial Scholarship
• Massey Singapore Food Technology PhD Scholarship
• Massey University Alumni Doctoral Scholarship
• Massey University Doctoral Scholarship
• Massey University Pacific Success Scholarship for Doctoral Students
• Millar Massey Buchanan Scholarship
• Murray and Terry Scholarship
• NZ Pork Industry Postgraduate Scholarship
• OSOF Postgraduate Student Research Scholarship
• Peter Densem Postgraduate Scholarship
• PhD Scholarship: Hazing and deterring NZ wildlife during pollution events
• Professor Ren Jizhou Scholarship
• RHT Bates Postgraduate Scholarship
• Ross Beever Memorial Mycological Award
• Sasakawa Fellowship Fund for Japanese Language Education (SFFJLE) Postgraduate Scholarship
• Sinclair Cummings Veterinary and Animal Sciences Scholarship
• Sports Turf Scholarship
• Sydney Campbell Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
• Taranaki Tree Crops Scholarship
• The Agricultural Life Sciences PhD Travel Grant
• The Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War Heritage Scholarship
• The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) Postgraduate Scholarship
• William Reed Scholarship

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice .

What our students say

“It has been a life-changing experience for me.”

Doctor of Philosophy

“Massey University provides an excellent platform for international students.”

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

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Certificate of Proficiency Sub Degree – CPSBD

Pursue an interest or prepare for further study. This Certificate is for those intending to complete only one or two courses at sub-degree level.

Certificate of Proficiency Undergraduate – CPUND

Pursue an interest or prepare for further study. This Certificate is for those intending to complete only one or two courses at undergraduate level.

Diploma (Business) – DipBus

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Undertake a shorter, more flexible study option with the Diploma in Science and Technology at Massey.

Graduate Diploma (Management) – GradDip(Mgt)

A specially designed bridging qualification for international students that will allow you to transition into a Master of Management, specialising in Management

Graduate Diploma (Marketing) – GradDip(Mrk)

A stepping-stone to higher learning for international students interested in marketing at masters level  

Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology – GDipScTech

The Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology gives you the opportunity to retrain in an area of science that interests you.

Without Specialisation – Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology

Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology is a stepping stone to a research-based qualification.

Useful planning information

• Find more courses or qualifications
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Key information for students

Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz

Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Medicine

This course is available

Level of Study

Doctoral Degree

Next start date

Expected Jul 2024

University of Auckland

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

This course is also offered at overseas locations.

A greater, more comprehensive understanding of human biology and disease is the primary goal of biomedical research. The search is for finer and finer detail, the pursuit of complete knowledge of life and with it, the cure of human diseases. Throughout biological evolution, a structural feature of living cells that has been highly conserved across generations is DNA. This encodes genetic information essential to the maintenance of living processes. Understanding DNA and the genetic flow of information therefore constitutes an important route to advances in current medical research.

The Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology reflects this modern emphasis on molecular biology research. Moreover, we not only look at the molecular structure of life but we translate these molecules, these genes, to the clinic and the improved understanding, diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On possible to the PhD 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 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.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, 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 specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.

Entry criteria

Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours

Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

English language requirements

• IELTS (Academic) - Overall score of 6.5 and no bands below 6.0
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) - Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21
• Paper-based TOEFL - Overall score of 68 and a writing score of 21
• C1 Advanced (previously - Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) - Overall score of 176 and no bands below 169
• C2 Proficiency (previously - Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)) - Overall score of 176 and no bands below 169
• University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) - Grade of B-
• University of Auckland English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) - Grade of B-
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 and no PTE Communicative score below 50
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) - 85
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) - ISE III with a pass in all 4 components
• LanguageCert - International ESOL - C1 Expert (LRWS) with a high pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill OR C2 Mastery with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill
• AEMG English for Academic Purposes Direct Entry Program (AEAP DEP) Final Exam - Overall score of 70% with no section below 65%
• English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment - Assessment Level 3 overall and no skill below Level 2

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Breadcrumbs List.

• News and opinion

Golden Graduate: Allan Martin, training for gold again

24 May 2024

Ingenio , Alumni , Faculty of Education and Social Work

Allan Martin has enjoyed a hugely varied and successful career. He tells Megan Fowlie what continues to drive him, well into his 90s.

Allan Martin farewells me from his Warkworth home with, “Do a PhD, it will be liberating!”

At 97 years, Dr Allan Martin, OBE, husband, father, farmer, pilot, ferry skipper, Doctor of Philosophy, television broadcast pioneer, CEO, director, track and field athlete, and newshound, is a strong advocate for lifelong learning.

Allan recalls the 1970s and 80s, working toward his Education PhD and, before that, teaching and examining for the International English Language Testing System. From a populist viewpoint, Allan came to tertiary education late – although it’s nearly 20 years since his doctorate was conferred in 2006. His thesis was entitled ‘Older adulthood, education and social change’. He was 80, the oldest doctoral graduate that year.

“The idea that tertiary education stops at the age of 25 when you have 50, 60, 70 more years of living ahead of you is ridiculous – and a tragedy that governments haven’t provided for, and universities haven’t pushed for.

“Late in life, mental acuity becomes more important than the physical. I am a great believer in physical fitness – but the demand to keep going on springs from the brain.”

The eight-time World Masters Games gold medallist, who has another 18 golds from the New Zealand-Australia Games, is training again. This time for the Pan-American Masters in Ohio in July.

“Assuming I live long enough!” he laughs. He’ll be 98.

Allan competes in the 100m, 200m, 400m and now the javelin and discus. “I’ve never done discus before. My granddaughter suggested I switch from long jump.”

The idea that tertiary education stops at the age of 25 ... is ridiculous.

Allan Martin

In the 1930s, growing up on a gorse-strewn farm outside Whangārei, with apple trees, garden vegetables and fresh milk, Allan believes the Martin family weathered the Great Depression well. He attended a one-room school, then boarded at Carruth House at Whangārei Boys’ High School until the Second World War. Labour was short and with the untimely death of his father and, later, his older RAF bomber brother missing in action and then a prisoner of war, Allan, aged 15, ran the family dairy farm.

His recollections are of teenage independence: a car, a driver’s licence, a job and “getting up to all the things teenage boys got up to … and broadcasting, yes!”

In 1987, Allan received an OBE for his services to New Zealand broadcasting. It was a career that began when an old high school and army mate, Bob Irvine, recruited Allan as a local radio announcer in between milkings.

Radio took him to Australia, then to Mozambique. He met and married Joy in the grandiose tree-lined white avenues of the capital Lourenço Marques, now Maputo. Next, on to the UK producing London’s first commercial television channel.

Enticed back to New Zealand, he worked in daily news alongside Alan Morris at the NZBC, becoming chief producer and spearheading local shows Town and Around and Compass. By the late 1970s, coaxed across the Tasman, he received a Logie Award for current affairs production and became head of ABC public affairs television.

It is his time as director-general of TVNZ with which he is most pleased.

“A pinnacle was when the top ten programmes were homegrown.

“Public service is vital to the country, a great means of expression, debate, conversation. It is important in developing a certain standard and stability, a narrative, if you like.”

Allan is now creative director of Ideaschannel.net, working with Dr Mike Minehan, a former colleague, on “a selection of what we think are the best news services in the world, the best science, arts, free education, opinion and ideas”.

He suggests people are hankering for context, searching for stability of ideas and leadership.

“Thinking about this century, there’s been incredible change – and, for the next generation, with AI here, I think there will be such very great change and challenge on the horizon.”

Golden Graduates are those who graduated from the University 50 or more years ago, along with graduates aged 70 or over.

This story first appeared in the Autumn 2024 edition of Ingenio .