phd at auckland university

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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.

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

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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 in Accounting

This course is available

Level of Study

Doctoral Degree

Next start date

Expected Jul 2024

Newmarket Campus

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.

Research opportunities

When you undertake your doctorate in Accounting at the University of Auckland Business School, you’ll join a high-calibre research community and have opportunities to publish papers, attend international conferences and develop a network in academia and industry.

We welcome research proposals in topics relating to our two key research specialisations:

Financial accounting

• Financial reporting and its impacts
• External auditing
• Social and environmental accounting
• Accounting policy decisions
• Integrated reporting

Financial management

• Management control
• Diffusion of innovation in management accounting
• Management accounting systems and behaviour in organisations
• Transfer pricing in multinationals
• Performance measurement

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 start up. With focused development opportunities available throughout your PhD study, and dedicated postgraduate career advice, we can help you to explore and meet your own career goals, no matter what direction you take.

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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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.

Browse research expertise

Download programme guides

• 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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University of Auckland excels in 2024 QS subject rankings

10 April 2024

University news , Faculty of Science , Faculty of Arts , Faculty of Engineering , Faculty of Education and Social Work

The University's research, reputation and teaching is having a global impact, with ten subjects it teaches ranked in the top 50 subjects of universities worldwide.

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has added to its reputation as a world-leading research, teaching and learning institution, with its results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.  

Ten of the subjects the University teaches have been ranked in the top 50 subjects worldwide, based on academic and employer reputation as well as research, compared with eight in 2023. In the top 100, the University has 23 ranked subjects.  

Marketing ranks 21-50 in the world, entering the top 50 for the University for the first time. Anatomy and Physiology is also a new entrant to the QS top 50 subjects, ranking 45=.  

Sports related subjects, regularly in the top 50, are equal 28th, up from 32 in 2023. Education, consistently in the top 50, holds firm at 37, while Archaeology ranks 39th equal, up from 46 in 2023.  Anthropology, ranked 48, is up one place from 2023. Rounding out the other ten in the top 50 subjects are Civil Engineering (46) and English (48). Two subjects that had fallen out of the top 50 last year are back in – Psychology (45) and Linguistics (49).

The 2024 QS Subject Rankings comprise a research component but also a strong employer reputation component.

Professor Jason Ingham, who was head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering during the rankings period, says the QS Subject Rankings are important for many reasons.

“When we advertise to fill vacant academic appointments, they help us to receive the strongest applicants – people who recognise the reputation of the University of Auckland. They’re also important to attract high-calibre doctoral students from around the world.”

He says being able to say a subject offering is ‘among the best in the world’ is invaluable.

Professor Frank Bloomfield, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, says it’s heartening to know that people recognise the University as being a leading university globally.

“For staff to know that the research and research-led teaching they do is highly valued by their international peers is empowering. Having ten subjects ranked in the top 50 in the world reflects the quality of our research and teaching and contributes to University of Auckland degrees being recognised globally.”

He says in research, academics and students are making significant strides in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare disparities.

“Our interdisciplinary approach fosters collaboration and innovation and we’re developing solutions that resonate globally. Our students know the importance of this kind of work."

For staff to know that the research and research-led teaching they do is highly valued by their international peers is empowering.

Professor Frank Bloomfield Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said the results emphasised the University’s commitment to excellence and innovation, and the role staff play in showcasing research and best practice in teaching and learning.

“The University is dedicated to providing students with a world-class education that prepares them for success in an ever-changing world,” she said. “Our goal is to foster a culture of curiosity, creativity and critical inquiry to empower students to become lifelong learners and leaders in their respective fields. We’re doing that really well.”

The methodology for the QS subject rankings used saw 45 of the University’s subjects meet the criteria to be ranked, and 23 of those were ranked in the top 100 in the world.

In November 2023, eight University of Auckland-affiliated researchers were named in the prestigious Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers List , and this month, six of the University’s researchers were elected Fellows by the Royal Society Te Apārangi .

About the QS Subject Rankings 

The 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject , released on 10 April by global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds, provides independent comparative analysis on the performance of more than 16,400 individual university programmes, taken by students at more than 1,500 universities in 96 locations around the world, across 55 academic disciplines and five broad faculty areas. 

Other current rankings

The University of Auckland was ranked 68th in the world in the overarching QS World University Rankings 2024, making it New Zealand’s highest-ranked university. It was also ranked fifth in the world in the  2024 QS World University Sustainability Rankings. The University was ranked No. 1 in New Zealand and 68th worldwide in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings in 2023. 

For more information: 

University of Auckland Media Manager Denise Montgomery denise.montgomery@auckland.ac.nz

Related links

• New Zealand's world-ranked University
• University applauds researchers with global reach and impact