The following doctoral scholarship opportunities are funded by either external organisations, grants, donations and bequests to the university. Discover some of the other scholarships that may assist in funding your doctoral studies below.
Please note: These scholarships are subject to funding availability and are reviewed each year. The UC Scholarships Office administers most of these scholarships. Please search our scholarships database for all scholarships currently available.
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Information |
| Coastal & Ocean Engineering Conference Fund | Value: Grants from an annual fund of $10,000 are available. Individual grants do not normally exceed the following values: a. For conferences in Aotearoa New Zealand: $1,000 Details: Applicants must be enrolled in a research programme in the Department of Civil & Natural Resource Engineering or Geography, and be intending to present a paper at a coastal and/or ocean conference. Closing date: 31 March and 30 September if funds available |
| Dick & Mary Earle Scholarship in Technology | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with Master's or Doctoral study, up to the value of $17,000 per annum for up to 2 years (Masters) or $25,000 per annum for up to 3 years (Doctoral). Details: To support and encouragement of postgraduate research into one or both of these fields: (a) innovation and product development; or (b) bioprocess technology. Applicants must be NZ citizens or permanent residents who have resided in Aotearoa New Zealand for at least three years immediate preceding the year of selection. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 01 July |
| Edward & Isabel Kidson Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance up to $6,000 per annum (depending on available funding, so this may vary) for up to 3 years of enrolment. Details: To support New Zealand university graduates who have shown ability in physics or a combination of physics and mathematics to undertake further advanced study or research in meteorology or some other branch of science, either in New Zealand or overseas. NB: this is a Universities NZ scholarship. Closing date: 01 October |
| Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) Postgraduate Scholarship (Postgrad) | Value: Financial assistance of up to $12,500 for one year for Master of Engineering students; or $25,000 per annum for up to three years for PhD students. Details: To recognise academic achievement by postgraduate students at the University of Canterbury who are specialising in Electric Power Engineering. Applicants must be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Closing date: Applications can be submitted any time. Applications must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) - see scholarship details in link provided. |
| H J Hopkins Postgraduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering | Value: Financial assistance of up to $5,000 per annum, plus tuition fees at the domestic rate, for up to 18 months for ME or three years for PhD. During , or following completion of the degree, an H J Hopkins Scholar may apply for funds to contribute towards the cost of travel, for the purpose of study or working the field of civil engineering. The travel grant may be for an amount of up to $5,000. Details: To support students undertaking full-time postgraduate study in the field of Civil Engineering. Closing date: 15 October |
| Henry Kelsey Scholarship | Value: Up to $15,000 per annum for up to three years for Doctoral study. Details: To provide financial assistance to a student undertaking postgraduate research towards a Masters or Doctoral degree at a New Zealand university or research institution, studying muscular function, including - but not limited to - the causes and treatment of muscular dysfunction. NB: This is a Universities New Zealand Scholarship. Closing date: 01 October |
| Keith Laugesen Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $24,500 per 120 points of enrolment; for up to a total of 360 points Details: To provide financial support for full-time PhD students in the Engineering and Science fields of study at UC. There may only be one holder at a time so the scholarship is available approximately every third year. Closing date: 15 October |
| McKelvey Award | Value: One award of $1,000 or two awards of $500 each Details: To support master’s and PhD students studying Forestry by contributing to expenses associated with presenting a paper at a relevant conference. In the absence of suitable candidates, the applications may be opened to eligible students seeking support to meet other costs associated with their study. Up to two grants are available annually. Closing date: 01 April and 01 September (if the available fund has not been allocated in the 1 April round) |
| Owen Browning Scholarship in Forestry | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, up to a value of $4,500 per annum; for up to 240 points of enrolment (PhD) Details: To support full-time postgraduate students studying Forestry or Forest Engineering at UC. Normally, there may be only two holders of the scholarship at a time: normally one master’s student and one PhD student. Closing date: 01 November |
| Pukehou Poutu Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, up to a value of $10,000 for one year Details: To support postgraduate study in either agricultural or silvicultural science. Applicants must be graduates of a New Zealand university and be Aotearoa New Zealand citizens. NB: This is a Universities New Zealand Scholarship. Closing date: 01 October |
| Tait Communications Doctoral Research Scholarship | Details: To encourage Doctoral research related to Critical Information and Communications Technology (CICT) at the University of Canterbury. The proposed research must be of relevance to the current interests of Tait Communications. Preference will be given to applicants undertaking relevant research in conjunction with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering including the Wireless Research Centre at the University. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or holders of New Zealand residence class visas. Only one holder of the scholarship is possible at any one time. Value: Financial assistance up to the value of $30,000 per annum for up to 3 years. Closing date: 01 November |
| UC Civil & Natural Resources Engineering PhD Scholarship | Value: $30,000 per annum (increased to $32,000 in 2025); plus tuition fees as the domestic rate for thesis only enrolment - for up to a total of 360 points of enrolment. Details: To support students to study towards a research doctoral degree in the Department of Civil & Natural Resources Engineering at UC. Closing date: 17 May |
| UC Department of Civil & Natural Resources Engineering Summer Research Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $6,000 for 3 months - scholarships will be made available as projects and funds become available. Details: To support students undertaking short term research projects and other experiments to provide a foundation for their studies in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at UC. Applicants must be intending to undertake a programme of study within the Department of Civil & Natural Resources Engineering at UC within 12 months of the completion of tenure. Closing date: 30 November. Applications must be made to the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering by 30 November |
| UC Engineering PhD Publishing Scholarship | Value: $3,750 (as funds are available) Details: To support PhD thesis candidates who have submitted their thesis for examination having studied in the Faculty of Engineering at UC so they can prepare and submit papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals of international standing. Applications must be made to the Faculty of Engineering. Closing date: 31 December |
| UC Mathematics & Statistics PhD Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at a value determined by funds available and stated in the offer. This typically may include a stipend and/or tuition fee payments up to a total of 360 points of enrolment. Details: To support students to study towards a research doctoral degree in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at UC. Closing date: 15 July and 15 October |
