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 |
| B G Wybourne Scholarship in Physics or Astronomy (Postgrad) | Value: The value of the scholarship shall be determined each year, according to the money available to be disbursed from the trust account in accordance with University policy. Details: The scholarship may be awarded to the top ranked applicant in any one year of those who applied for, but were not successful in obtaining, a UC Master's or Doctoral Scholarship (or award of higher or equivalent value to these). Candidates must be enrolled full-time in either an MSc Part II or PhD in Physics or Astronomy. Closing date: Application not required. |
| Betty Wignall Scholarship in Chemistry | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, at a value of $5,000 per 120 points, up to a total of 360 points of enrolment. Details: To support students for study towards a PhD in the Department of Chemistry at UC. There may only be one holder of the scholarship at a time. Closing date: 15 May (in years that the scholarship is available) - next availability likely to be 2025 |
| Brian Mason Doctoral Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, at a value of $25,000 per 120 points; plus tuition fees at the domestic rate; for up to a total of 360 points of enrolment. Details: To support full-time students for study towards a PhD degree in Geology at UC. Closing date: The availability of the scholarship is announced on the Scholarships website as funding and research opportunities become available. |
| Charles Cook, Warwick House, Memorial Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, at a value of $3,000 for 120 points of enrolment. Details: To support postgraduate students for study towards a postgraduate degree at UC. Applicants must have completed the requirements to graduate from a university in New Zealand with one of the following qualifications: (a) MSc, (b) BSc(Hons), or (c) a bachelor's degree. Closing date: 01 November |
| Claude McCarthy Fellowship | Value: The value of the award for each fellowship is decided by the Selection Committee; however awards will not normally exceed $5,000 and are intended to supplement other sources of funding. Details: To assist graduates of a New Zealand University who have been enrolled in a doctoral degree for at least one year at the closing date of applications and who are travelling overseas for short periods to present research work at conferences and/or conduct research. Their research must be in the literature, science or medicine fields - applicants should note that the Selection Committee will determine if an applicant's area of study falls within one of those disciplines. NB: This is a Universities New Zealand Scholarship Closing date: 01 April or 01 October (see Regulations for details) |
| 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 |
| Dennis William Moore Fund | Value: The funds can be used to provide grants for the purpose of travel and approved living expenses, research equipment and any other purpose that benefits or promotes the astronomical work of astronomy staff or students at UC in relation to Mt John Observatory. Details: To inspire and support research in astronomy at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory. Closing date: Applications may be made to the Head of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at any time. |
| Dennis William Moore Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $5,000 per annum; up to a total of 120 points for Masters students, or 360 points for PhD students. Details: To support thesis full- or part-time students in Astronomy at UC whose study entails observational work at Mount John Observatory. Closing date: 01 November |
| Dick & Mary Earle Scholarship in Technology | Value: Financial assistance up to $17,000 per annum (Masters) or $25,000 (Doctoral) for up to 3 years of enrolment. 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 |
| Dr Richard P Garland Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance up to $30,000 per 120 points; plus 80% of tuition fees at the domestic rate; for up to a total of 360 points of enrolment. If funds permit other funds may be made available to cover the additional cost of fees or other costs, such as conference attendance. Details: To support full-time students undertaking PhD research in organic chemistry in the UC School of Physical and Chemical Sciences. Preference is given to citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand or holders of Aotearoa New Zealand residence class visas. The scholarship may be held by only one recipient at a time. Closing date: 31 October |
| 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 |
| Evans Fund | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, up to a value of $1,000. Details: To assist candidates completing a Masters or PhD degree in the Chemistry Department who incur heavy personal expenses in the pursuit of their research project. Applicant must be enrolled in one of the following courses: BCHM690, BCHM790, CHEM690, CHEM790, ENVR690, ENVR790. Closing date: 31 March and 30 September |
| Frank & Doris Bateson Memorial Graduate Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at a value of at least $2,000 for 120 points of enrolment. Details: To support postgraduate students in Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC. Closing date: 15 October |
| Frank Bradshaw & Elizabeth Pepper Wood Fund | Value: The funds can be used to provide grants for the purpose of travel and approved living expenses, research equipment and any other purpose that benefits or promotes the astronomical work of astronomy staff or students at UC in relation to Mt John Observatory. The amount of any award will be determined by the Selection Committee. Details: To support research in astronomy at UC, especially that research which is carried out principally at Mount John University Observatory. Closing date: Enquiries and applications should be directed to the Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. |
| G B Battersby-Trimble Scholarship in Computer Science | Value: Financial assistance for one year to the value of: (a) $2,000 for honours or masters students doing courses; (b) $7,000 for master's thesis students; or (c) $8,000 for PhD thesis students. Details: To support students studying Computer Science at the University of Canterbury. Applicants must be enrolled in either (a) the final year of an honours degree in Computer Science; (b) a Master's degree in Computer Science; or (c) a PhD in Computer Science. Closing date: 31 March |
| Gateway Antarctica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Scholarship in Antarctic & Southern Ocean Studies | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $5,000 for one year. Details: To support research and teaching in Antarctic Studies in recognition of Antarctica as a continent devoted to "peace and research". Applicants must be either studying for a PhD or in the thesis year of a Master's degree at Gateway Antarctica (UC) in an Antarctic or Southern Ocean related topic. Closing date: 30 April - Applications should be sent to: Mary Botting, Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch |
| Geography Students Conference Fund | Value: Grants-in-aid (not normally exceeding $500 in value). Details: To financially assist Master’s and PhD research thesis students in the Department of Geography with expenses involved in attending conferences. Students must be enrolled at UC in one of the following courses – ENVR690, ENVR790, GEOG690, GEOG695, GEOG790 or GISC690. In addition, the senior supervisor for the ENVR690 and ENVR790 courses must be an academic in the Department of Geography. Closing date: 31 March or 30 September |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| Professor Jim Coxon Graduate Chemistry Fund | Details: This fund supports postgraduate students in the Department of Chemistry to present their research results at a national or international conference. Value: One grant up to the value of $750 is available. Closing date: Applications must be made to the Head of the Department of Chemistry by 5pm on 10 November. If this is not a business day, it is by 5pm on the next business day. |
| 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 |
| Roger Helm Scholarship in Pure Mathematics | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $5,000 for one year Details: To support full-time students for study towards a research master’s degree or a PhD degree in Pure Mathematics at UC. Closing date: 15 May |
| Sir Neil Isaac Scholarship in Environmental Science | Value: Financial assistance to the value of $20,000 per annum for 2 years (Master's) or 3 years (PhD). Details: For full-time students studying in a Master's or doctoral programme with research on a topic related to the environment. Eligible areas of study include those focused on conservation, ecological or environmental enhancement research that supports the preservation, amelioration and/or deeper knowledge of New Zealand native flora and fauna species in the natural habitat, as it relates to the wider picture of a healthy biodiversity within New Zealand. Study that incorporates natural solutions to the urban environment is also eligible. Closing date: 31 October (only offered every 2 years) |
| Stan & Jessie Holland Memorial Scholarship in Ecology & Environmental Science | Value: Financial assistance with the costs associated with university study, to a value of $21,000 per annum; up to a total of 1 year (Masters) or 3 years (PhD). Details: This scholarships supports full-time Māori and Pacific postgraduate research students in Ecology or Environmental Science at UC. There may be only two holders of the scholarship at a time: normally one master's student and one PhD student. Applicants must have whakapapa Māori and/or Pacific. Closing date: 01 November |
| 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 |
| Vida Stout Scholarship | Value: Financial assistance at a value of $16,000 per annum; for up to 360 points of enrolment. Details: To support full-time students studying a PhD within the School of Biological Sciences at UC in the areas of limnology or environmental science, preferably of the South Island. Applicants studying limnology will be given preference. There can only be one recipient at a time. Closing date: 15 October (when available) |
