Wellington Doctoral Scholarships: An Opportunity to Study in New Zealand

The Victoria University of Wellington, also known as Te Herenga Waka, is one of New Zealand’s oldest and well-renowned universities, having a long and illustrious history of academic distinction. With their world-class faculty and training, they are dedicated to their mission to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders. Victoria University of Wellington has been offering scholarships to both domestic and international students. It is also open for Bangladeshi students.

Short Details of the Scholarship

• Course Level: PhD or professional doctorate programme
• Number of Scholarships: 110 in total next year
• Financial Coverage: Fully Funded

Scholarship Coverage

1. Tuition and fees in full.
2. Travel back and forth between New Zealand and Bangladesh (at the beginning and end of your Scholarship and reunion travel for some students).
3. An establishment allowance of NZ$ 3,000 to assist with the costs of setting up in New Zealand.
4. A bi-weekly living allowance of NZ$982 to cover the essentials of your daily existence.
5. Insurance for your medical and travel expenses.
6. Teaching and writing assistance on an individual basis.
7. Some postgraduate students are eligible for a research and thesis allowance.
8. A reintegration allowance to assist you in re-establishing yourself in your native country.

Eligibility Criteria for Bangladeshi Students

Candidates from Bangladesh are expected to possess qualifications that are comparable to those required by New Zealand applicants:

1. If you have a four-year Bachelor’s degree with Honour’s, you will need to have a grade point average of at least 6 GPA to be considered for admission. You have to convert your CGPA to Grade Point Average by ordering in Scholaro at $9.99. Click here to know more.
2. Applicants can also provide their Master’s Degree from the New Zealand University or other pronounced equivalent universities with a GPA of at least 6.
3. Alternatively, you must be able to demonstrate to the Dean, Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research, that you have received other appropriate training and that you are capable of continuing with the proposed programme of study for the degree.
4. Bangladeshi students must additionally complete the English language requirements in addition to the criteria as mentioned above.

Documents Required

1. Valid Passport.
2. A good Grade Point Average (GPA) report should be created from Scholaro. Click here to make one. The applying candidate has to bear the expenses of generating this report. Prices start from $9.99 for a single report.
3. It is mandatory to provide a sample of your academic writing, which could be your Master’s Thesis (at least 10 pages), a published paper or even an Honours essay.
4. You may upload a CV for a better first impression.
5. Writing an ‘expression of interest‘ is required. This includes 5 questions which are related to “your field of interest”, “why you think research is needed in this field”, “your role”, “the obstacles you might face”, and “why do you think you are prepared for this field”. You should provide clear and concise information regarding all of the above mentioned 5 questions.
6. English Proficiency Test Results – IELTS, TOEFL, or Pearson Test scores to prove that you are proficient in the English language.
7. Referees’ Reports – It is an essential part of your application, and you can find them in their online application portal.

Job Experience Requirements

There is no such requirement for job experience. However, applicants will surely get preference if they have specific job experience.

Language Requirements

The language requirements for Victoria University of Wellington are as follows:

1. The TOEFL score must be greater than 90 points on the internet-based test, with a minimum of 20 points in writing or an equivalent score in another language.
2. If you have an IELTS score, then it must have an overall band score of 6.5 and no sub-scores lower than 6, or
3. A minimum of two ratings of 5 and two ratings of 4 on the English for Academic Purposes test administered by the Victoria University of Wellington, or
4. With a score of 58 on the Pearson Test of English (with a communicative score of not less than 50).

Deadlines

The deadline for submitting an application for Victoria University of Wellington for the Doctoral Scholarship is 1^st November 2021 at 4:30 PM (NZT).

Application Fees

NO FEE is required.

How to apply

1. First of all, check if you meet the requirements mentioned above.
2. If you are applying for architecture, creative writing, design, health, or music programme, you must meet additional requirements. Additional requirements might include a work portfolio, audition, among many other things. Also, if you are an author, you can attach your publication samples.
3. Sign up for an online application here. You will need to upload all the required documents on this platform.
4. It would be better if you select at least two academic staff members with whom you wish to work with. You can contact them prior form fill-up. They would supervise you with your research interest.
5. Now you can check and submit the application. You can also check the status of your application through the dashboard.

Selection Procedure

The relevant School Research Committee will assess your PhD application.

If your application is accepted, they will offer you to study for a PhD or professional doctorate. This email will also inform PhD students of their Wellington Doctoral Scholarship grant.