It is important to read all the information below before you complete the application to enrol (ATE)

1. Applications Open

   Applications open immediately proceeding the closing date for the previous round. Please check your eligibility for higher degree study before submitting an application.

2. Applications Processed

   Applications for higher degree study are processed on a daily basis by the School of Graduate Research.  You will be notified of any missing documents or references before the closing date of the round for which you are applying.

3. Applications Close

   Applications closing dates will be 1 March, 1 July and 1 November annually. Applications must be completed online and received by midnight (NZ time) on the deadline of the application round for which you are applying.  Please note that paper applications cannot be accepted.  If your online application to enrol arrives after one of these closing dates, your application will be considered in the following application round.  All incomplete or incorrect applications are unable to be considered further.

4. Applications under consideration

   All completed applications will be forwarded to the appropriate Faculty for further consideration.  After careful consideration all applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application.  This could take up to seven weeks after the closing date for the round you applied for.

For your application to enrol (ATE) to be considered, you are required to provide the following:

1. A Supplementary Form

   When submitting your ATE, you will be directed to complete an online supplementary form.

   Some of the key areas you will be required to provide further details on are:

   • Candidate details
   • Enrolment intentions
   • Previous Study
   • Brief Overview of Research Interest & Motivation (no more than 50 words)
   • Publications
   • English Language Competency

2. A Statement of Research Interest

   You are required to provide a statement of research interest, using the template provided in the ATE. This statement must answer the following questions and be uploaded to your ATE:

   • Why do you want to study at the University of Waikato? (Your response to this question could include your thoughts on the research strengths of the University, and the names of individual staff whose work inspires you and who you would like to work with).
   • What specific issue or question are you interested in? Why do you think this topic needs research?
   • How might you research this issue/question? What challenges do you foresee?
   • What do you plan to do when you finish your doctoral studies?

3. A Sample of your Academic writing

   You are required to provide a sample of academic writing which must be uploaded to your ATE.
   • Examples could include journal publications, academic essays or a chapter from your previous thesis. This sample of academic writing must be in English or Te Reo Māori and no longer than 4000 words.

4. Copies of academic transcripts and certificates for qualifications held (if not completed at the University of Waikato)

   For your doctoral application, you will need to provide a copy of your academic transcripts and certificates for qualifications held. All relevant qualifications gained overseas that are used to determine eligibility for enrolment in the degree, will need to be translated and authenticated in English by an approved agent, such as a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or solicitor.
   
   If your application is successful, you will be required to supply the School of Graduate Research (SGR) with verified copies of all official documents asked for in the application form when you arrive at the University of Waikato.

5. Academic References

   You are required to arrange for two academic referees to complete the University of Waikato Academic Referee Confidential Report.  At least one of these academic reports must be from a Supervisor of the degree you are using to gain entry into higher degree study at the University of Waikato. These reports must be sent directly by your referees to doctoralenrolments@waikato.ac.nz References not sent directly by your referees will not be accepted.

6. A copy of your passport

7. Evidence of English Language competency

   Candidates seeking admission into doctoral programmes for whom English is a second language will normally be obliged to satisfy the minimum English language proficiency requirements.

   Candidates may undertake one of the following English proficiency tests for admission to the University:

   • IELTS (Academic)
   • TOFEL (Internet Based)
   • PTE Academic
   • Certificate in Attainment in Academic English
   • Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes

   All proficiency test results supplied for postgraduate admission must have been undertaken within the last two years at the time of application.
   If your previous study was undertaken in the medium of English, you may supply a letter from the University where you completed the study.  Please note however, that the study must have been for a duration of at least two years and undertaken within the last three years.  If you are unable to meet this requirement then you will be required to supply evidence of English language proficiency through IELTS or another form of English language testing (as above). Applicants under this category are considered on a case-by-case basis.
   
   Further details on the exact English language proficiency requirements can be found in the University calendar.

• What are the higher degrees available at the University of Waikato?
• What makes me eligible for Higher Degree Study?
• What counts as a Research component?
• What documents do I need to provide?
• Which one of my qualifications will be assessed for entry into Higher degree study?
• What do I need to provide if I have studied in English before?
• Do I need to supply references?
• Do I need to find a Supervisor?
• What are the fees for a PhD?
• How do I apply for the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship?
• When will I be notified of the outcome of my application?
• What happens after I get an offer of place?
• What happens if I get an offer of place but not a scholarship?
• What happens if my application is declined?

• What are the higher degrees available at the University of Waikato?

  It is important to note that international candidates studying for the EdD, DMA, SJD and MPhil are required to pay full international fees. Find out more information on International Tuition Fees.

  The following higher degrees are offered:

  • MPhil

    A comprehensive research proposal should be submitted as part of your application. The proposal forms the basis of approval for enrolment in the degree; there is not a conditional period of enrolment during which the proposal may be further developed and revised. As with other higher research degrees, candidates must declare whether or not their research requires ethical approval.

  • SJD

    The Doctor of Juridical Science comprises of one-third 'taught' papers (part 1) and two-thirds research (part 2), spread over a minimum of three years' full-time equivalent enrolment. Enrolment into part 1 of the degree requires the submission of an initial research proposal similar to that described for the PhD.  Enrolment in part 2 requires a full research proposal.

  • EdD

    The Doctor of Education comprises of one-third 'taught' papers (part 1) and two-thirds research (part 2), spread over a minimum of three years' full-time equivalent enrolment. Enrolment in part 2 of this degree requires a full research proposal similar to that described for the PhD.

    Please note that the EdD Programme commences in January annually and applicants wishing to be considered for entry into this programme must apply by 1 November in the preceding year.

  • DMA

    The Doctor of Musical Arts degree comprises of a performance component (part 1) and a thesis component (part 2) which are completed concurrently. For initial enrolment in the degree, an initial research proposal similar to that described for the PhD is required.

• What makes me eligible for Higher Degree Study?

  To be eligible for higher degree study you must have completed a Bachelor with Honours or a Masters degree, which has a significant research component worth at least 25% of your entry qualification. Masters degree that do not meet the research component requirements are not qualifying degrees for entry into higher degree study. You must also have achieved a minimum of Second Class, First Division, in your qualifying degree.

• What counts as a Research component?

  A research component must be a Thesis, dissertation, or research project which makes up at least 25% of your entry qualification. Research methods papers are not counted as a research component.

• What documents do I need to provide?

  During your application for higher degree study you will need to provide the following documents:

  • A completed Statement of Research Interest
  • A completed online Supplementary Form
  • Evidence of graduation – This can be the certificate that you received at graduation, or a letter from your institution confirming that you will be awarded the degree at the next graduation ceremony
  • Academic Transcripts – These must include a grading scale
  • Official English translation of transcripts and certificates
  • Evidence of English Language competency – International applicants only
  • Sample of Academic Writing – This must be in English. Acceptable samples of academic writing include a chapter from a thesis or dissertation, or a publication. Assignments from taught papers will not be accepted
  • Passport or Birth certificate

  If you are offered a place in a higher degree, you will be required to provide the originals of all documents submitted in your application. All documents submitted must be legible.

• Which one of my qualifications will be assessed for entry into Higher degree study

  We will only consider completed qualifications that you have uploaded a transcript AND certificate for. Incomplete qualifications will not be assessed.

• What do I need to provide if I have studied in English before?

  If you are an international applicant and have studied in English at tertiary level, you will need to provide a letter from your academic institution stating that the medium of instruction was English. Please note that we will only accept this as evidence of English proficiency if a minimum of two years of this study was completed within the last three years.

  Applicants from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America do not have to provide evidence of English Language proficiency.

  If you do not meet any of the above criteria you will need to undertake one of the following English proficiency tests:

  • IELTS (Academic)
  • TOFEL (Internet Based)
  • PTE Academic
  • Certificate in Attainment in Academic English
  • Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes

  These tests must have been undertaken within the last two years at the time of application. Expired English proficiency tests will not be accepted.

  Further information on English requirements can be found here.

• Do I need to supply references?

  You are required to arrange for two academic references to be sent directly by your referees to doctoralenrolments@waikato.ac.nz. Your referees need to fill out the academic reference template. We will not contact referees on your behalf so it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive your references before the closing date for each round.

• Do I need to find a Supervisor?

  You are not required to communicate with potential supervisors. It is important however, that you let us know if you have been communicating with someone. Please indicate this on the Supplementary Form.  Please note that supervisors are not confirmed until advised by the School of Graduate Research, even though you may have identified or had correspondence with them.

  To find out more about an area of research and for supervision, visit our Faculty/School websites or scan our Staff Profiles.

• What are the fees for a PhD?

  The 2018 fees for higher degree study can be found here. In some cases, International students may qualify for domestic fees if they reside in New Zealand during their higher degree study.

• How do I apply for the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship?

  To apply for the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship, you will need to complete the online application to enrol and the online supplementary form. In both the application to enrol and the supplementary form, you will be asked if you wished to be considered for the Doctoral Scholarship.

• When will I be notified of the outcome of my application?

  You will be notified of the outcome of your application within seven weeks. This time frame is to allow faculties to consider each application thoroughly.

• What happens after I get an offer of place?

  Once you receive an offer of place, you will need to fill out the acceptance form and sign it before sending it back to the School of Graduate Research. Once the School of Graduate Research has received this form, they will process it and send you an unconditional offer, provided you have met any conditions stated in your original offer.

  When you arrive in New Zealand before your starting date, you will be required to bring the originals or verified copies of all documents you provided in your application for higher degree study. Once these documents have been checked you will receive an enrolment agreement.

  Please note that an offer of place for higher degree study is only valid for 12 months. If you have not started your study within 12 months, your offer will expire and you will have to reapply if you want to study at the University of Waikato.

• What happens if I get an offer of place but not a scholarship?

  Once you have accepted your formal offer, you are not eligible to reapply for the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship. If you wish to be re-considered for the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship you will need to decline your offer of place and reapply for higher degree study AND the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship. If you do chose to decline your offer of place please be aware of the following:

  • The University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship is very competitive and there is no guarantee that you will be offered a scholarship if you do reapply.
  • There is no guarantee that you will be made another formal offer for higher degree study. The Faculty may not have supervision in your chosen area and the quality of applicants may be higher in the next round of applications.
  • The regulations for the University of Waikato Doctoral scholarships have recently been updated and there is now a second chance to apply for the Doctoral Scholarship. However, this opportunity to re-apply is only for those students who reach Confirmed Enrolment during higher degree study and have achieved a significant milestone, such as a publication in that 6 month period.

  Please note that applications for higher degree study and the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship are very competitive, and you will need to take very careful consideration when making this decision.

• What happens if my application is declined?

  If your application is declined you are able to re-apply again in the next round. You will be required to submit a new Statement of Research Interest and a new Supplementary Form. References can be carried over however; they are only valid for one year (3 application rounds).

  Please note: If you are declined on the basis of no supervision being available, it is unlikely that this will have changed by the next round.

Email: doctoralenrolments@waikato.ac.nz

POSTAL ADDRESS
Te Mata Kairangi School of Graduate Research
The University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton 3240
New Zealand

COURIER ADDRESS
Te Mata Kairangi School of Graduate Research
University of Waikato
FMD Mail Centre
21 Ruakura Rd
Hamilton 3240
New Zealand

To find out more about an area of research visit the Faculty/School websites.