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Kia ora ,
Welcome to the latest edition of Doctoral News for 2026, filled with news, workshops, notices, opportunities, and resources for every stage of your doctorate.
We hope you've had time to explore our new doctoral web pages. Read on to learn about the website's doctoral journey section, which contains important information for everyone from new candidates to those who will soon be submitting their thesis.
As we move into autumn, it's a time for celebrations and commemorations among our doctoral cohort. We hope our Muslim candidates had a blessed Eid-al-Fitr last week and, looking ahead, we wish our Christian candidates a blessed Easter and our Jewish candidates chag Pesach sameach. For all those who will be taking a break over the school holidays, we trust you will all have a restful and relaxing time.
Ngā mihi nui,
Te Kura Akoranga Tohu Paerua | The School of Graduate Studies (SGS)
News
Don't miss Hugh Kearns!
We are pleased to welcome back popular international speaker Hugh Kearns, who will be presenting two online talks. Hugh is based at Flinders University, Australia. He works with candidates all over the world, helping them navigate their PhD journeys more effectively.
How to Plan your PhD (Zoom workshop)
A PhD is a major undertaking, but a lack of planning can lead to missing deadlines, running overtime, regular crises, and stress. This workshop by Hugh Kearns will help you develop a good plan so you can finish on time and enjoy the process. Wednesday 25 March. If you can access Wahapū, book here. If you can't access Wahapū, book here.
Time for Research (Zoom workshop)
Do you feel like you never have enough time to get to your research, particularly the writing part? This workshop by Hugh Kearns will help you learn how to manage your time better so you can increase your productivity and improve your work-life balance. Tuesday 21 April. If you can access Wahapū, book here. If you can't access Wahapū, book here.
Key web pages
Your doctoral journey
One of the most important parts of the new doctoral web pages is "Your doctoral journey". In this sub-section, you'll find links to seven key pages:
- Info for new candidates
- Confirmation
- Doctoral policies
- Your PReSS account
- Thesis submission and exams
- Doctoral forms
- Wahapū info page
No matter where you are in your doctorate, these doctoral journey pages contain crucial information and links for you.
Check them out at www.auckland.ac.nz/doctoral-journey.
You can also find the doctoral home page at www.auckland.ac.nz/doctoral-candidates.
April highlights
Doctoral Morning Tea at Grafton
We're taking our popular Doctoral Morning Tea to Grafton Campus on Wednesday 15 April, with a special invitation to candidates from FMHS and Liggins to join us.
This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow doctoral candidates, share your experiences, expand your academic network, and enjoy some delicious kai.
Early booking is essential if you'd like to secure your spot. If you can access Wahapū, book here. If you can't access Wahapū, book here.
Learning and development
Wednesday 1 April: Designing Research Posters (Zoom)
Wednesday 1 April: Making LinkedIn Work for You: Royal Society ECR (Zoom)
Tuesday 14 April: Good Clinical Practice Refresher Course (Grafton Campus)
Tuesday 14 April: Embedding LLMs into Qualitative Research Workflows (Zoom)
Thursday 16 April: Risk Assessment (City Campus)
Tuesday 21 April: Exploring Responsible AI Use in Doctoral Research, hosted by students from the Faculty of Arts and Education (City Campus)
Tuesday 21 April: Managing Research Data (Zoom)
Wednesday 22 April: Raising your Research Profile (Zoom)
Wednesday 22 to Thursday 23 April: Introduction to Machine Learning (Zoom)
Tuesday 28 April: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
Thursday 30 April: Tips on Communicating your Research (Zoom)
The opportunities listed in this newsletter are for doctoral candidates from all faculties and LSRIs. They include key SGS workshops specifically for candidates, as well as other events of interest to researchers.
You can explore more offerings at www.auckland.ac.nz/doctoral-whatson.
Candidates in the spotlight
Amanda SullivanLee | Pacific Studies
Doctoral candidate Amanda SullivanLee, who grew up in the USA, is mapping the history and contemporary implications of indigenous Tongan adoption (pusiaki), which has traditionally sustained openness, movement and continued ties between birth and adoptive families. Her research is grounded in Pacific storywork, talanoa and oral history.
“Talking about adoption is intellectually challenging – and it’s also emotionally challenging,” says Amanda. “As an adopted Pacific person raised outside the Pacific, returning to indigenous frameworks has been both rigorous and healing." Read more about Amanda's story in Research sheds new light on pusiaki - Tongan adoption.
Saleh Albalawi | Education
Doctoral candidate Saleh Albalawi is part of a new 15-month study on how Gazans have managed to keep education going amid ongoing bombardment, death and displacement. As a Palestinian and former Gaza resident, the project is close to his heart.
“This is not just an academic topic for me, it’s part of my life, memory, and identity," he says. "Through this work, we hope to document the courage of teachers who continue educating under extremely difficult conditions and to ensure that their voices and experience reach the world and policymakers, with the aim of improving their situation.” Read more about Caught in the crossfire: education in Gaza.
Notices
Interdisciplinary research forum
A new student-led doctoral forum, entitled Mixed Methods: Building Connections Across Qualitative and Quantitative Research, takes place at City Campus on Friday 22 May.
This interdisciplinary event, supported by SGS's Creating Connections Grant, brings together doctoral candidates who are interested in qualitative research, quantitative research, and the possibilities created when the two are brought into conversation. The aim is to create space for future collaboration.
If you would like to attend the forum, share a methodological challenge or research case for discussion, or volunteer to help organise, please email Chenyu Ni or Siwei Sun.
Human ethics improvements
The University will introduce new human ethics guidelines, learning modules, and a single combined human ethics application form (replacing the current AHREC and UAHPEC forms) on Monday 13 April.
If you have already started a human ethics application on an AHREC or UAHPEC form, you may complete it on that form until Tuesday 30 June.
To learn more about the changes, see a video about the new form, and explore transition arrangements, please visit the Human ethics page on the ResearchHub.
ResearchHub user testing
The ResearchHub will soon be migrating to a new platform. To ensure the new site genuinely supports the research community, doctoral candidates are invited to take part in a one-hour online user testing session in mid-April.
To volunteer for user testing, email online@auckland.ac.nz with the subject line: "ResearchHub user testing" by Friday 27 March. To learn more, visit the ResearchHub migration intranet page.
Good research practice training
Good Research Practice (GRP) online training modules are now available to strengthen understanding of research integrity and what good research practice means.
It's suitable for candidates who are new to research and can also be used as a refresher. You will receive a certificate of completion. Learn about GRP training modules.
3MT news
Sign up for your faculty heat
Don't forget to enter the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), where you can grow your research communication skills in a safe space, get your research noticed, and connect with the wider doctoral community. This opportunity comes round only once a year!
Sign up now for your 3MT faculty heat:
- Arts and Education
- Business and Economics / Law
- Engineering and Design
- FMHS
- Science
- Open Heat (for candidates from Liggins, as well as any candidates based off-campus)
The closing date for entries is Thursday 30 April, and training takes place in May ahead of the faculty heats in June. Learn more about 3MT.
Scene around
Welcome to our new candidates
A warm welcome to everyone who attended our Doctoral Induction this month. All new doctoral students are required to take part in this valuable one-day introductory programme within the first two months of enrolling. If you haven't yet attended a Doctoral Induction, you can book for Monday 13 April or Wednesday 29 April.
Scholarships
Fulbright Awards
Fulbright NZ offers a range of exchange awards for New Zealand citizens (who don't additionally hold US citizenship) who would like to study, research, or lecture in the USA.
This includes Graduate Awards for anyone with an undergraduate degree who wants to undertake postgraduate study or research in the US, and Scholar Awards for those who already have a PhD or equivalent professional training or experience.
The annual Fulbright Information Session is open to all postgraduate students, undergraduate students who are nearing the end of their degrees, and academic staff.
date: Thursday 30 April 2026
time: 10:30am to 12pm
venue: Decima Glenn (260-310), OGGB, City Campus
Register for the Fulbright Information Session.
First Year Doctoral Awards
Up to four Kate Edger Foundation awards available to assist women graduates enrolled in their first year of full-time study at an approved Institute in the Auckland area towards a PhD or named Doctorate. Value: $11,000. Closing date: Tuesday 14 April. Apply here.
Doctoral Completion Awards
One Kate Edger Foundation Dame Dorothy Winstone award to assist a woman graduate who will have completed a minimum of three years full-time, or six years part-time study towards a PhD or named Doctorate to have one semester free of teaching or admin duties to facilitate completion of her PhD or named Doctorate. Value: $16,000. Closing date: Tuesday 14 April. Apply here.
Note: If you are on a scholarship that is administered by the University of Auckland, you are required to notify the Scholarships Office once you submit your thesis, so that they can stop your scholarship stipend. Failure to do so may result in an overpayment, which would need to be repaid. You can direct any queries to scholarships@auckland.ac.nz.
Parents' corner
Looking for a kindy on campus?
If you have young children, we recommend you check out the University of Auckland's Early Childhood Education (ECE) options: Te Tupu o te Tōrea at Carlaw Park (Parnell), Symonds Street (City Campus), Hineteiwaiwa Kōhanga Reo (City Campus), and Te Ako o te Tui (Grafton Campus). There are still some spaces available for this year.
Learn more about the University of Auckland's ECE services.
