Kia ora , 

Welcome to the second edition of Doctoral News for 2026.

A reminder that applications close soon for our inaugural Doctoral Leadership Programme. This excellent opportunity is open to all currently enrolled doctoral candidates who were confirmed before 1 February 2026 and intend to submit their thesis after 31 October 2026. Apply before Friday 13 February. Learn more.

For those who will be celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year next week, we trust that your Year of the Horse will be filled with happiness and prosperity, and for those who will be observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, we wish you Ramadan Mubarak.

Remember to look out for Doctoral News on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, with news, workshops, notices, opportunities, scholarships, and resources for every stage of your doctoral journey.

Ngā mihi nui,
Te Kura Akoranga Tohu Paerua | The School of Graduate Studies (SGS)

Highlights

Don't miss our Hugh Kearns workshop

We are pleased to welcome back internationally acclaimed speaker Hugh Kearns, who will be presenting his popular online talk, "How to Plan your PhD", next month.

A PhD is a major undertaking, says Hugh, but a lack of planning can lead to missing deadlines, running overtime, regular crises, and stress. If you want to finish on time and enjoy the process, it's crucial to have a good plan.

Hugh is based at Flinders University in Australia. He works with doctoral candidates all over the world, helping them navigate their PhD journeys more effectively.

Wed 25 March: How to Plan your PhD, with Hugh Kearns (Zoom). 

If you have access to Wahapū, book here.
If you do not have access to Wahapū, book here.

Drop in and meet our advisers

This month, we're launching our new series of doctoral drop-in sessions, with our School of Graduate Studies advisers visiting faculties and LSRIs to chat to you and answer your questions.

FMHS: Thursday 26 February (11am-1pm), in Room 505-110B.
You can book by emailing Alina Meador. 

Arts and Education: Thursday 19 March (10am to 11am) in Rooms 201-826/830.
There's no need for you to book; just come along on the day.

We'll announce details of more upcoming visits in future newsletters.

What's on

Policy reminders

Overseas travel impacts domestic fees

Any doctoral candidates who are not New Zealand citizens (including NZ permanent residents and Australian citizens) must be present in NZ to avail of the domestic fee policy, as per non-negotiable criteria set by the NZ Government. 

If you work on your thesis overseas, you risk being charged international fees (even if you are overseas for visa-related reasons).

Please speak to your supervisor as soon as possible if you have any concerns, and ensure you are familiar with these two important policies:

• Doctoral Off-Campus Research Policy and Procedures
• PhD Domestic Tuition Fees Policy

Inclusion of published work in a thesis

A reminder that the University of Auckland does not have “Thesis by Publication”.

Instead, we have “Thesis including Publication”, which means that if you publish your work, you can include it in your thesis if you would like to, with some caveats:

• Any included publications must form part of a “coherent whole”
• You must have permission from the co-authors to include a publication in your thesis
• You must complete a Co-Authorship / Statement of Contribution Form for each publication that is included in your thesis
• You must be the lead author on each included publication (that is, you must have written all or the majority of the text and have your contribution confirmed by all co-authors as no less than 65%)

You can learn more about the guidelines, policy and procedures here and you can email doctoraladvice@auckland.ac.nz if you have questions.

Scene around

Dr Grace Wei

Dr Grace (Xingyu) Wei graduated from the University of Auckland with a PhD in perinatal science in December. Her research found that applying dextrose gel into the cheeks of newborn babies at risk of hypoglycaemia is safe and may improve their motor skills and cognitive outcomes. 

Grace, who grew up in Shandong Province, China, is dedicated to helping children and teenagers navigate difficult situations into happier lives. "My lifelong motivation is to be for others the supportive adult I needed myself as a teenager," she says. Read more.

Notices

Learn about NZ's bicultural heritage

Te Akoranga Kairangi is an eight-week programme held regularly during the year for University of Auckland staff members by Te Puna Wānanga. Doctoral candidates can take part when there is availability. The programme, consisting of weekly two-hour sessions, introduces Māori language pronunciation, tikanga (customs), and a history of Māori-Pākehā relations. It is also an opportunity for a discussion about how the University’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi affects workplace practice. Express your interest.

Autumn graduation application deadline

If you are eligible and would like to graduate in one of the University of Auckland's Autumn graduation ceremonies (Monday 4 May, Tuesday 5 May, Wednesday 6 May, and Thursday 7 May), whether in person or in absentia, you would need to ensure that you apply before Tuesday 3 March. Apply here.

Your research can change the world

Applications are open for the annual Research to Innovation Hatchery. This free 12-week programme can help you turn your research into real world impact through innovation and entrepreneurship. You’ll learn to bridge the gap between research and practical application. Applications close on Friday 6 March. Apply here.

Customised data from Stats NZ

All University of Auckland researchers, including doctoral candidates, can request pre-paid customised tables from Stats NZ. The University currently has surplus processing hours that must be used by Tuesday 30 June. Customised data requests are ideal when the data you need isn’t publicly available, or when you want to combine variables from different Stats NZ data sources into one table. Learn more.

Get insights into the NZ workplace

If you're an international candidate in the final year of your doctorate, you can apply for the Workplace Insights Programme, run by Career Development and Employability Services (CDES), International Office and Alumni Office. This programme is ideal for anyone who would like to learn about the workplace in New Zealand and gain a deeper understanding of Kiwi culture. Applications close on Friday 27 February. Apply now.

Scholarship

Health sciences research fund 

The 2026 U21 Health Sciences Group (HSG) Student Research Fund is designed to support master's (research) and doctoral students across the Universitas 21 (U21) global network to develop a research project with at least three U21 HSG member institutions across two countries.

Up to US$6,500 will be awarded annually with the expectation that, over a 12-month period, the project group will submit at least one high-impact paper for publication and report on project outputs at the annual meeting. This award includes a contribution to fund travel for a representative from the project to attend the annual meeting.

Closing date: Friday 19 June. Apply here.