Doctor of Philosophy
PhD
Duration
3–4 years full-time
Entry times
First day of any month
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Download Brochure
Duration
3–4 years full-time
Entry times
First day of any month
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Download Brochure
Overview
The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree, carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities. At UC you can complete a PhD in over 70 subjects, joining over 1,000 students from more than 60 nations.
A PhD involves extensive, sustained, and original research in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline, and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.
- In addition to expert supervision, UC provides all doctoral students with opportunities to gain transferable skills in areas including communication of research, networking, career planning, databases, statistical analysis, ethics, professional practice, and cultural awareness.
- UC has a number of unique research facilities, collections, resources, and field stations; many of which are renowned globally. Please see the Research website to find out more about these resources.
- The University has a thriving postgraduate research community which includes clubs and associations that students can join for social interaction and support. See the Postgraduate students website for information.
- To find out more about the research interests of staff, start by searching the database in the UC Research Profile. UC Research Profile provides information about individual researchers, the projects they are working on, the research groups they belong to, the specialist equipment that they use for research, and their affiliations.
- There are many benefits for international students studying towards a PhD in Aotearoa New Zealand, such as the possibility to work while studying, apply for a work visa once graduated, pay domestic student fees, and school and work benefits for your partner and children.
Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master’s degree, at First or Second Class (Division I) Honours or Distinction level (or equivalent qualifications).
Applicants with qualifications from outside Aotearoa New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University. Our admissions team, in consultation with the host department, look at your qualifications and transcripts to ensure that you have the background required to complete a PhD. It is possible that you may be required to complete preparatory courses prior to or after admission into a PhD programme.
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
In exceptional circumstances applicants without the typical academic background, but who can demonstrate the ability to pursue a PhD, may be admitted at the discretion of the Dean of Postgraduate Research.
For the full entry requirements see the Regulations for the Doctor of Philosophy or use the admission requirements checker.
How to apply
PhD candidates must contact a potential supervisor before applying. Information about the research interests of academic staff (supervisors) can be found on the relevant department website, or the UC Research Profile.
Find out more about how to apply for PhD and Doctoral degrees.
Candidates may begin a PhD on the first day of any month of the year. Study and research for the PhD is regarded as a full-time occupation throughout the calendar year.
The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is 3 years and the maximum period 4 years. There are provisions for candidates to apply for part-time study, in which case the minimum period is 4.5 years, and they should complete their thesis within 6 years.
Contact the relevant College for information about these subject areas:
- Accounting
- Antarctic Studies
- Anthropology
- Applied Psychology
- Art History
- Art Theory
- Astronomy
- Audiology
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Chemical and Process Engineering
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Civil Engineering
- Classics
- Computational and Applied Mathematical Sciences
- Computer Science
- Cultural Studies
- Disaster Risk and Resilience
- Earthquake Engineering
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Engineering Geology
- Engineering Management
- English
- Environmental Science
- European Studies
- Evolutionary Biology (not open to new enrolments)
- Finance
- Fire Engineering
- Forest Engineering
- Forestry
- French
- Geography
- Geology
- German
- Health Sciences
- History
- Human-Animal Studies
- Human Interface Technology
- Human Services
- Information Systems
- Japanese
- Journalism
- Law
- Linguistics
- Management
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Marketing
- Mathematical Physics
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Philosophy
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media and Communication
- Medical Physics
- Medical Physics (Clinical)
- Microbiology
- Music
- Pacific Studies
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Plant Biology (not open to new enrolments)
- Political Science and International Relations
- Product Design
- Psychology
- Russian
- Science Education
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Speech and Language Sciences
- Statistics
- Taxation
- Te Reo Māori
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resource Management
- Zoology (not open to new enrolments)
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 360 | Banded Fee - tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,884 - $8,293 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Anthropology; Art History; Art Theory; Chinese; Classics; Cultural Studies; Education; English; European Studies; French; German; Higher Education; History; Human Services; Human-Animal Studies; Japanese; Journalism; Linguistics; Māori & Indigenous Studies; Media & Communication; Pacific Studies; Philosophy; Political Science & International Relations; Russian; Science Education; Social Work; Sociology; Spanish; Te Reo Māori (Band 1) | $6,884 per 120 points $7,022 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Accounting; Economics; Finance; Law; Management; Marketing; Taxation (Band 2) | $7,207 per 120 points $7,351 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Applied Psychology; Computational & Applied Mathematical Sciences; Computer Science; Geography; Mathematics and Philosophy; Music; Psychology (Band 3) | $7,532 per 120 points $7,683 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Antarctic Studies; Astronomy; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Biotechnology; Cellular & Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Disaster Risk & Resilience; Engineering Geology; Environmental Science; Evolutionary Biology; Geology; Health Sciences; Mathematical Physics; Medical Physics (incl. clinical); Microbiology; Physics; Plant Biology; Water Resource Management (Band 4) | $7,792 per 120 points $7,948 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Bioengineering; Chemical & Process Engineering; Civil Engineering; Earthquake Engineering; Electrical & Electronic Engineering; Engineering Management; Fire Engineering; Forest Engineering; Forestry; Human Interface Technology; Mechanical Engineering; Transportation Engineering (Band 5) | $8,293 per 120 points $8,459 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Information Systems (Band 6) | $7,410 per 120 points $7,558 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Audiology; Speech & Language Sciences (Band 7) | $8,245 per 120 points $8,410 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Ecology (Band 8) | $8,012 per 120 points $8,172 per 120 points |
| 2019 2020 | 360 | Mathematics; Statistics (Band 9) | $7,204 per 120 points $7,348 per 120 points |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| See Domestic Tuition Fees for further details. |
Contact us
For full requirements see the Regulations for the Doctor of Philosophy.
For study planning help contact the Dean of Postgraduate Research or the Postgraduate Office:
Postgraduate Office
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Phone +64 3 369 2244
Email postgraduate-office@canterbury.ac.nz