University of Waikato

Doctoral Scholarship Regulations 2019

1. Purpose
As part of our commitment to postgraduate research, the University of Waikato provides Doctoral
Scholarships for students to undertake a doctoral degree at the University of Waikato.

2. Eligibility Criteria
2.1. The Scholarship is open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and international
students.
2.2. Doctoral Scholarships are open to students enrolling in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD),
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Doctor of Education (EdD), or Doctor of Juridical Science
(SJD).
2.3. A candidate will normally be seeking to obtain their first doctoral qualification.
2.4. Candidates should normally be intending to study full-time at the University of Waikato.
2.4.1. Candidates who have socially compelling reasons for enrolling in part-time study
(e.g. illness, disability, parent or carer responsibilities) may apply to the
Scholarships Executive for permission to be awarded a Scholarship on a part-time
basis. The candidate should outline the reasons for the request in their Statement
of Research Interest, and provide appropriate evidence of the need to study part-
time. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2.4.2. During any period of part-time enrolment, the value and duration of a recipient’s
Scholarship would be adjusted on a pro rata basis.
2.4.3. Candidates will not be granted permission to hold a University of Waikato Doctoral
Scholarship on a part-time basis if they wish to undertake full-time paid
employment or substantial part-time employment (see Regulation 9).
2.4.4. Recipients are required to change to full-time enrolment if a change in their
circumstances means they no longer qualify to hold the Scholarship on a part-time
basis.
2.5. Candidates employed by the University of Waikato will not normally be eligible for the
Scholarship.
2.5.1. Employment as a sessional assistant, or similar, may be permitted, provided the
hours worked do not contravene Regulation 9.

3. Application
3.1. Applications will be considered in three rounds a year. Candidates must submit a complete
Application to Enrol by 31 January, 31 May, or 30 September in order to be considered.
3.2. As part of their Application to Enrol in a doctoral degree at the University of Waikato,
candidates will have the opportunity to request that they be considered for a University of
Waikato Doctoral Scholarship.
3.2.1. A University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship may only be applied for as part of
the Application to Enrol; an application for this Scholarship will not be considered
outside of the rounds listed in clause 3.1.
 3.3. Current doctoral candidates who have not gained a University of Waikato Doctoral
Scholarship may, in exceptional circumstances, be nominated by their Faculty for
consideration for a reduced-tenure Scholarship.
3.3.1. Nominated candidates will have reached Confirmed Enrolment, and have already
proven themselves to be outstanding doctoral scholars, e.g. they will have
achieved a significant accomplishment such as a publication.
3.3.1.1. Preference will be given to candidates who are in their first year of full-
time doctoral studies.
3.3.2. Nominated candidates will be invited to complete specific documents to support
their nomination.
3.3.3. Candidates may only be nominated once during their enrolment in the doctoral
degree.

4. Value
4.1. The value of the Scholarship shall be a living allowance of up to $22,000 per annum,
payable in monthly instalments, and the domestic tuition 1 fees for enrolment in the PhD,
DMA, EdD, or SJD programme during the term of the Scholarship.
4.1.1. The living allowance will be paid on a pro-rata basis for approved part-time
students.
4.2. A thesis preparation grant of up to $400 is available to assist with thesis printing costs
provided the thesis is submitted within four years of the commencement of doctoral
enrolment.

5. Selection
5.1. Academic merit will be a primary criterion of selection, with a minimum grade average of A-
(over the previous two years of full-time study) expected for eligibility.
5.2. Other factors taken into consideration include; references, prior research and work
experience, and publications.
5.3. Applications are ranked by The Postgraduate Research Committee of the Faculty by which
they are being considered for an Offer of Place.
5.4. The University of Waikato Scholarships Executive, chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Research, will consider the rankings and offer awards to successful candidates.
5.5. The Scholarships Executive’s decision is final; no further correspondence will be entered
into following the selection meeting.

6. Awarding
6.1. Successful candidates will be advised in writing of the outcome of their request to be
considered for a Scholarship at, or close to, the time that they are advised of the outcome
of their Application to Enrol.
6.1.1. The offer of a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship must be accepted within
one month of the offer being made. If it is not accepted within this timeframe, the
Scholarship offer will lapse.
6.1.2. The offer of a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship (that has been accepted
as per clause 6.1.1 above) will remain valid as long as the associated Offer of
Place in a PhD, DMA, EdD, or SJD programme is also valid.
6.1.3. Not all students given an Offer of Place in a PhD, DMA, EdD, or SJD programme
will be offered a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship.
6.2. A Scholarship may only be taken up by a candidate who has formally completed the entry
qualifications for, and enrolled in, a PhD, DMA, EdD, or SJD programme.

1 The Scholarship does not cover the other enrolment fees, for example the Student Services Levy.
 6.3. By accepting the offer of a Scholarship, the candidate agrees to participate in any publicity
concerning the Scholarship arranged by the University of Waikato.

7. Tenure
7.1. The total term of the Doctoral Scholarship will not exceed three years of full-time doctoral
enrolment (or equivalent for part-time study).
7.1.1. For candidates enrolling in an EdD or SJD programme, the tenure of the Doctoral
Scholarship will begin on the same date that they commence their Part 1 EdD or
SJD enrolment.
7.2. Should a recipient submit their thesis for examination during the Scholarship period (and
provided the candidate remains enrolled), the Scholarship will end after its full term or upon
the recipient’s completion of doctoral study, whichever is the earlier date. Completion
occurs when the Postgraduate Research Committee recommends the awarding of the
degree.

8. Co-tenure
8.1. The recipient must advise the Scholarships Executive (via the School of Graduate
Research Scholarships team), in writing, of any other awards they receive during the tenure
of a University of Waikato Scholarship.
8.2. The recipient may hold lower-value awards, provided the combined value of all other
awards does not exceed fifty per cent of the living allowance of the Doctoral Scholarship in
any one year.
8.3. If offered an award with a higher-value than a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship,
which also allows co-tenure, the recipient may apply to the Scholarships Executive for
permission to receive the additional funding while retaining up to fifty per cent of the current
living allowance of the University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship. Applications will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.

9. Employment
9.1. Scholarship recipients will not be permitted to undertake paid employment that exceeds an
annual average of fifteen hours per week. This applies to all scholars, full-time and part-
time.
9.1.1. Permission to exceed fifteen hours per week must be sought from the
Scholarships Executive and will only be approved in exceptional circumstances
and for limited periods of time.

10. Other Conditions

10.1. If a recipient’s circumstances change in a manner which may affect their continued eligibility
for this award, the recipient must inform the Scholarships Executive immediately. Any
change of circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
10.2. Recipients are not eligible to receive Scholarship funds during periods of suspension of
doctoral enrolment. In the cases of overpayment, the Scholarships team will work with the
recipient to recoup the funds.
10.3. If, while in receipt of a Doctoral Scholarship, the candidate withdraws from their enrolment,
or their enrolment is terminated, the Scholarship will cease and any overpayments will be
recouped.
10.3.1. If a former recipient is subsequently awarded another University of Waikato
Doctoral Scholarship, they will only be eligible for the outstanding amount
remaining of the original Scholarship awarded.
10.4. The Postgraduate Research Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the
Scholarships Executive in regards to Progress Reports of Scholarship recipients that
identify performance that is below expectations.
 10.5. A Scholarship may be terminated if the recipient:
10.5.1. Is not meeting expectations in their doctoral Progress Reports;
10.5.2. Is not following the approved programme of study; or,
10.5.3. Brings the University into disrepute 2 , or otherwise does not comply with the
regulations governing the Scholarship.
10.6. The Scholarship holder shall have the right to appeal to the Research Committee against
any decision to terminate the award.
10.7. The University of Waikato may, from time to time, vary these regulations.

2 See the Student Code of Conduct.