The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships are generous scholarships offered by the University to outstanding PhD students. Being awarded a Doctoral Scholarship has made all the difference for two postgraduate students in the Faculty of Arts.
Chris Barber, who has just started his doctoral research in History, says that the scholarship “has provided me with the means to conduct my research without the more routine yet all-consuming realities of financial concerns, the student loan, and living costs. At the same time, the generous stipend is sufficient to enable me to do overseas research trips. In sum, it has made the doctoral research possible.”
Fellow scholarship recipient Geena Chakiamury, an international student from India who is studying for a PhD in Sociology, likewise emphasises how the scholarship has helped combat some of the challenges of doctoral study. “When I first arrived in New Zealand, I found juggling academics and financial pressures extremely stressful. The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship was so timely, and has enabled me devote myself to the goal of completing this project without financial burdens.” In Geena’s case, the financial injection also eased the immigration process. “Having this scholarship, with an annual stipend and tuition fee waiver for three years, has also enabled me to secure a hassle-free visa for the period of my study in New Zealand. It has made a real difference.”