Mountain landscape reflected on Lake Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

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Lincoln University Doctoral Scholarship (New Zealand)

Lincoln University, near Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island, is the country's specialist land-based university, internationally recognised in agriculture, agribusiness, environmental management, food, and the biological sciences. Its Doctoral Scholarship is the main funding award for PhD candidates, open to international and domestic students on merit, providing an annual stipend of around NZ$28,000+ (LKR ~5.2m+) plus full tuition fees, tenable for up to three years. As at other NZ universities, international PhD candidates pay domestic-level tuition, which the scholarship covers. For Sri Lankan graduates in agriculture, agri-economics, food science, environmental or biological sciences — disciplines central to Sri Lanka's economy — a Lincoln PhD offers world-class, applied research in a small, focused university. You need a strong research background, a confirmed supervisor and an agreed project. Award numbers, exact stipend and rounds are set by the university, so confirm the current terms on the Lincoln University scholarships page.

2026 intake: the Lincoln Doctoral Scholarship is assessed in regular rounds through the year — confirm the current round dates on lincoln.ac.nz

Lincoln University

University-funded

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Value

NZ$28,000+/yr + Full Fees

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Duration

Up to 3 years

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Basis

Academic Merit

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Lincoln University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

NZ$28,000+/yr Stipend + Full Fees (3 years). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Strong Research Background

A research Master's with high grades, or a first-class/upper-second honours degree, in a relevant field from a recognised Sri Lankan university. The scholarship is competitive and ranked on academic and research merit.

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Supervisor and Project Match

You need PhD admission with a confirmed Lincoln supervisor and research project, ideally in Lincoln's strengths — agriculture, environment, food or biological sciences. Contact potential supervisors early.

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Open to International Applicants

International PhD candidates are eligible on the same merit basis as domestic students and pay domestic-level tuition, which the scholarship covers. Sri Lankan applicants are eligible.

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English Proficiency

Lincoln requires English evidence such as IELTS ~6.5 for PhD entry. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees may qualify via an accepted MOI/exemption route — confirm with Lincoln's graduate research office.

account_tree Application Process

Secure a supervisor and PhD admission

Identify and contact a Lincoln supervisor in your field, agree a project, and apply for PhD admission through Lincoln's graduate research office.

Apply for the Doctoral Scholarship

Submit the doctoral scholarship application (often integrated with the PhD application) with transcripts, research proposal, CV and references, for a scholarship assessment round.

Merit-based selection

Lincoln ranks candidates on academic and research merit and awards scholarships to the top applicants in each round.

Accept and apply for the NZ visa

Accept your PhD place and scholarship, then apply for the New Zealand student visa using your offer, scholarship confirmation and financial evidence.

Why Lincoln University?

Lincoln is New Zealand's specialist land-based university, globally ranked in agriculture and forestry and closely tied to industry and research. Its Doctoral Scholarship — full fees plus a solid stipend, open to internationals on merit — makes a New Zealand PhD in agri-food and environmental science realistically fundable for Sri Lankan researchers.

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World-ranked Land-based Focus

NZ$28k+

Annual Stipend

3 yrs

Full-fee Funding

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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