Victoria Doctoral Scholarship
Victoria University of Wellington offers Victoria Doctoral Scholarships to outstanding PhD candidates, covering full international tuition fees plus a tax-free annual stipend of NZD 30,000 for 3 years. Sri Lankan researchers with strong research-Master's backgrounds and a confirmed Victoria supervisor are competitive. Wellington — New Zealand's capital — offers a vibrant policy, government, and creative-industries ecosystem alongside the university, with Victoria particularly strong in Public Policy, Law, Climate Science, and Creative Writing.
Rolling — applications close 1 March, 1 July, and 1 November each year
Victoria University of Wellington
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Stipend
NZD 30,000 / year (tax-free)
Tuition
100% International Fee Covered
Duration
3 years (PhD)
Awards
~70-90 / year (across all rounds)
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
Victoria University of Wellington — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
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.
What it covers
NZD 30,000 stipend + Full tuition fees. 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.
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
Strong Research Master's
First-class or high upper-second Master's degree with a substantial research thesis component. Sri Lankan applicants with research-Master's from national universities and publications are competitive.
Confirmed Victoria Supervisor
Identify a Victoria academic whose research aligns with yours and secure written agreement to supervise BEFORE applying. The supervisor's support email is part of the application.
International / NZ Applicant
Open to international and domestic PhD candidates. Sri Lankan citizens compete in the international pool; awards have no country quota.
Apply Before the Round Deadline
Three rounds per year — 1 March, 1 July, and 1 November. Submit both your PhD admission and scholarship applications before the round deadline for review in that round.
account_tree Application Process
Find and contact a Victoria supervisor
Search the Victoria research profiles, identify a potential supervisor in your field, and email them with your CV, transcripts, and a 1-2 page research proposal. Secure written supervision support.
Submit PhD application
Submit your PhD admission application via the Victoria online portal — transcripts, references, full research proposal, English-test results (IELTS 6.5+), and your supervisor's support.
Submit Doctoral Scholarship application
On the PhD application, indicate that you are applying for the Victoria Doctoral Scholarship. There is no separate form — your PhD application is reviewed for both admission and funding together.
Decision + visa
The scholarship committee reviews complete applications submitted before each round cutoff. Decisions are typically released 8-10 weeks later. Use the offer for the NZ Fee-Paying Student Visa application.
Why Victoria?
Victoria University of Wellington is consistently ranked in the top 250 globally and #1 in NZ for research intensity. Wellington is NZ's political capital — Victoria's location places PhD researchers within easy reach of government, courts, and the country's policy machinery.
Top 250
QS World Ranking 2026
#1 NZ
Research Intensity
22,000+
Total Students
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.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat NZ actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for NZ, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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