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.
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)
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
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