AUT Vice-Chancellor's Doctoral Scholarship — Māori and Pacific pathway

A lower GPA threshold (7.5 vs 8.0) gives Māori and Pacific doctoral applicants an easier guaranteed path into AUT's main doctoral scholarship.

Closes

Applications accepted year-round except 1 December to 15 January

Who can apply

New Māori and domestic Pacific doctoral applicants with a GPA of 7.5 or above in their most recent qualifying NZ-tertiary programme are considered for the scholarship — general (non-Māori/Pacific) applicants need a GPA of 8.0 or above for the same scholarship.

Whakapapa

Māori or Pacific applicants get a distinct, lower GPA threshold than general applicants

Residency

New Zealand Citizen or permanent resident, holding (or applying for) an offer of place in an AUT doctoral programme

Study level

Doctoral

Amount

$34,737 annual stipend (2026 rate) plus tuition fees and the compulsory student services fee, for up to three years full-time (six years part-time)

Funding route

Scholarship

Applicants

Tauira & researchers

Before you apply

Not exclusive to Māori — Pacific applicants share the same lower threshold — but the differentiated GPA bar (7.5 vs the general 8.0) is a real, quotable preference, the same pattern as the University of Auckland's Māori Doctoral Scholarship already on file.

Official source →

Checked 17 September 2026

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Details change without notice. Check the funder's own page before you apply. Tōku Waka does not administer, assess or award this funding.