Doctoral study in Architecture and Planning

We offer advanced research qualifications in architecture, planning and urban design, with particular strengths in the following areas:

• Design and fabrication
• Pedagogy
  
• Urban design, spatial planning and place making
• Māori and Pacific research
  
• Theory and history
• Resilience and sustainability

In our school, you are able to choose one of two ways to complete your doctoral study, depending on your research preferences.

1. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The traditional PhD thesis is a formal piece of advanced research, with a final examined thesis of up to 100,000 words. Your thesis serves as a contribution to the field on both a local and international level. To find out more about the programme structure, entry requirements and start dates, visit Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

2. PhD including Scholarly Creative Work

You can also consider completing your PhD including Scholarly Creative Work. This allows you to submit a design output as examinable work alongside a thesis of up to 60,000 words. There are some specific guidelines around the admission requirements and timing of the examination for creative works. To find out more about this option, visit PhD including Scholarly Creative Work.  

To see how your creative practice can become research, read Sarosh Mulla’s experience, our first graduate with a PhD in Architecture with Scholarly Creative Work.

We understand that supervisor quality and a strong candidate-supervisor relationship are very important when you decide where to undertake your doctoral study.

You can browse the profiles and research interests of our available doctoral supervisors below:

As part of your application, you need to submit a Statement of Research Intent for Doctoral Study. The purpose of preparing the documents is to obtain sufficient information for the school to assess your application for doctoral study and allocate supervisors best able to support your research.

We encourage contacting our PhD Advisers before you submit your Application for Admission (AfA) for more specific information and advice about doctoral study in our School.

Architecture

Dr Ferdinand Oswald
Email: ferdinand.oswald@auckland.ac.nz

Heritage Conservation

Associate Professor Julia Gatley
Email: julia.gatley@auckland.ac.nz

Urban Planning

Associate Professor Kai Gu
Email: k.gu@auckland.ac.nz

Urban Design

Dr I-Ting Chuang
Email: iting.chuang@auckland.ac.nz

You may need to contact the Student Hubs or the School of Graduate Studies at different points of your planning and application process.

Student Hubs

For queries about how to apply, admission, and enrolment, please visit Student Hubs or contact us online.

School of Graduate Studies

Contact School of Graduate Studies