If you are applying for a PhD or named doctorate, here’s our step-by-step guide for doctoral applications, admission and enrolment.

To view the academic eligibility requirements for entry into a PhD or named doctorate programme, see Doctoral entry requirements.

Decide your area of research interest or potential research topic. You can look at faculty or department websites relevant to your topic, and consider the research interests and publications of academic staff.

For information on thesis and research areas see:

• Find a supervisor
• Postgraduate research areas

If you are applying for the Doctor of Clinical Psychology or Doctor of Education, see Postgraduate application closing dates.

For other doctoral programmes, you can submit an Application for Admission at any time.

Before you apply you will need to,

• Prepare electronic copies of your doctoral application documents,
  such as your Academic transcripts, Statement of Research Intent and CV (résumé). If English is not your first language, approved English language test scores from the last two years. For more information, visit:
  Documents to support your application
  Statement of Research Intent
  
  
• Your Doctoral Reference Letters
  When submitting an application for admission, you will be asked to enter your referees' information. The Admissions Office will contact you to arrange your doctoral reference letters after the initial assessment of your application. Your referees only have to send their references once we request them. Please note that applicants who have not studied at the University of Auckland within the last five years must arrange two references, and these should be from academic staff who can comment on your research experience and capability. One referee should be your postgraduate thesis/dissertation supervisor.
  

• Research and publication history
  You may be asked to supply your research dissertation/thesis from your qualifying degree and/or relevant refereed publications.

Is this your first time applying with us?

1. Click on Application for Admission
2. Register for a new account:
   • Click, ‘Sign up for a new account’ below the Password entry field.
   • A confirmation message will ask you to confirm sign up for a new account. Select ‘Confirm’.
   • The 'Register for a new account' page will appear. Enter your email address, name and a password and click ‘Register’ (After accepting the IT Acceptable Use Policy and Disclaimer).
   • In the next page provide your contact details, date of birth, citizenship, ethnicity. Also indicate if you have a disability so we can better meet your needs.
3. Complete all your Application for Admission sections. For a step by step guide, see Doctoral application help.
4. Submit your application:
   • Ensure you have read the Declaration section. Click, ‘I Agree’ and ‘Submit application.’

If you have applied, studied or worked with us before

1. Login to your Application for Admission 
   • Use either your ID number or the email address used when you last applied, and your password. 
   • To reset your password, please visit Change or reset your password
2. Click ‘Start a new application’ to add a new programme. 
3. Submit your application:
   • Ensure you have read the Declaration section. Click, ‘I Agree’ and ‘Submit application.’

What to expect after you apply

Your application will be reviewed by the Department and the Board of Graduate Studies. Within two working days, you will receive an acknowledgement email with a Student ID number for logging into your Application for Admission.

Doctoral applications can take eight weeks or longer due to approvals required at different levels. This is from the time an application is submitted to when a decision is made.

You can see the status of your documents submitted in your 'Things you need to do' list in your Application for Admission.

To see the status of the programme(s) you’ve applied into, you can access 'Your applications' in your Application for Admission.

When a decision is made, the status will show on the 'Your applications' section of your Application for Admission.

Offer of place

You can accept or decline an offer of place in a programme from your Application for Admission. When you accept an offer of place, you are admitted to your programme. We will acknowledge your acceptance by email, with information on how to enrol.

When you receive your confirmation of place, you can begin Doctoral enrolment.

As a doctoral candidate, you will be re-enrolled at the beginning of each academic year by the School of Graduate Studies. Please pay your fees on time to ensure re-enrolment.