Doctoral study in Geology
Why study with us?
New Zealand’s leading and largest Faculty of Science* brings together 10 diverse schools and departments to provide outstanding quality teaching and research opportunities. Our doctoral students work with some of the nation’s leading researchers and benefit from the faculty’s connections with international universities and industry. You will also have access to high-quality laboratory and field research facilities.
Research opportunities
We welcome PhD proposals in areas including:
- Evolution of the earth, rocks, minerals and fossils
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics
- Quaternary environmental change
- Engineering geology
- Mineral deposits
- Environmental geology
- Volcanoes and structural geology
Our people
Many of our knowledgeable scientists are major contributors in their field.
(and search for relevant topics)
Research topics
See a selection of past and present research topics:
- Magmatic processes recorded in crystals from intraplate basalt volcanoes, Bay of Islands Volcanic Field | supervised by Phil Shane and Shane Cronin
- Structural geology of the Hauraki Goldfield | supervised by Julie Rowland and Kathleen Campbell
- Fracture and mineral characterisation from geophysical well logs and core: Ngatamariki Geothermal Field | supervised by Kasper van Wijk and Ludmila Adam
- Sinters as a dipstick for epithermal mineralisation | supervised by Kathleen Campbell and Julie Rowland
- Soil diffuse carbon dioxide flux in the Taupo volcanic zone | supervised by Julie Rowland and Luitgard Schwendenmann
- Scale and scenarios of pyroclastic eruption hazards of Tongariro Volcano, Central North Island, New Zealand | supervised by Shane Cronin
- Sector-based mapping and statistical forecasting of mass flow hazards at Mount Taranaki, New Zealand | supervised by Shane Cronin and Michael Rowe
- Multi-method dating and high-resolution stratigraphy of Auckland maar records (spanning the last two glacial cycles) | supervised by Paul Augustinus and Phil Shane
- Causes, consequences and risk factors of landslides in Viti Levu, Fiji Islands | supervised by Shane Cronin, Martin Brook and Mark Dickson
- Tectonic evolution of the Whakatane Graben | supervised by Julie Rowland and Ingo Pecher
- Countdown to eruption: timescales of magmatic processes in the crust | supervised by Jan Lindsay and Michael Rowe.
- Modelling hazard footprint and consequences of lava flows in an urban environment | supervised by Jan Lindsay and Giovanni Coco
For more information about PhD theses and topics you may be interested in, or supervisors and their past research, please use the search function on the Libraries and Learning Services catalogue.
Scholarships and awards
See our University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship page for scholarship opportunities. Or search our database for scholarships that may be available.
Help and advice
Please see our Doctoral students section for further information, advice and contact information.