Disclaimer: This information is provided in good faith and is correct at September 2021. Please confirm these details with Study Options before making a formal application.

Information on the general entry requirements for PhD programmes at the University of Waikato can be found here.

It is not necessary to make contact with a potential supervisor at the University of Waikato before submitting an application. However, you are strongly encouraged to decide upon, and clarify as much as possible, your research interest or research topic. You should take time to look through the relevant faculty pages, which are listed here. A database of staff with details of their research work can be found here.

Once you have done this, you then need to register for a Waikato student number here. You can submit an online ‘Application to Enrol’ through the student portal once you are registered. You will be required to upload your academic documentation but these do not need to be certified at this stage.

When the University requests certified copies, you should contact Study Options, the official representative of the University of Waikato in the UK and Ireland, for assistance. Study Options is able to certify all of your academic documentation and liaise with the admissions teams with regards to your application. If your application is successful, Study Options will assist you with the acceptance and visa process. We can also provide advice and guidance on accommodation, bank accounts and more! We are a completely free service.

You will also need to complete the online ‘Doctoral Enrolment Supplementary Form’, which requires a Statement of Interest (PDF), a sample of your Academic Writing (up to 4000 words) and two academic references. Your references must be emailed directly to the University by the referees.

Doctoral applications are processed by the University of Waikato in three rounds each year – application closing dates are 1 March, 1 July and 1 November annually. If your online application to enrol arrives after one of these closing dates, your application will be considered in the following application round.

All completed applications will be forwarded to the appropriate Faculty for further consideration. After careful consideration all applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application. This could take up to seven weeks after the closing date for the round you applied for.