MCom Scholarship for Research on Knowledge Governance and Mātauranga Māori

Study area(s): Business and government
    
Scholarship level: Master’s Research
    
Closing date(s): 31 January 2026
    
Tenure: One year
    
Award for: Māori
    
Number offered: 2
    
Value: $22,000 stipend per annum (1 year), plus Tuition Fees, for 90pt thesis.

History and purpose

These scholarships are attached to a Te Apārangi Royal Society Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (RDF) project, ‘Patents and Power: A Critical Analysis of Knowledge Governance’. This project explores how the patent system reinforces existing power structures, particularly in terms of race and gender. The mahi aims to create a constructive space to discuss alternatives to the patent system, bringing Māori aspirations and interests to the fore, and to develop a less biased means for driving innovation. The vision of this project is a re-imagined knowledge governance system that is fairer for all peoples of Aotearoa.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply, an applicant must:

have Māori whakapapa.
qualify for (or already be enrolled in) the MCom: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/explore/postgraduate-programmes/master-of-commerce/requirements.
have an interest in mātauranga Māori and how this is regulated, in te ao Māori and in te ao Pākehā.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed on the basis of academic merit, having a background which aligns well with the research project, and an expressed interest in the research area.

Application process

To apply for the position, please send the following documentation to Prof. Jessica Lai jessica.lai@vuw.ac.nz.

CV
Copies of academic transcripts
A cover letter explaining your interest in mātauranga Māori in relation to your area of study, and how you believe you could contribute to the project

Scholarship specific documentation

CV
Copies of academic transcripts
Cover Letter

Selection process

Selection will be made by Prof. Jessica Lai.

Additional information

The scholarship is attached to the 90pt thesis and not other courses that are required for an MCom.

The recipient must have entry into the MCom programme.

The Scholarship is conditional on the availability of a suitable supervisory team.

Contact

Should you have any questions, please contact Prof. Jessica Lai jessica.lai@vuw.ac.nz .