PhD in Science in Society
Find more information about applying for a PhD in Science in Society and what you need to prepare.
School of Science in Society PhD research projects are generally initiated and led by students. You should have an idea of a research project before you apply, and you should think about which member of the School’s staff you think would be a good supervisor. You should contact your proposed supervisor in the first instance to discuss their availability, further develop your project, and discuss application timelines. You can also explore the research areas our staff work across to help inform your approach.
If you decide to apply for a PhD in Science in Society, please familiarise yourself with the Faculty of Graduate Research’s guidance on applying for PhDs and Scholarships. Please note that while the University holds three scholarship rounds per year, due to the small number of scholarships available, the School only accepts scholarship applications for the July round.
In your application form, you will be asked to enter an Expression of Interest. For School of Science in Society PhD applications, we ask for 1,500 to 2,000 words in total, written and referenced in a style appropriate to your proposed research, demonstrating your command of academic writing and citation.
Your Expression of Interest should be organised according to the following four questions (these questions are part of the application form):
- What specific issue or question are you interested in studying?
- Why do you think this topic needs further research?
- How might you go about researching this issue?
- What particular obstacles or challenges, if any, do you anticipate in conducting this research?
As part of the first question, you should also address the question of why you think the School of Science in Society is a good place to carry out your research, and why you have chosen to conduct your research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Your potential supervisor will often agree to work with you on your Expression of Interest, but the original idea should generally be your own.
You should also be prepared to ask two people to act as your referees.
Find out more
To find out more or to express interest in studying a PhD with the School of Science in Society, contact:
Senior Lecturer
School of Science in Society