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The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

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Programme overview

The University of Auckland PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, available in over 100 different subjects. Candidates will undertake independent and original research, supervised by academic experts and research leaders.

During your doctoral studies, you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal, professional and academic skills. Our doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

All of our doctoral policies and guidelines governing PhD study, including the PhD statute, are available in Doctoral policies and guidelines .

If you are looking for PhD study in a subject not listed here, it may be available under a different title. For more information, please contact a postgraduate adviser in the relevant faculty.

Programme structure

Entry requirements.

• Fees and scholarships
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The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On entry to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of milestones to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

Part-time enrolment is available for New Zealand students, in which case provisional enrolment lasts for 24 months, and you must submit your full thesis for examination no earlier than 6 years, and within 8 years, of your start date.

As part of your PhD study, you have access to our doctoral skills workshops and resources, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes research services advisers to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

For international students, your visa conditions will generally stipulate that you must be enrolled for full-time PhD study.

It may be possible for candidates to undertake a PhD including scholarly creative work and/or publications that they worked on while under supervision for their PhD. For information on including scholarly creative work in a PhD, see the PhD including scholarly creative work policy and procedures . To read the rules about including publications in a PhD, see the Doctoral thesis policy and procedures .

To read the rules about including publications in your PhD, see Doctoral Candidates– including publications in a thesis policy and procedures . 

My highest qualification is from:

Programme requirements, minimum programme requirements.

Minimum requirements listed here are the likely grades required and do not guarantee entry. We assess each application individually and applicants may require a higher grade to be offered a place.

• Honours or masters degree
• Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

Further programme requirements

Supervision and research requirements.

Meeting our academic requirements does not guarantee entry.

You must demonstrate an ability to research independently, and possess a high level of theoretical understanding. Acceptance is subject to staff availability for supervision, and appropriate resources and facilities.

You must write an initial statement of research intent to demonstrate your research capability and experience.  

How to apply

Check out our guide to applying for a PhD or doctorate .

• Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours

No bands less than 6.0

See alternative English language requirements

Calculate your Grade Point Equivalent (GPE)

You must write an initial statement of research intent to demonstrate your research capability and experience.

All students must meet our English-language requirements as a condition of entry.

How much does a Doctor of Philosophy cost per year?

A New Zealand government funding scheme enables the University of Auckland to offer PhD study to international students for the same tuition fees as New Zealand PhD students.

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Amounts shown are indicative only. In addition to the tuition fees, there is a Student Services Fee of per point, estimated at for full-time study (120 points). Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

See course fees for each faculty

Find out about financial support information

Scholarships and awards.

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

Eligible candidates can enrol and start their PhD at any time of year. You must enrol within 6 months of your unconditional offer. 

A University of Auckland PhD is available in over 100 different subjects but your research project will be unique. As part of the application process, you need to provide an outline of your proposed research project.

Although you are not required to nominate a doctoral supervisor as part of your initial application, you can also look at supervisor profiles and research projects , or to find out more about the research carried out at the University of Auckland, click on the links in the Subjects tab to start exploring faculty research webpages for your area of interest.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own start up. With focused development opportunities available throughout your PhD study, and dedicated postgraduate career advice, we can help you to explore and meet your own career goals, no matter what direction you take.

Student career planning service

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services .

Graduate story: Katherine Higgins

Having supportive doctoral supervisors paved the way for Katherine Higgins to develop and facilitate collaborative projects with visiting artists at MIT.

Do you need help?

Your online help and support centre. Search our frequently asked questions.

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Regulations - Doctor of Philosophy

Statute for the degree of doctor of philosophy – phd.

(i) “Candidate/s” refers to candidate/s for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

(ii) “Candidature” refers to a person’s status as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

(iii) “Doctoral year” refers to each block of 12 months from the initial date of programme enrolment.

(iv) Full-time and part-time enrolment are defined in the doctoral full-time and part-time enrolment policy and procedures.

General Requirements

1 A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is required to undertake an original and coherent research project and to present the outcome of that research project for examination as a thesis.

2 The research project, which may include scholarly creative practice, must involve enquiry that is experimental and/or critical in nature and be driven by an intellectual hypothesis, position, problem or question(s) capable of being rigorously explored and of making an original and significant contribution to knowledge and/or understanding in the relevant field(s) of study.

3 The research project must be conducted under supervision and over the period of enrolment in the PhD programme, and must be conducted in accordance with the Research Code of Conduct Policy.

4 The thesis requirement at Regulation 1 must be satisfied by a cohesive written document, which shall not normally exceed 100,000 words. Scholarly creative work (written or otherwise) that forms an integrated whole with the written document may be submitted for examination as part of the thesis requirement.

5 The thesis must be undertaken and completed in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Policy and Procedures and, where scholarly creative work is (to be) presented for examination as part of the thesis requirement, with the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures.

6 In order for the PhD degree to be awarded, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]) must be:

a satisfied that the requirements of Regulations 1-5 and Regulation 47 have been met

b satisfied that, subject to Regulation 43, the candidate has performed at doctoral level in an oral examination, held in accordance with this Statute on the thesis, the subject of the thesis and the field(s) to which the subject belongs

c satisfied, by the examination process prescribed by this Statute, that the thesis:

(i) makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge or understanding in its field(s)

(ii) meets internationally recognised standards for such work

(iii) demonstrates knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject and the field(s) to which the subject belongs, and demonstrates the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgement of that literature

(iv) is satisfactory in its methodology, in the quality and coherence of its expression, and in its scholarly presentation and format.

7 The thesis must be submitted within a maximum of 48 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme, unless a later submission date is permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in accordance with the Doctoral Extension of Enrolment Policy and Procedures. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions pertaining to the submission of the “thesis” in this regulation and in the remainder of this statute apply to all work (to be) presented for examination in fulfilment of the thesis requirement at Regulation 1.

8 The thesis must not be submitted in less than 36 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme, unless permission is granted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

9 Permission for submission of the thesis must not be granted where a candidate has been enrolled for less than 24 months full-time equivalent from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme.

10 Part-time enrolment may be permitted, subject to the Doctoral Full-time and Part-time Enrolment Policy and Procedures.

11 A candidate may be permitted to suspend their enrolment subject to the Doctoral Suspension of Enrolment Policy and Procedures.

12 Unless permitted under the PhD – Masters Thesis Transfer Policy and Procedures, the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme may not be backdated except in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) and up to a maximum of six months.

13 To be admitted to the PhD programme, applicants must satisfy the University’s Admission regulations and are required to have:

a in their most recent attempt at a relevant qualification:

(i) completed the requirements for a Bachelors Honours or Masters degree or postgraduate diploma in a relevant subject area with at least a B+ average at the University of Auckland, or, where relevant to the intended subject of the PhD, the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland; in all cases relevance is determined by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

(ii) satisfied the requirements of the PhD – Masters Thesis Transfer Policy and Procedures

(iii) completed the requirements for a qualification approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) as relevant, with regard to subject area, and as equivalent to a Bachelors Honours or Masters degree with at least a B+ average at the University of Auckland

b satisfied the requirements of the Doctoral Candidate Research Capacity Policy and Procedures

c satisfied the University of Auckland postgraduate English language requirements and any further requirements for evidence of English language proficiency set by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

d where creative work is to be presented for examination as part of the thesis requirement, have satisfied the eligibility and research project approval requirements of the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures

e have a research project approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) as consistent with the requirements of Regulation 2 and capable of satisfying the requirements for the award of the PhD degree

f have the approval of the Head(s) of the relevant academic unit(s) or their nominee(s) for the purposes of doctoral matters (“the Academic Head(s)”) with regard to the availability of appropriate supervision and the availability of the research resources deemed necessary by the Academic Head(s).

14 In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may, subject to the Doctoral Exceptional Circumstance Entry Policy and Procedures, admit to the PhD programme an applicant whose qualifications do not meet the requirements of Regulation 13a.

15 An applicant may be considered for transfer from an existing doctoral enrolment subject to the Doctoral Transfer Policy and Procedures.

16 An applicant may be considered for off-campus enrolment subject to the Doctoral Off-campus Research Policy and Procedures.

17 The final decision on admission to the PhD programme shall be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

18 Admission to the PhD programme may be rescinded prior to enrolment in the programme where information that was not available to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) at the time the admission decision was made, and which would have resulted in a different decision being made, becomes available, or where, due to circumstances unforeseeable at the time of the decision, supervision and/or necessary resources will no longer be available for the enrolment.

19 Admission to the PhD programme is valid for up to six months (or a maximum of 12 months in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)) from the date of notification of admission to the programme. Where enrolment in the programme does not occur within that time, re-application for admission to the programme is required.

20 Concurrent enrolment in another programme at the University of Auckland or at another institution is not permitted except as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in exceptional circumstances.

21 Persons who are permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to enrol in a joint or dual doctoral degree must satisfy all the requirements of this Statute in order to have the PhD degree awarded, unless an individual requirement is varied under Regulation 53.

Supervision

22 The Academic Head(s) is (are) responsible for the provision of supervision for the duration of the candidate’s enrolment.

23 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint at least two supervisors for each candidate in accordance with the Doctoral Supervision Policy and Procedures.

24 Changes in supervision during candidature are subject to the Doctoral Supervision Policy and Procedures and the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate), with whom the final decision as to the appointment of supervisors rests.

Enrolment and Candidature

25 Except for any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 11, candidates are required to be enrolled continuously from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme until the date of thesis submission under Regulations 7–9.

26 Candidature for the PhD degree commences upon enrolment in the PhD programme and continues, regardless of any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 11, until the date on which any one of the following occurs:

a notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that all requirements for the award of the degree at Regulation 6 have been met

b notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that the final decision under Regulation 46 is that the degree not be awarded

c candidature expires under Regulation 28

d a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 48

e candidature is terminated by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 49.

27 Candidature is provisional until confirmed, and is subject to the Doctoral Confirmation of Candidature Policy and Procedures, the Doctoral Continuation of Confirmed Candidature Policy and Procedures, and the Doctoral Candidature Intervention Policy and Procedures.

28 a Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted for examination by the date required under Regulation 7.

b Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 45.

29 Where candidature has expired under Regulation 28, it may be reinstated only as the outcome of a successful application to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) for a (retrospective) extension of enrolment, or by successful appeal under Regulation 54 of a decision by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to decline an extension of enrolment (retrospective or otherwise).

30 Enrolment in the PhD programme is not possible where candidature remains expired under Regulation 28 or where a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 48.

31 Termination of candidature under Regulation 49 is also termination of enrolment in the PhD programme for enrolled candidates.

32 Candidates who are required, pursuant to Regulation 45, to revise and resubmit their thesis for examination by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) are required to be enrolled for the duration of the period of revision of the thesis. The maximum duration of enrolment for revision and resubmission of a thesis pursuant to Regulation 45 is 12 months full-time equivalent.

33 Candidates who wish to be absent from the University in pursuit of their research for more than one month during enrolment are subject to the Doctoral Off-campus Research Policy and Procedures.

34 Candidates are subject to the Research Code of Conduct Policy and all University statutes, regulations, rules, policies and procedures relating to student conduct and obligations (academic or otherwise) for the duration of candidature.

35 Candidates may change the title of their thesis at any point prior to submission of the thesis for examination, subject to the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

36 All fees required by and pursuant to the Fees Statute and the PhD Domestic Tuition Fees Policy must be paid for the duration of enrolment in the PhD programme.

37 Tuition fees are not payable for any period during which enrolment has been suspended under Regulation 11.

38 a A candidate who withdraws from the PhD programme, or who has their candidature terminated, will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period of withdrawal from the programme or termination of candidature and the end of the current doctoral year.

b A candidate who submits a thesis will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period between the date of submission of the thesis and the end of the current doctoral year, provided the candidate has been enrolled for at least 36 months’ full-time equivalent.

39 Graduation is not permitted until all outstanding monies owing to the University have been paid.

40 The thesis must be submitted in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Pre-Examination Procedures.

Examination

41 For each candidate, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint two examiners, at least one of whom must be based outside New Zealand, in accordance with the Doctoral Appointment of Examiners Policy and Procedures.

42 The examination for the PhD degree must be conducted in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Procedures and/or, where the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) regards it as warranted, with the Doctoral Examination Extraordinary Circumstances and Posthumous Award Procedures. Where scholarly creative work is submitted as part of the thesis requirement, the examination is also subject to the PhD – Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures.

43 Except where a candidate is exempted pursuant to the Doctoral Examination Extraordinary Circumstances and Posthumous Award Procedures, the PhD degree cannot be awarded where an oral examination has not taken place.

44 Where a candidate advances to oral examination, the oral examination is to proceed in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Procedures and the Doctoral Oral Examination Procedures.

45 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will consider all examination reports and recommendations made pursuant to the Doctoral Examination Procedures and determine the outcome of the examination.

Final Decision

46 The final decision as to the award of the PhD degree will be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]), who may also be the decision-maker at Regulation 45.

47 The final examined and approved thesis must be submitted in accordance with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Post-Examination Procedures in order for the requirements of the PhD degree to be met.

Withdrawal from Programme

48 A candidate may withdraw from the PhD programme at any time by notifying the University in writing. Retraction of the programme withdrawal is not permitted.

Termination of Candidature

49 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may terminate the candidature of any enrolled or non-enrolled candidate on any one or more of the following grounds:

a failure to meet the requirements for confirmation of candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

b failure to meet the requirements for continuation of confirmed candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

c failure to satisfy conditions imposed on candidature pursuant to Regulation 27

d failure to comply with candidature reporting requirements pursuant to Regulation 27

e failure to complete or satisfactorily complete revisions to an examined thesis by the date required by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

f failure to comply with the Doctoral Thesis Submission Post-Examination Procedures

g failure to make payment of any tuition fees related to enrolment in the PhD by the due date.

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, termination of candidature pursuant to this Regulation 49 is permanent unless successfully appealed in accordance with Regulation 54(b).

50 Before the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) makes a decision as to termination of candidature pursuant to Regulation 49, the candidate will be given notice of termination proceedings and allowed 14 calendar days to make a submission for the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to take into account in making that decision. This process is subject to the Doctoral Termination Proceedings Policy.

51 Cancellation or prohibition of enrolment and/or candidature pursuant to any disciplinary statute of the University takes precedence over the provisions of this Statute.

52 a Where a candidate withdraws from the PhD programme, or has their candidature terminated, or fails to meet the requirements for the award of the degree, admission to a new PhD or other doctoral programme in the same subject at a later date will not normally be permitted.

b A person who withdraws from any relevant doctoral enrolment or has a relevant doctoral candidature terminated (or equivalent), or who fails to meet the requirements for the award of a relevant doctoral degree, will not normally be admitted to the PhD except in accordance with the doctoral transfer policy and procedures.

c Relevance and equivalence at Regulation 52b are determined by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

53 In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may approve a variation to the policies, procedures and regulations for PhD candidature, except where variation of a national or government directive or requirement is involved.

54 a Candidates may appeal decisions made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pertaining to extension and suspension of enrolment subject to the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

b A former candidate may appeal the decision made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to terminate candidature, or to decline an extension of enrolment, subject to the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

55 Appeals as to extension and suspension of enrolment and termination of candidature will be determined in accordance with the Doctoral Candidature Appeal Procedures.

56 Candidates and former candidates may appeal the outcome of a PhD examination only on the grounds that the result was materially impacted by a procedural flaw in the examination process, and subject to the Doctoral Examination Appeal Procedures.

57 Appeals as to examination will be determined in accordance with the Doctoral Examination Appeal Procedures.

Dispute Resolution

58 Disputes are to be resolved according to the Resolution of Student Academic Complaints and Disputes Statute.

59 Any matter that has been, could have been or could be appealed under the provisions of Regulation 54 or 56 is precluded from consideration as a dispute under Regulation 58.

Further Provisions

60 a The PhD programme is subject to the Limited Entry Statute.

b Candidates are subject to:

(i) the Degrees and Diplomas Statute and the Conferment of Academic Qualifications and Academic Dress Statute

(ii) the provisions of the Enrolment and Programme regulations pertaining to members of the security intelligence service, rescindment and surrender of qualifications and the Provost’s Special Powers

(iii) the Examination Regulations, where coursework is prescribed pursuant to Regulation 27.

61 The doctoral policies and procedures cited in this Statute may be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

62 PhD candidates are subject to any additional doctoral policies and procedures devised in support of this Statute, and amended from time-to-time.

63 This Statute may itself be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

64 This Statute came into force on 1 October 2020.

65 For candidates initially enrolled under a previous statute, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may agree to vary the application of the provisions of this Statute to ensure consistency with the provisions of the statute under which the candidate was enrolled, where it is satisfied that the candidate would otherwise be at a disadvantage.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dunedin, 2024

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree offered by the University of Otago. It is awarded on the submission of a thesis which must meet rigorous standards. It requires highly developed academic ability, independence and perseverance. Most students take between 3-4 years of full-time study to complete their PhD.

Website Doctor of Philosophy

Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nature of the degree.

Candidates for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy are required to pursue an approved programme of advanced study and research under supervision as enrolled students of the University. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded on the basis of the submission of a thesis. The thesis, which may include a nominated creative component, should give evidence of the candidate's ability to carry out research, that the candidate has shown originality and independence, and that the candidate has made a significant contribution to the advancement of their particular field. The research should be of a kind which a diligent and competent student might reasonably be expected to complete within three years of full-time study.

• Admission to the degree programme shall be subject to the approval of the Senate. Note: Applications may be made at any time. Applications must be approved before the candidate begins the research work.
• a Bachelor's degree with first or upper second class Honours (with an average grade in Honours papers at or equivalent to at least B+ at the University of Otago) or equivalent (including a research component with an average grade at or equivalent to at least B+ at the University of Otago); or
• a Master's degree (with an average grade at or equivalent to at least B+ at the University of Otago) (including an appropriate research component worth at least a quarter of a year's workload (0.25 EFTS), with a grade at or equivalent to at least B+ at the University of Otago); or
• appropriate research experience; and
• for candidates including a nominated creative component for assessment, demonstrated advanced training or experience in a relevant creative practice.
• A candidate for a Master's degree may apply to transfer to candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and may have the date of admission backdated as is considered appropriate.
• Initial admission to the degree programme shall normally be provisional, and shall be confirmed on receipt of a supervisory agreement and a satisfactory progress report after no less than six months and no more than 12 months of full- or part-time study.
• If admission to the degree programme is not confirmed, then either provisional admission may be extended for one period of up to six months or the candidate shall be required to withdraw or to enrol for another degree. If admission is not confirmed after a period of extension, the candidate shall be required to withdraw or to enrol for another degree.
• Notwithstanding regulation 1(b) above, a Medical student who has completed a year of study for the degree of Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours but has not been awarded that degree may be accepted as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and have the date of admission backdated as is considered appropriate. Such a student's programme of study must be approved by both the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and the Graduate Research Committee.

Full-time and Part-time Study

• A candidate may apply for admission on a full-time or part-time basis, but may, with approval, change that status for any semester as long as that semester lies within the current or next calendar year.
• Holders of Divisional Teaching Assistantships shall be deemed to be full-time candidates, and Assistant Research Fellows may also be so deemed. Notes: (i) A full-time candidate shall count as 1 Equivalent Full-time Student (EFTS) per annum (also see Note (iii) below). (ii) A part-time candidate shall count as 0.5 EFTS per annum. (iii) The University expects that full-time candidates will devote the majority of their working time to their studies. It is not recommended that full-time candidates accept employment for more than ten hours per week on average over a period of twelve months. When progress is significantly hampered by work exceeding this recommendation, the candidate may be required to reduce work commitments or change to part-time enrolment.

Additional Papers

In certain cases a candidate may be required or allowed to take one or more prescribed papers in addition to the programme. No candidate may take any other paper or course additional to the programme without first obtaining the approval of the Senate, which must be satisfied that taking any such paper or course will not materially delay the completion of the candidate's research.

Duration of the Programme

• A candidate shall pursue a programme of study and research under supervision for a period normally equivalent to at least three full-time years.
• The minimum period of study shall be equivalent to three full-time years and the maximum period shall be equivalent to four full-time years.
• Exceptions to these periods shall be permitted only with approval of the Senate and will normally be subject to an independent review of progress.
• No programme shall exceed the equivalent of six years of full-time study from the date of first admission.
• A candidate shall be enrolled continuously for the entire period of the candidacy, up to the submission of the thesis, except that a candidate may apply to the Senate for permission to withdraw temporarily from study.

Location of Study and Research

• Candidates are normally expected to be resident and studying in New Zealand while enrolled for the degree. Exceptions shall be permitted only with approval of the Senate.
• Candidates proposing to study overseas may be approved to do so on a case-by-case basis by the Senate. Normally such study must be deemed necessary for the candidate's research. While overseas, the candidate must continue to be enrolled at the University.

Supervisors

• The Senate shall, on the recommendation of the relevant Head of Department, appoint at least two supervisors, (who may be supported by a departmental advisory panel), or one supervisor supported by a departmental advisory panel of two or more members, to oversee the work of the candidate.
• One of the supervisors must be an appropriately qualified member of the academic staff of the University.
• In the case of a dispute between a candidate and a supervisor, the Senate shall have discretion to replace that supervisor.

Progress Reports

• While a candidate is provisionally admitted to the degree programme, progress reports signed by the candidate, supervisors, Head of Department and relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall be submitted to the Doctoral Office at six-monthly intervals from the date of initial admission.
• Once confirmation has been granted, progress reports signed by the candidate, supervisors, Head of Department and relevant Pro-Vice Chancellor or nominee shall be submitted annually.
• If an unsatisfactory report is received, the Senate may, after appropriate consultation, terminate the candidacy.

Submission of the Thesis

• Four copies of the thesis embodying the results of the research shall be submitted for examination, in accordance with the regulations governing Presentation of Theses (section 14 in the Examination and Assessment Regulations) .
• Theses may not exceed 100,000 words of text, excluding appendices, footnotes and bibliographies, or, for candidates including a nominated creative component, 60,000 words of text excluding the nominated creative component.
• as printed material integrated into the bound thesis;
• as a digital recording in a portable format;
• as a live performance or exhibition, in which case this should be documented and included in the thesis.
• A candidate may not present a thesis, including any nominated creative component within a thesis, which has previously been accepted for another degree.

Examination

• The thesis shall be submitted to three examiners appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the Head of Department in consultation with the supervisors.
• One examiner shall be from outside New Zealand, one shall be from within New Zealand but external to the University, and one shall be internal to the University. Note: Normal patterns for examiners may be varied in exceptional circumstances.
• An examiner shall not be a member of the supervisory team or departmental advisory panel or have participated in a candidate's progress report meeting.
• The entire examination shall be supervised by an independent Convener appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
• The supervisors shall make a report on the work of the candidate which may be released to the Convener of the examiners.
• Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis, together with a preliminary recommendation for an examination result.
• An oral examination on the topic of the thesis and on the general field to which the topic belongs will normally be held as part of the PhD examination. The candidate must demonstrate mastery of the thesis in the oral examination in order to be eligible for the award of the degree.
• The oral examination shall be conducted by at least two examiners, one of whom is external to the University.
• At the discretion and invitation of the Convener, the supervisors and Head of Department may contribute to the oral examination.
• After consultation with the examiners, the Convener may approve the attendance of others at the oral examination.

Examination Result

• The Convener of examiners shall report to the Senate the recommendation of the examiners.
• be accepted as submitted, and the degree be awarded;
• be accepted with minor editorial corrections, and the degree be awarded;
• be accepted and the degree be awarded, but only after amendments have been made to the satisfaction of the Convener of examiners in consultation with the internal examiner;
• be revised and resubmitted for examination;
• be rejected and referred to the appropriate authority within the University for consideration of the award of another degree;
• be rejected with no right of resubmission.
• Where the examiners cannot agree on a result, the Convener shall so report, and the Senate shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee from outside the University.
• A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
• Once the final result has been decided, the student shall submit a digital copy of the thesis.

Notwithstanding anything in these regulations, the Senate shall have discretion to vary any provision set down if, in its opinion, special or unusual circumstances warrant such variation.

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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K-State Cattleman’s Day: Students present research on impacts of prescribed burning

Recent research on the effects of prescribed burning in Kansas has looked at benefits to the ecosystem.

Studies compare effects on prairie ecosystem of burning in spring, summer or fall

At a glance: A trio of Kansas State University graduate students recently reported their findings regarding threats to the animals that graze the Kansas prairie – and the impact of prescribed fire on those threats.

Related: Kansas Prescribed Burning -- Rules and Regulations

March 13, 2024

By Pat Melgares , K-State Research and Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A trio of Kansas State University graduate students recently reported their findings regarding threats to the animals that graze the Kansas prairie – and the impact of prescribed fire on those threats.

They reported their findings during K-State’s recent Cattlemen’s Day , which highlights cattle-related research being conducted at the university.

The students’ multi-year research projects compared the effects of prescribed burning of pastures in spring, summer and fall.

Zach Duncan, who completed the doctoral degree in ruminant nutrition last December, compared the effects of burning in the three seasons on the growth performance of stocker cattle. The study zeroed in on how fire reduces the growth of sericea lespedeza, an invasive weed that has degraded more than 600,000 acres of native Kansas rangeland – most of that in the Flint Hills region.

“Flint Hills ranches traditionally apply a spring-season fire in April, then intensively graze yearling beef cattle from May to August,” Duncan said. “Unfortunately, this practice has not limited the proliferation of sericea lespedeza.”

Previous research at K-State led by range management specialist KC Olson determined that burning in August or September reduces the presence of sericea lespedeza, but that practice has been limited, Duncan said, “because burning pastures later in the year could have unknown major effects on the growth performance of stocker cattle during the next grazing season.”

The six-year study studied the effects of fire in spring, summer and fall with nearly 2,000 yearling beef cattle grazing the land. Duncan said the results indicate shifting burning from August to October reduced yearling stocker cattle weight gains by 10-14 pounds during a 90-day grazing season.

Ranchers should weigh that finding, however, against the reduced need for herbicides against sericea lespedeza, improved wildlife habitat, and the reduced downwind impacts of smoke on air quality, Duncan said.

In another study, Andrea Salazar – a K-State doctoral candidate in entomology – found that spring- and summer-burned pastures had lower counts of ticks compared to fall-burned areas.

High tick burdens on cattle, Salazar said, results in decreased production, anemia, skin irritations, pruritus (itching) and stress.

“Furthermore, ticks serve as vectors for diverse pathogens, such as bacteria, protozoa and parasites, leading to diseases in animals and humans,” she said.

The study was conducted at K-State’s Beef Stocker Unit west of the Manhattan campus. Salazar said three tick species were found: The Lone Star tick, American dog tick, and the Gulf Coast tick. “Significantly fewer ticks were collected from fire-treated areas compared to non-burned areas during eight months of sampling,” she said.

“Among seasonally burned areas, tick counts in fall pastures were higher than summer and spring pastures,” Salazar added.

“The findings suggest that consistent annual burning of grazing areas, particularly when conducted in the spring, holds the potential to substantially diminish tick populations. This approach presents an efficient non-chemical method for tick control. The strategic timing of prescribed fires is crucial, aligning them with conditions that target specific tick species during vulnerable phases in their life cycle to optimize the impact on tick control.”

The choice of when to burn does not seem to make a difference in protecting populations of dung beetles, an important part of the pasture ecosystem. First-year entomology graduate student Herman Griese said “the difference was not significant” in a study that looked at spring, summer and fall prescribed burns.

Dung beetles feed on or store feces to provide housing and food for their young, which in turn transports nutrients to the subsoil and improves nutrient cycling, soil structure and forage growth on the prairie.

For farmers, the benefits to their land and livestock herds also are real: reduced parasite pressure, better aeration, reduced compaction, reduced runoff after rain events and decreased ammonia levels.

“Based on our study, ranchers who are worried about killing their decomposers (such as dung beetles) by burning their pastures can choose what time of year to burn based on other desired outcomes,” Griese said.

The full listing of research reports presented during the 2024 K-State Cattlemen’s Day is available online .

• Updated: 3/20/24