ForsaEduforsaedu.comAbout the scholarship program
The University of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka) is New Zealand's oldest university (1869), based in the student city of Dunedin in the South Island, with campuses in Christchurch and Wellington. It is known for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health sciences as well as science, commerce and the humanities, and ranks 197th in the QS World University Rankings 2026. International PhD students living in New Zealand pay domestic fees, and Otago offers up to 164 doctoral scholarships a year open to international students.
Information last verified: November 3, 2026Official source
Tuition for international students
Fees are charged per paper; Otago publishes international paper-fee schedules on its fees page and approximate fees on each programme page. International PhD students living in New Zealand pay domestic fees.
Admission for international students
Admission for international students
Main intakes: Semester One (late February/March) and Semester Two (July). Doctoral scholarship applications are accepted at any time and assessed by panels that meet quarterly (March, June, September and November).
Official admission announcementAvailable programmes
Each programme has its own requirements, documents and benefits. Open it to see them in full with the application steps:
- View Details
University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship (Up to 164 Awards a Year)
PhDFully FundedAll fieldsRolling admissions (open all year)
Life and living
New Zealand
Life and living
New Zealand
Studying and living in New Zealand
Costs and living
Estimated 2027 annual tuition for international students (NZ$): • Bachelor's: about 34,000–51,000 for most programmes — for example 34,020 at Waikato, 35,000–37,000 at Lincoln, 35,250 at Massey, 37,760–51,360 at AUT, and 42,236 (Arts) to 60,910 (Engineering) at Auckland. Medicine, veterinary science and aviation cost much more (86,000 and above). • Master's: about 37,000–56,000 for one-year programmes, more for 180- or 240-point degrees. • PhD: international students living in New Zealand pay domestic fees of about 7,500–10,200 a year. • Add a Student Services Fee (about 1,000–1,200 a year) and compulsory health insurance. Living costs (Study with New Zealand): about NZ$20,000–27,000 a year in Auckland and Wellington and NZ$18,000–21,000 in Dunedin — roughly US$870–1,310 a month. Accommodation ranges from NZ$140 a week for a room in a shared house to NZ$484 for a catered hall of residence; food is NZ$80–120 a week and transport up to NZ$37 a week.
Working while studying
During study: full-time tertiary students (on a programme of at least two years or a qualification at level 4 or above) may work up to 25 hours a week, and full-time over the Christmas–New Year break and in scheduled holidays if the course is worth at least 120 credits over two semesters within 8 months. PhD students have no limit on hours; new master's-by-research students now get the standard 25-hour limit. After graduation: the Post-Study Work Visa gives open work rights for 3 years after a master's or doctorate, and for the length of your study (up to 3 years) after a bachelor's or level 8 qualification, provided you studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring (6 months for doctoral graduates); fees start at NZ$1,670 and you need NZ$5,000 in funds. From 16 November 2026 it also covers a Graduate Diploma combined with a bachelor's degree, and a new 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens for level 5–7 qualifications that do not lead to a Post-Study Work Visa. Workers in Green List occupations may qualify for residence.
Last verified: November 2026· Source
Guide to studying in New ZealandFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps.
Funding type: Fully Funded. Announced benefits: 36-month tuition waiver, Stipend of about NZ$34,000 a year.
Eligible levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD.
Rolling admissions (open all year). Follow the official website for updates.
Required documents: PhD admission and scholarship application, Transcripts and degree certificates, Research proposal and supervisor/department support, Referee reports and proof of English.
Apply directly on the official website: https://www.otago.ac.nz. ForsaEdu does not receive applications or charge any fee.
QS World University Rankings 2026
Rank#197
Track your academic readiness
Use the checklist in your profile to prepare your documents and make sure you meet this scholarship’s requirements.
Open readiness checklistSimilar scholarships
New ZealandManaaki New Zealand Scholarships
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are a government programme run by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of its development cooperation. They are open to citizens of eligible developing countries in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The listings on the site cover fully funded Master's and PhD study at New Zealand universities, with tuition, a living allowance and travel included. Scholars are expected to return home to contribute to their country's development, and eligibility rules, priority fields and application dates differ from one country to another.
New ZealandQS #65University of Auckland
The University of Auckland (Waipapa Taumata Rau) is New Zealand's largest and highest-ranked university (65th in the QS World University Rankings 2026), located in the country's biggest city. It teaches arts, business, engineering, science, medicine, law, education and creative arts. International PhD students living in New Zealand pay domestic fees (NZ$9,378 a year in 2027), and the university offers doctoral scholarships covering fees with a tax-free stipend of NZ$35,468 a year, as well as partial scholarships for new international master's students.
New ZealandQS #240Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka) is a public university in New Zealand's capital, strong in law, political science and international relations, public policy, architecture and design, earth sciences and computing, ranked 240th in the QS World University Rankings 2026. New international students are automatically considered for NZ$15,000 (bachelor's) or NZ$10,000 (master's) scholarships, and about 110 doctoral scholarships a year pay a NZ$32,000 stipend plus fees.