Gain a doctorate while completing a Pacific fellowship with Pūtahi Manawa
Our Pacific Fellowship funding round opens World Heart Day – 29 September 2024. These fellowships provide a new model for supporting Pacific researchers. It’s common practice to require researchers applying for fellowships to already have a doctoral degree. Pūtahi Manawa’s “business not as usual” approach breaks longstanding norms to operate in a way that best suits our community.
Researchers with a doctoral degree OR at least three years equivalent research experience may apply for a fellowship.
For the first time, we are offering Pacific researchers without a doctoral degree the opportunity to gain a qualification while completing their fellowship. Successful applicants can use the research project they will do for the fellowship as their doctoral project.
Key criteria for applicants intending to study towards a PhD
- Successful applicants are admitted to a NZ university
- Research is supervised
A common student stipend when studying for a doctorate is around $35,000. Pūtahi Manawa Pacific Fellows will be paid at a full fellowship salary rate typically ranging between $90,000 and $120,000 p/a plus $100,000 working expenses over the three years.
This is a great opportunity for community researchers to gain an academic qualification while still being able to support themselves and their aiga/fāmili.
Details and application forms are available on our Funding Opportunities page from 29 September 2025 and applications will close on 24 November 2025.
If you would like to chat to someone about this opportunity, you can contact us via hhanzcoregrants@auckland.ac.nz.