2026 Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (Fully Funded, NZ$105,000)

Introduction

If you’re Looking for a fully funded PhD scholarship in New Zealand, the Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington deserves a spot at the top of your list. Valued at NZ$105,000, paid as up to NZ$35,000 per year for three years, this doctoral award is one of the more generous research scholarships currently on offer, and it’s open to both domestic and international students.

You’ll find this scholarship listed on a lot of scholarship pages online, often described in a fairly generic way, open to all countries, open to all postgraduate fields. That’s not quite the full picture. This guide pulls the accurate, verified details straight from Victoria University of Wellington’s own scholarships office, so you know exactly what you’re applying for and whether you actually qualify before you spend time on the application.

Below, we take you through the scholarship overview, benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, application steps, deadline, and selection process, plus answers to the questions applicants ask most often.

Scholarship Overview

The Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship in Financial Reporting and Financial Management is an endowed scholarship set up through the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation, in memory of the late Craig Andrews of Washington, D.C. During his career, Andrews worked on World Bank projects across a number of developing countries alongside academics from Victoria University of Wellington. That experience is what led him to want to fund research that strengthens financial reporting and financial management capacity in developing economies.

Today the scholarship supports one doctoral candidate every three years to complete a PhD thesis in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand’s top ranked university for research quality.

Scholarship Summary (Table)

Detail	Information
Host Country	New Zealand
Host University	Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington
Study Level	Doctoral (PhD)
Funding Type	Fully funded, stipend based
Total Value	NZ$105,000 (up to NZ$35,000 per year for 3 years)
Eligible Countries	Open to domestic and international applicants, all nationalities
Field of Study	Financial reporting and/or financial management in developing countries
Number of Awards	One scholarship offered every three years
Deadline	Not currently open, next round expected around November 2026

Scholarship Benefits

Successful applicants get solid financial support so they can focus on their doctoral research without added financial pressure:

NZ$105,000 in total funding across the scholarship’s three year tenure
Up to NZ$35,000 per year as a living stipend
Access to Victoria University of Wellington’s research infrastructure, supervision, and academic community
The credibility that comes with an endowed, competitively awarded doctoral scholarship
A chance to work on research that feeds into real world policy and capacity building in developing economies
Stronger career prospects through research output and the university’s reputation
The scholarship can be held alongside other awards, which gives recipients some added financial flexibility

Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply, make sure you meet all of the following Requirements:

You must be enrolling, or intending to enrol, as a PhD student in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law at Victoria University of Wellington
Your PhD thesis topic needs to address financial reporting and/or financial management in developing countries, ideally contributing to capacity building in primary industries or concession based industries
You need to meet the general entry requirements for doctoral study set by the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research
The scholarship is open to domestic and international students of all nationalities, though preference may be given to applicants from developing countries who intend to return home after completing their studies
You may be asked to provide evidence of financial hardship, if applicable, along with supporting statements or references

One thing worth flagging clearly: this isn’t a general “study anything, from anywhere” postgraduate scholarship, even though it sometimes gets advertised that way online. It’s tied specifically to PhD research in financial reporting or financial management within the School of Accounting and Commercial Law. Knowing that upfront will save you time and help you put together a stronger, more targeted application.

Available Field of Study

Applicants need to be pursuing doctoral research in one of these areas:

Financial reporting in developing countries, or
Financial management in developing countries, particularly research that builds capacity in primary industries or industries operating under concession agreements

If your research interests sit somewhere around development economics, public finance, or accounting policy in emerging markets, this scholarship is a strong funding match for you.

Required Documents

To apply, you’ll want to have the following ready:

A completed Doctoral Admission and Scholarship online application
A clear statement that you wish to be considered for the Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship
Academic transcripts and evidence that you meet doctoral entry requirements
A research proposal or personal statement outlining your intended thesis topic
Character references or letters of recommendation, optional but they do strengthen your application
Evidence of financial hardship, if requested by the selection panel
Proof of English language proficiency, if required based on your prior qualifications, see the section below

English Language Requirements (IELTS/TOEFL or Waiver)

Victoria University of Wellington asks for proof of English proficiency from applicants whose prior study wasn’t conducted in English. Accepted evidence typically includes:

IELTS Academic, at the minimum band score set by the Faculty of Graduate Research
TOEFL iBT
Other English proficiency tests the university recognises

You may qualify for a waiver if you’ve already completed a full degree taught and assessed in English. Since specific score requirements can change from time to time, it’s worth confirming the current thresholds directly with the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research before you submit your application.

How to Apply (Step by Step Guide)

Review your eligibility against the School of Accounting and Commercial Law’s PhD entry requirements
Put together a research proposal focused on financial reporting or financial management in developing countries
Complete the Doctoral Admission and Scholarship online application through the Faculty of Graduate Research
Clearly state in your application that you’re applying for the Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship
Upload all supporting documents, including transcripts, references, and, if applicable, evidence of financial hardship
Submit everything before 4.30pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted
If you have questions along the way, reach out to the Doctoral Admissions and Scholarships team at [email protected]

Useful official links to bookmark:

Scholarship page: Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship, official listing
Application portal: Doctoral Admission and Scholarship online application
Faculty of Graduate Research: Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research
General scholarships hub: Victoria University of Wellington Scholarships

Application Deadline

As of the most recent update from Victoria University of Wellington, this scholarship round is not currently open. The next application window is expected to open closer to November 2026. Because the scholarship is only awarded once every three years, it’s worth getting ahead of it. A few things to do in the meantime:

Start working on a solid PhD research proposal now
Keep an eye on the official Victoria University of Wellington scholarships page for the confirmed opening date
Set yourself a reminder to check back regularly, since exact dates can shift

Selection Process

Applications go through a selection panel made up of:

The Head of School of Accounting and Commercial Law
Professor Keitha Dunstan (Bond University)
Tony van Zijl (Victoria University of Wellington)
Or their nominees

The panel looks at the strength and relevance of your proposed thesis, your academic qualifications, and how well your research aligns with the scholarship’s underlying goal of building financial management capacity in developing countries.

Reasons Why You Should Apply

Substantial, guaranteed funding. NZ$105,000 takes a lot of the financial pressure off your PhD journey
A top ranked research university. Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s highest ranked university for research quality
A meaningful, applied research focus. Your work can genuinely influence financial policy and capacity building in developing economies
Global career impact. A PhD paired with a prestigious endowed scholarship strengthens your academic and professional profile internationally
Open to international applicants, with extra consideration given to candidates from developing countries

Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Craig Buck Andrews Scholarship open to international students? Yes. It’s open to both domestic and international students of all nationalities, though preference may be given to applicants from developing countries who plan to return home after their studies.

What is the total value of the scholarship? NZ$105,000 in total, paid as up to NZ$35,000 per year over three years.

Can I apply for any PhD subject? No. The scholarship is limited to PhD candidates in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law who are researching financial reporting or financial management in developing countries.

How often is this scholarship awarded? Only once every three years, with one recipient selected per round.

When is the 2026 deadline? The scholarship isn’t currently open for applications. The next round is expected around November 2026. Check Victoria University of Wellington’s official scholarships page for confirmed dates.

Can I hold this scholarship alongside other awards? Yes, it can be held together with other awards.

Who do I contact for more information? The Doctoral Admissions and Scholarships team at [email protected].

Scholarship details, deadlines, and requirements can change. Always confirm the latest information directly on Victoria University of Wellington’s official scholarships website before applying.