Doctoral scholarship increases

Doctoral scholarships at the University of Otago are to increase by $5000 per annum, from next year.

University council members last week voted to increase Otago's PhD scholarships from $20,000 plus fees to $25,000 plus fees per annum.

The decision will benefit more than 500 postgraduate students including those already holding the scholarships, which are available for up to three years.

The university awards 181 new scholarships every year to students embarking on study towards a PhD, the highest number of doctoral scholarships awarded by any New Zealand university.

The move equates to an extra $2.7 million funding for PhD scholarships from the university's operating budget.

"Doctoral candidates are incredibly important to the university," said vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne.

"Their work makes a significant contribution to Otago's research output and overall research quality."

Otago University Students Association postgraduate representative Thomas Köntges said the scholarships helped attract young researchers to Otago from around the world and New Zealand.

"It is great that current scholarship holders are included in the increase, so they can focus on their research and on finishing their degrees. We are very happy and thankful."

Otago funds up to 543 doctoral scholarships at any one time - around half of its current doctoral student population.

The scholarship increase comes eight years after the last adjustment, in 2003, when the stipend component of the scholarships was upped from $13,000 per annum to $20,000.