University of Canterbury

Christchurch

2014 PhD programme

Postgraduate Office

The University of Canterbury

was established in 1873 by
scholars from Oxford and
Cambridge universities. We
have a strong international
reputation for our high-quality
degrees, excellent teaching
and cutting-edge research.

Investigate.

A great place to study

UC is set in a spacious tree-filled suburban
campus. Lecture theatres, research centres,
libraries, laboratories, studios, computer
workrooms, cafs and restaurants, a health
centre and pharmacy, recreation facilities,
childcare centres, bank machines and an art
gallery are all located on site.
A wide range of stores, shopping malls,
movie theatres, restaurants and places to
relax are just minutes from the campus.

UC Library
The UC Library has a research collection
of more than 1.9 million items, has access
to more than 45,000 periodicals in paper
or electronic format and is accessible 24/7
online. Electronic (eg, books, journals and
reference sources) and print resources can
be located using the Library MultiSearch
discovery tool on the library home page,
which can also be accessed on mobile
devices.

The Library runs a number of skills training

sessions for PhD students to manage
references and offers current awareness
alerts to keep postgraduates up-to-date
with new research as it is published.

UC Research
The University of Canterbury is a
top-ranked research university
(ranked in top 225 in QS World University
Rankings, 2012/2013).

The University is located in

Christchurch which is the
largest city in the South Island
(population approximately
360,000).
Christchurch is located on the coastal edge
of the Canterbury Plains close to both the
mountains and the sea. The city is mostly
flat and has wide streets with many bicycle
lanes, and extensive public transport. The
University is a 20-minute drive from the
city centre and a 10-minute drive from
Christchurch International airport. It is easy
to travel from Christchurch to the lakes and

The University operates a number of

field stations including the countrys
leading astronomical research facility at
Mt John, Lake Tekapo, which is part of
the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark
Sky Reserve. UC also has a presence at
New Zealands Scott Base in Antarctica.

Christchurch city centre is currently in

a phase of renewal and rebuilding after
the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The
University is actively engaged in this
process and provides the opportunity for
students to become involved in a number
of community projects.

Scott Barnard

UC is a Southern African Large Telescope

(SALT) project partner and operates a
field station in Nigeria as part of the
Nigerian Montane Forest project.

Experimental cages in ponds near the

Cass field station. Photographer: Hamish Greig.

New Zealand is a modern and

technologically advanced country, but it is
also a relaxing and safe place to live. There
are few class distinctions, and attitudes
and manners are friendly and informal.

UC was a great
environment to work
in and the Department
of Geological Sciences
has some great people
and an excellent
international
reputation.

UC hosts two research institutes the

Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC)
and the New Zealand Institute of
Language, Brain and Behaviour (NZILBB)
as well as over 25 research centres
(see [Link]/
[Link] for more information).

UC hosts the first IBM Supercomputer

(Blue Gene) in the southern hemisphere
and NZi3, an applied research institute,
offers the best of New Zealands ICT
academic expertise with industry-driven
research and partners such as Microsoft,
IBM, HP and JADE.

the mountains and to well-known tourist

centres. There are a number of excellent
ski-fields close by.

PhD in Hazard and Disaster Management

Engineering Geologist, URS, Christchurch

More information
For more information about PhD study at the University of Canterbury go to
[Link]/postgrad/ or contact:
Postgraduate Office
postgraduate-office@[Link]

PhD programme
The University of Canterbury
invites applications from
students to undertake PhD
research.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is
normally the highest academic qualification
available. It is a mark of intellectual ability
and independence, critical thinking,
self-discipline and commitment. The PhD
prepares students for a number of careers,
including as an academic.

Benefits of doing a PhD at UC

PhD research is carried out under expert
supervision and can be undertaken in
over 80 subjects at UC . For a full list see
[Link]/courses/
grad_postgrad/[Link]
At UC we believe in providing you with
the skills necessary for a successful
career after completing your PhD. We
therefore offer a wide range of skills
workshops for PhD students, including
topics on communicating your research,
networking, career planning, database
skills and statistical analysis.
PhD study is regarded as a full-time
occupation throughout the calendar year.
The minimum period of enrolment is
two years and students should normally
complete the degree within four years.
There is provision to apply for part-time
study, in which case the minimum period
is three years and the maximum is
seven years.

How to apply
Enrolment in a PhD requires prior
completion of a research-focused honours
or masters degree. To apply you must
complete the Application for Enrolment
form, available at
[Link]/postgrad
There are three key questions that we
consider when deciding whether to accept
an applicant:

Cover image:
Amy McLeod, studying towards a PhD in
Mechanical Engineering.
This image:
Former PhD student Rueben Mendelsberg uses a pulsed
laser deposition device to grow thin films of material
about one micron thick.

1. Is there a suitable supervisor available

for the applicants planned area of
research? A potential supervisor must
be identified.
Over 600 academics at UC have
expertise in a large variety of topics. To
identify experts in your area, look at the
research interests of academic staff on
the UC Spark website
([Link]/spark).

The writing, presenting

and teaching that you
need to do as part of
doctoral study is now
paying dividends in
my work.

Contact potential supervisors directly to

discuss your potential research topic
and whether they are available
as supervisors.
2. Does the applicant have the suitable
background for PhD study?
Applicants must have (or be completing)
a New Zealand honours degree
(including a research project) or a
research masters degree, with good
grades (typically first-class honours or
second-class honours division one).
A student with a qualifying degree from
outside New Zealand must have been
granted Ad Eundem Statum admission
to the University, which indicates
that the international qualifications
are considered comparable to those
completed in New Zealand. Our
International Office, in consultation
with the host department, looks at the
applicants qualifications and transcripts
to ensure that they have the background
required to complete a PhD. It is possible
that a student may be required to
complete preparatory courses prior to
admission into a PhD programme. In
exceptional circumstances applicants
without the typical academic
background but who can demonstrate
the ability to pursue a PhD may be
admitted at the discretion of the Dean
of Postgraduate Research.
3. Does the applicant meet the English
language competency requirements?
Prospective international students
who have not completed their tertiary
qualifications in the English language
are required to provide evidence of
their English language proficiency by
means of an English language test result
that is no more than two years old. We
accept the IELTS test with an overall
score of 6.5 or higher and no section
lower than 6.0 and the TOEFL Internet
test with a score of 90 or higher, and a
minimum score of 20 for Writing. Other
tests may be accepted on application.
See [Link]/admissions/
international/[Link] for further
information.
For full details of the PhD Regulations and
Guidelines go to
[Link]/postgrad

Hannah Farr
Ngti Raukawa
PhD in Bioengineering
Scientific Writer, ADInstruments, Dunedin

International students
We encourage applications from
international students to join the diverse
student body at UC; currently there are PhD
students from over 60 nations.
Completing a PhD in New Zealand offers
a number of benefits for international
students and their families:
you are eligible to pay PhD tuition fees
at the domestic rate, provided that you
reside in New Zealand on a student visa
your spouse or partner is eligible to
apply for an open work permit valid for
the duration of your course of study
your dependent children are exempt
from paying international tuition fees
to attend school (except for a yearly
school donation).
International students are provided
with a wide range of services. These
include transport from the airport on
arrival, assistance with finding suitable
accommodation, an orientation
programme for new students, use of the
on-campus health centre, a mentoring
programme, friendship linkages with
New Zealand families and assistance with
English language.

Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships
available to support PhD students at the
University of Canterbury. The UC Doctoral
Scholarships are awarded twice each year,
with applications due in May and October.
In addition to PhD scholarships there are
a number of scholarships/grants available
to PhD students to assist with specific
research costs and with travel either to
conduct research or to attend International
conferences. For more information go to
[Link]/scholarships

Many PhD students are also able to obtain

some Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research
Assistant (RA) work within their host
department.

Support services
UC offers a range of excellent support
services to assist PhD students. These
include academic orientation, study skills
courses, career guidance and specialist
services for Mori, Pacific and international
students and for students with disabilities.
A mentoring scheme is available to help
new students adjust to university life, with
senior PhD students acting as mentors,
offering helpful and friendly advice about
all aspects of the PhD experience at UC.
Childcare, healthcare, and recreation
facilities are available on campus. UC has
six halls of residence that offer a supportive
living environment just a few minutes walk
from the campus. All hall accommodation
offers fully-furnished single rooms,
computer facilities with University
network and internet access, social and
recreation facilities, and study rooms. UC
can also assist with finding other forms
of accommodation (eg, homestay; private
rental). For more information see
[Link]/accom
The University of Canterbury Students
Association (UCSA) supports a wide range
of clubs and organises regular festivals and
campus entertainment. It also provides
advocacy and support on academic and
welfare issues. The Postgraduate Students
Association (PGSA) works closely with
the Postgraduate Office to enhance the
experience of postgraduate students and
organises events for them. We encourage
postgraduate students to become involved
in these activities and to meet other
students from across campus.