Information about the PhD Programme at SIM

How to Apply

The Faculty of Graduate Research (FGR) provides the first port of call for all students interested in enrolling in a PhD at Victoria. The Faculty website provides application forms and application dates, and answers to a host of questions. You may submit an application at any time but applications will only be considered three times each year, in March, July, and November.

Overview

The PhD is the highest degree offered by the Faculty of Commerce and Administration. It is by thesis only, which shall be presented within four years from the date of registration for full-time candidates and within six years for candidates who have enrolled exclusively part-time. Those candidates who have been permitted to change between full-time and part-time study will have submission times calculated on a pro rata basis (this excludes any period(s) of suspension).

At the end of this time the candidate submits a thesis constituting a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the subject area chosen. The thesis is then assessed by three examiners and this will be followed by an oral examination.

The School of Information Management offers the PhD in each of its three disciplines:

• Information Systems; e-Commerce; e-Government (INFO 690)
• Information Studies (LIBR 690)
• Communication Studies (COMM 690)

The Faculty of Graduate Research continues to provide support to PhD students throughout their studies at Victoria. Their pages include information about: 

• Getting advice on your PhD application
• Scholarships for prospective PhD students
• Requirements for PhD study

Supervision

The overall responsibility of supervisors is to assist students in completing their research successfully within an agreed time frame.

The responsibilities of a supervisor include the following:

• to have regular meetings with the student during the course of their enrolment, the timing of which has been discussed and agreed upon with the student (one meeting per month is regarded as a minimum entitlement, but more frequent meetings will usually be desirable)
• to provide regular feedback within a reasonable time on work submitted by the student (as a guide, two weeks in the case of relatively short pieces of work and a maximum of four weeks for substantial thesis drafts)
• to provide written progress reports to the student, the SIM Research Degrees Committee and the Faculty of Graduate Research in May and November of each year

The responsibilities of students include the following:

• to agree with the supervisor(s) on a regular schedule of meetings
• to reach agreement with the supervisor(s) on regular indicators of progress being made and about submission of appropriate written work, interim reports or research reports
• to maintain regular contact with supervisor(s), attend as agreed for consultation and provide evidence of the progress being made, including submission of any report forms

There is further information about PhD Supervision on the Faculty pages.

Some Closing Dates for PhD Scholarships

• New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (closes July); tuition fees plus $20,500 per annum.
• Victoria Doctoral Completion Awards; up to $6000
• PhD Submission Scholarships (selection round every two months); $5000 + enrolment fee contribution of $1000
• VUW PhD Scholarships (closes 1 March, 1 July, 1 December); $21,000 per annum for three years plus tuition fees.

Note: information about scholarships and grants available to students at Victoria University is available from the Scholarships website, including a download of the upcoming Postgraduate Scholarships closing dates (updated monthly).