44 PhD programmes offered by the university

Finance at University of Otago is a decision-oriented discipline that is complex, challenging and dynamic. It’s about managing money and capital in the real world: making practical financial decisions that can add value to a business and the economy.

Study Computer Science at University of Otago and take control of your future. Doors open to many areas – from machine learning, computer animation, computer games, software design and robotics, through to legal, financial and business careers.

Communication Studies at the University of Otago focuses on the social, technological, political and cultural implications of current and changing communicative practices and networks.

A Geography degree at University of Otago will equip you with valuable research and communication skills using interdisciplinary approaches to explore environmental and societal challenges.

Bioethics at University of Otago explores the current and future impacts of the biosciences and healthcare on people and society, animals and the environment. It determines the right way for us to respond to these as individuals, professionals and a society.

Online banking, StudyLink, KiwiSaver – all involve accounting concepts. Accounting is the art and science of measuring, interpreting and communicating financial information. We offer a phd degree in Accounting at the University of Otago. 

Sociology at University of Otago considers the ways that everyday lives relate to the social structures that shape identity, relationships and power in society.

The Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree at University of Otago is a higher doctorate and one of the University's most prestigious qualifications.  

The Psychology degree at University of Otago is the science of behaviour, brain and cognition, exploring the complex way humans and other animals interact with the world and each other.

Modern Botany at University of Otago includes research into the biochemistry, ecology, genetics and physiology of plants, plant evolution, the role plants play in ecosystems and plant biotechnology. 

The degree of Doctor of Business Administration from University of Otago is awarded on the basis of submission of a thesis and the completion of coursework consisting of six papers. The coursework is an integral and constitutive part of the thesis research of the degree.

University of Otago offers a range of stimulating Archaeology papers with opportunities for postgraduate students to carry out supervised field and laboratory research, particularly in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Classics at the University of Otago is the study of the civilisations of ancient Greece, Rome and the Mediterranean world. These civilisations have had an immense influence on the development of the modern world – on words and ideas, religion, literature, art and architecture, drama and philosophy. 

Theatre Studies at University of Otago helps unlock such skills as self-confidence, teamwork, communication and creative expression, as well as giving you the chance to reflect on and inhabit lives vastly different from your own.

Chemistry at University of Otago is so much a part of our lives, sometimes we don’t even notice it! It’s at the heart of cooking and eating, breathing and seeing, the clothes we wear and the materials we use to construct our environment.

The degree of Doctor of Education at University of Otago is awarded on the basis of submission of a thesis and the completion of coursework. 

Economics at University of Otago is about choice and is at the heart of decision-making. Governments, businesses and individuals are all faced with making choices in situations where resources are scarce.

Education at University of Otago is a powerful tool that can transform the lives of children, adults, families and communities. How has education shaped your own life, for better or worse? 

Maori Studies at University of Otago is an entry point for students wishing to engage with knowledge about the Māori world. It is a broad programme dedicated to the study of te reo Māori (Māori language), tikanga Māori (Māori customary lore) and aspects of te ao Māori (the Māori world).

Studying English at University of Otago also helps to develop writing skills for your own communication, whether for creative pleasure or for your profession.