31 PhD programmes offered by the university

Get an in-depth understanding of Spanish and Latin American culture, society and literature, and build your fluency in the Spanish language with the PhD in Spanish and Latin American Studies degree at Victoria University of Wellington. 

Taught by the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, PhD in Geophysics at Victoria University of Wellington is ranked among the top 150 in the world in the 2022 QS World Rankings by Subject.

Take your skills and knowledge further with a postgraduate qualification in Physical Geography at Victoria University of Wellington.

Expand your expertise in Public Policy and enhance your ability to analyse and influence how effective policy decisions are made with a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington.

Study politics where it happens. Combine in-depth understanding of the political process with advanced research skills and take your career to the next level. We offer a PhD in Political Science degree at the Victoria University of Wellington.

Become a leader in the growing Workplace Health and Safety sector by undertaking a specialist qualification PhD at Victoria University of Wellington. 

Become a leader in the growing Workplace Health and Safety sector by undertaking a specialist qualification PhD at Victoria University of Wellington.

Study Japan’s unique culture, literature and society in depth, and develop your command of the PhD in Japanese language at Victoria University of Wellington.

Enhance your Bachelor's degree and gain advanced knowledge and skills in Sociology with a postgraduate study at Victoria University of Wellington.

Build on the knowledge and skills you gained in your Bachelor's degree and improve your career prospects with advanced study in the PhD in Psychology from Victoria University of Wellington.

Enhance your Bachelor’s degree and gain an advanced understanding of PhD in Health Policy, Planning and Service Delivery at Victoria University of Wellington.

Take advantage of the wide range of cultures and disciplines you can pursue in postgraduate PhD in Asian Studies at Victoria University of Wellington and dig deeper into the area that most interests you.

Develop an advanced command of the Italian language and take an in-depth look at PhD in Italian society, literature and culture at Victoria University of Wellington.

Develop advanced theoretical knowledge and technical ability in PhD in Economics and gain the skills you need for independent research at Victoria University of Wellington. 

Enhance your degree and get the skills and knowledge to design, conduct, and evaluate cross-cultural research through advanced study of PhD in Cross-cultural Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington.

Get advanced training in the scientific study of cognition, brain, and behaviour to prepare for a future in psychology and neuroscience research with the PhD in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience degree from Victoria University of Wellington. 

Build your ability to make a difference for M?ori and boost your career with postgraduate PhD in Maori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Gain advanced knowledge and skills in Social Policy with postgraduate study at the School of Anthropology and Cultural Studies from Victoria University of Wellington.

Enrich your understanding of China’s ancient culture, literature and society, and enhance your command of the PhD in Chinese language at Victoria University of Wellington.

PhD in New Zealand Studies at Victoria University of Wellington focuses on historical and cultural topics specific to Aotearoa. Find out how New Zealanders understand their identity—looking at themes that span New Zealand's literary, oral, and written histories.