Course details

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years. As well as your supervised original research, through your doctoral programme you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal and professional skills. Doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

This course is also offered at overseas and Manukau location.

Surgery

Areas of study: Particular areas of interest are diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract and surgical nutrition, surgical infection and sepsis, orthopaedic joint replacement and cartilage metabolism. Although gastrointestinal and orthopaedic surgery is the largest groups there are active research programmes in otolaryngology, vascular surgery and urology. We have fostered links with a wide range of departments to enable multi-disciplinary research to be carried out and see the future of the research programme of the department growing through such links. Research projects in the field of pancreatitis, hereditary gastric cancer and joint replacement have exemplified this approach.

Surgical trainees are actively encouraged to work with us in developing and carrying out research degrees. The department has had considerable success in attracting College of Surgeons PhD scholarship funding. We are very willing to discuss with potential research students how they might be linked with appropriate supervisors and projects.

What you will learn

Our research encompasses laboratory science, translational research and clinical trials.

Career opportunities

A PhD in Surgery student will already be employed within a DHB, take 3 years away from clinical work and will return back to clinical work once their PhD is completed.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On entry to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.

Entry criteria

• Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours
• GPE 5.5
• Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.