Victoria University of Wellington Dr Sheena Hudson PhD Scholarship 2026

This Scholarship was established through the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation in 2017 with a bequest left by the late Dr Sheena Hudson.

Dr Hilda Sheena Hudson, known as Sheena died on 29 March 2017 of cancer. She was a devoted wife, a teacher, a researcher and traveller – a lover of the New Zealand bush and mountains.

A fascination with her work for over 30 years as a selection adviser at Volunteer Service Abroad led her to begin a PhD thesis through Massey University on motivation, experiences and perceived career effects of volunteering overseas. She interviewed 48 volunteers in the 2001 cohort before, during and after their volunteer assignments. Her 314 page thesis identified the necessary personality characteristics to volunteer overseas, especially openness and agreeability, as well as the effects the assignments had on the volunteers. Sheena felt her thesis led to a love of research and that in researching volunteers' careers she discovered a new career for herself.

The purpose of the award is to assist post-graduate students studying part-time for a PhD in the fields of Social Science or Geography, specifically:

• Sociology
• Criminology
• Anthropology
• Social Policy
• International Relations
• Human Geography / Development Studies
• Psychology

• Table of Content
• About Victoria University of Wellington
• Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship

• $15,000 (subject to funds available).

Requirements for Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship Qualification

• Candidates must be enrolled or intending to enrol in a PhD at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of the scholarship.
• The Scholarship will be offered to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only.
• Students transferring from other universities are eligible to apply.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Victoria University of Wellington PhD Scholarship

• The scholarship will be awarded primarily on academic merit.
• Financial hardship will also be considered.

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC 2027
Chevening Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Applicants must meet the entry requirements for Doctoral study at Victoria University of Wellington.
• New Doctoral applicants should complete the Doctoral Admission and Scholarship online application and clearly indicate they wish to apply for the Dr Sheena Hudson PhD Scholarship.
• Applicants may be requested to supply evidence of financial hardship if applicable, and any other documentation they wish to be considered by the committee, such as personal statements or character references, to assist their application.

Contact: The Doctoral Admissions and Scholarships team at [email protected]

For more information, kindly visit Victoria University of Wellington scholarship webpage.