New Zealand PhD student scholarships 

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, in partnership with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, is offering two PhD scholarships for two highly committed research students in New Zealand, one in each of the following priority research areas:

Priority research area one - Understanding the need for, availability of, and interpretation of information by the public during large scale hazard events (e.g. wildfires, floods, earthquakes).

Priority research area two - Building community engagement to support behaviour change, leading to improved fire safety and community resilience.

Students awarded a scholarship are required to enrol for study through a New Zealand university, and they will be linked into related research from the CRC's core research program. Applications that include co-supervision with leading researchers from Australia will be highly regarded. The CRC can assist in identifying co-supervisors.

Students receiving a scholarship are expected to engage regularly with an industry supervisor based in FENZ to build their knowledge of how their research will be utilised, to gain an appreciation of how to present research information to less research-aware communities and to expand their personal networks.

Successful scholarship holders will receive NZ$28,500 per year for up to 3.5 years under the scholarship program. All scholarships will be paid to, and managed by, the university in which the student is enrolled.

Benefits of the scholarships

Scholarship holders will have access to a range of opportunities during, and after, their period of study:

• Participation in the CRC's knowledge network, including:
• The annual AFAC Conference in Australia, including the CRC Research Forum (with funding to support participation at least once during the period of study)
• Relevant CRC Research Advisory Forums in Australia (with funding to support participation at least twice during the period of study)
• Invitations to participate in:
  • relevant CRC events
  • relevant FENZ research activities
• Opportunities to apply for travel support through the CRC's Travel Support Grants
• Support from the CRC's communications team to promote the research of scholarship holders through printed, web and social media
• Close links to FENZ.

Important dates

Applications open: 19 July 2018

Applications closed: 31 August 2018

Applicants advised of outcomes: 8 October 2018

Successful candidates commence their studies: no later than 1 December 2018

Download further information here.

Click here to download the application form.

Sample Student Scholarship Conditions and IP Agreement.

More infomation on our regular PhD program

The postgraduate program supports and extends the broader research activities of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. We provide two main types of support.

Postgraduate scholarship program. This provides access to:

• Full scholarships of $28,000 per annum for three and a half years,
• Top up scholarships (for APAs and university scholarships) of $10,000 per annum over three and a half years,
• Access to industry expertise and support.

With the exception of the New Zealand scholarships detailed above, scholarship applications are now closed. Details of future scholarship opportunities will be advertised on this page if and when they arise.

Associate Student Program.

All PhD and Masters by Research students whose projects will inform policy or practice in the area of bushfire or natural hazards are encouraged to apply to become a Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Associate Student.

This is opportunity has been specifically designed for students conducting research in relevant areas but not already directly involved with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. This research is likely to be of significant interest to Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC stakeholders (including research partners and end-users). Some students are already indirectly connected to the CRC through their supervisors, with their research adding to the depth or breadth of our research projects. These students may benefit from the exposure of being more formally affiliated.

Interested? Download the application kit: Associate Student Flyer - May 15 2014.

The Student Placement Program is an exciting new opportunity for our students to undertake short term placements within our partner organisations.

This is part of our overall professional development plan for our students to be better prepared to work within the sector.

The objectives of the program are:

• Enable the student to understand the workplace environment of CRC end-user partners.
• Provide the student with concentrated networking opportunities including the opportunity to build a close relationship with at least one CRC partner.
• Provide staff of the host organisation an opportunity to engage with CRC PhD students and to raise awareness of the research they are undertaking.
• Enable the student to make a positive contribution to an activity or activities being undertaken by the host organisation. Students are not expected to be responsible for the delivery of a specific output or project. 

Information for host organisations is available here, while the form for host organisations to regisiter their interest in hosting a CRC student is available here.