Victoria University of Wellington offers a $105,000 PhD scholarship in financial reporting and financial management in developing countries, open to domestic and international students. Applications open November 2026. Preference given to students from developing countries.

What Is This Scholarship?

The Craig Buck Andrews PhD Scholarship in Financial Reporting and Financial Management is a rare, endowed doctoral award at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, worth $105,000 total ($35,000 per year for three years).

It was established by the late Craig Andrews — a financial professional who spent his career working on World Bank projects in developing countries alongside Wellington academics. His goal was simple and direct: fund research that builds the capacity for sound financial reporting and financial management in developing countries, and by doing so, promote their economic and social development.

For researchers from Nigeria and other African countries with a background in accounting, finance, or financial management — this scholarship is explicitly designed with you in mind.

Applications open: November 2026
One scholarship offered every three years

What the Scholarship Covers

Who Can Apply?

• Must be enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a PhD in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law at Victoria University of Wellington
• Must be completing a PhD thesis on financial reporting and/or financial management in developing countries
• The thesis should contribute to capacity building for financial reporting and financial management in primary industries or concessionable industries
• Must meet Victoria University of Wellington’s doctoral entry requirements

Preference is explicitly given to students from developing countries who are coming to Wellington to complete their PhD and intend to return home afterwards.

This is not incidental language; it reflects the donor’s stated purpose. Nigerian, African, and other Global South researchers are the primary intended beneficiaries of this award.

Research Focus, What This Means in Practice

The scholarship funds research that makes financial systems in developing countries work better. Relevant research directions include:

• Financial reporting standards and their adoption/adaptation in developing country contexts
• Public financial management in African or other developing country governments
• Accountability and transparency in extractive or concessionable industries (mining, oil, agriculture)
• Development finance and accounting capacity in emerging markets
• Financial management challenges in primary sector industries in the Global South

If your research connects accounting and finance to development outcomes, particularly in industries central to African economies, this scholarship was created for your work.

How to Apply

New doctoral applicants must complete the Doctoral Admission and Scholarship online application through Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Graduate Research and clearly indicate they wish to be considered for the Craig Buck Andrews Scholarship.

Additional documentation you may be asked to provide:

• Evidence of financial hardship (if applicable)
• Personal statement
• Character references

The scholarship is not currently open, applications open in November 2026. Monitor Victoria University of Wellington’s scholarship pages and set a reminder now.

Late or incomplete applications are not accepted.

Additional Conditions

• Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year
• If you withdraw during the tenure, partial repayment is normally expected
• Recipients must write a letter of thanks to the donor’s estate
• Recipients are expected to participate in university events and serve as ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington

Why New Zealand? Why Wellington?

Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city university, consistently ranked among the top 250 universities globally, with a particularly strong School of Accounting and Commercial Law with deep international research connections.

New Zealand offers post-study work rights of up to 3 years for PhD graduates, and a clear skilled migrant residency pathway. Wellington is an affordable, compact, and highly liveable capital city with a strong international academic community.

For a researcher from Nigeria or Africa whose work focuses on developing country financial systems, completing this PhD in Wellington and returning home with a New Zealand doctorate and three years of research output is a meaningful career accelerator.

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