Useful information and links on academic opportunities during and after your postgraduate studies

Internships

Research assistant opportunities (RA-ships)

  • Casual jobs that are usually based on personal connections within programmes or schools.

  • Selection/hiring is often more informal and based on having very specific skills (these opportunities are not usually advertised).

  • Some ways to find them would be by emailing your CV to your programme administration office or by speaking with your supervisor or favourite lecturer.

    postdocs

  • Fixed-term research jobs with benefits and a salary;

  • Arise when academics win a large research grant usually from external funders;

  • In this position, you’re likely to be in a research team. There is some kind of mentorship included, but usually no teaching.

  • These are often advertised among VUW job vacancies.

  • Maunuhanga Wellington Postdoctoral Society website: https://www.maunuhanga.nz/

Teaching fellowships

  • Fixed-term jobs.

  • They are sometimes advertised, but usually they depend on a lecturer suddenly becoming unavailable to teach their usual course load, so selection may be more informal.

  • There is usually mentorship by an academic included, but usually no research expected.

Research Institutes

conference Funding

  • The best resource for finding internal and external conference funding is your postgraduate coordinator - be sure to reach out to them first if you don’t know where to look

  • For more assistance check in with the Research Office: The Research Funding and Strategy team can support you with internal, domestic and international funding, awards, prizes and medals, and building partnerships.

information from november 2025 session