Auckland Statement of Research Intent: Example

Auckland Statement of Research Intent: Example

The University of Auckland's Statement of Research Intent (SRI) is its version of a PhD research proposal, and each faculty sets its own limits. The main description is 600 words in Science, Engineering and Design, and Medical and Health Sciences, 750 words in the Business School, and split into 350- and 500-word parts in Law.

Our view: write the first 100 words for a reader outside your field. The Faculty of Science says its scholarship applications "will be evaluated by both subject specialist and non-specialist reviewers", and asks you to make the SRI "relevant and accessible to both audiences". An SRI written only for the supervisor you hope to work with leaves half that panel behind. If you are drafting yours now, choose GradPilot's PhD research proposal rubric for a free review of your SRI.

Every University of Auckland page and template quoted below was checked on 31 October 2026. Templates change between rounds, so download yours again from the SRI page before you submit. For proposal lengths across Australian universities, see PhD research proposal length in Australia.

Contents

• What the SRI is, and what it is not
• Limits by faculty template
• The scholarship box inside the SRI
• Constructed example: a Medical and Health Sciences SRI
• Adapting it for Arts and Education or Law
• Research capacity is checked separately
• Before you upload: a seven-point check
• Questions about the Auckland SRI

What the SRI is, and what it is not

Auckland's application help page describes the SRI as "A brief one-page statement, in the form of an abstract, using the Statement of Research Intent template" (doctoral application help). The PhD page says "You must write an initial statement of research intent to demonstrate your research capability and experience" (Auckland PhD).

It is not the full proposal. You are enrolled provisionally, and "By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of milestones to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal." The Engineering template says the same in its own words: the form "is not intended to be a definitive statement of your research intentions".

Two rules about supervisors sit side by side, and both are published:

• To apply, you do not need one. The help page says "You are not required to have organised a supervisor yet" and that "The department will contact you to confirm or discuss available supervision."
• But the templates expect you to try. The Law, Business, Medical and Health Sciences, and Arts and Education templates say applicants "are expected to contact potential supervisors", and: "Those unable to do so will be supported, but the application process may be delayed. If no appropriate supervisor can be identified, the application will be declined." The Science template says the same in nearly the same words.

Our recommendation: contact a supervisor before you write. The department can find one for you, but the scholarship rules below need one before the closing date.

Limits by faculty template

The SRI page says "Each Faculty and Large Scale Research Institute has their own Statement of Research Intent." These are the limits in the templates it links, plus one form from the Bioengineering Institute's own page.

All limits are words unless stated. Two templates on the SRI page, for CCREATE-AGE and Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, were not checked for this page.

Three things the table shows:

1. The largest gap is inside one faculty. Engineering and Design caps the description at 600 words. Its Electrical, Computer Systems and Software Engineering template asks for 4 to 10 pages.
2. Two ABI documents disagree. Ask the ABI postgraduate office which one applies before you write.
3. Only one template states an AI rule. The Electrical, Computer Systems and Software Engineering template has a "Declaration of GenAI Use" that reads, in full: "Explain if and to what extent you used Gen AI to produce this document and the proposed research, and what models were used. You should document what tools were used, for what purposes, and how outputs were verified. You should also retain evidence of drafts, prompts, raw outputs, and edited final versions of any substantive GenAI use for possible review by supervisors." It then points to Auckland's "Generative Artificial Intelligence in Doctoral Research Guidelines". If your template has no such box, the declaration in the application is what you sign, so read it there.

The scholarship box inside the SRI

There is no separate scholarship application. The SRI page says: "If you're interested in the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, you will need to indicate in your Statement of Research Intent that you wish to be considered." Six of the nine templates in the table have a tick box or a yes/no question for it. Medical and Health Sciences and the Liggins Institute tie consideration to the supervisor's endorsement instead, and Law says consideration for some of its scholarships "is automatic and does not require a further application". If your template has no box, say it in the other-information box, as the example below does.

The Faculty of Science's 2027 selection criteria say it "will award up to 44 University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships in 2027" and assess two things:

1. Applicant's track record and potential to succeed. … 2) Quality and viability of the proposed project.

The second criterion is judged on "the scientific significance of the proposed research, its viability given the resources of the University of Auckland, its alignment with the research interests of the academic staff of the University of Auckland, and appropriateness of the proposed supervision team." That is a list of things your SRI must make visible.

The supervisor has a role too:

• Science: "supervisor endorsement of the proposed project is required before an application will be considered by the Faculty of Science for a scholarship."
• Medical and Health Sciences: you need the supervisor's endorsement, and supervisors "must provide further information on the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Supervisor Statement template by the closing date". Remind them.
• Engineering and Design: "Having a confirmed supervisor is mandatory if you would like to be considered for the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships."

Round dates differ by faculty in the documents we read, and none states a year:

This page was checked on 31 October 2026, the day before a 1 November closing date. If you miss it, take the next round date from your own faculty's template or scholarship page.

Constructed example: a Medical and Health Sciences SRI

Constructed example, written by us, not a real applicant statement. Context (invented): a physiotherapist from Sri Lanka with a research MPhil, applying to the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and asking to be considered for the Doctoral Scholarship. The supervisor, the stroke services and every result are invented. Square brackets mark facts the applicant must fill in from checked sources.

Description of the proposed research (512 words; limit 600)

Question. Can a wrist-worn movement sensor tell a rehabilitation team how well a person is sleeping in the first three months at home after a stroke, as well as a sleep diary does? A diary depends on memory and effort, and [Ref 1: what is known about diary completion after stroke]. A sensor needs neither. If the two agree closely enough, teams could track sleep without giving patients another task. If they do not, this project will show for whom, and when, the sensor fails.

Rationale. [Ref 2 and Ref 3: what is known about sleep after stroke and its link to recovery.] Rehabilitation teams in [the two Auckland services] do not currently measure sleep after discharge [confirm with Dr Surname]. Sensors are cheap and passive, but their sleep estimates were [Ref 4: describe the populations sensors were validated in]. Whether those estimates hold for people with one-sided weakness, who may move one arm far less than the other, is the gap this project addresses.

Research questions.

1. How closely do sensor estimates of total sleep time and night waking agree with a sleep diary in the first 12 weeks after discharge?
2. Does agreement differ between a sensor worn on the weaker arm and one worn on the stronger arm?
3. Which participant factors (age, severity of weakness, mood) are associated with poor agreement?

Methods. A prospective agreement study. [Number] adults discharged home from [two Auckland stroke services] will wear a sensor on each wrist and keep a daily sleep diary for 12 weeks. A subgroup of [number] will also be measured with [a reference sleep measure, to confirm with Dr Surname] for one week. Agreement will be analysed with Bland-Altman limits of agreement for each wrist, and question 3 with mixed-effects models across repeated weeks. Sample size will be set from [the agreement margin Dr Surname's team considers clinically useful], in year 1. People who cannot keep a diary alone may have a family member complete it; this will be recorded and tested as a factor in question 3.

Fit and feasibility. Dr [Surname]'s group runs [a community stroke rehabilitation study] at [the two services], which gives the recruitment route; I would join its existing referral pathway rather than build a new one. Dr [Surname] and I have discussed this design in two video calls, and the scope here is the one we agreed. Ethics approval from [the relevant New Zealand health ethics committee] and locality approval from each service are needed; none has been sought. If recruitment is slower than planned, the fallback is to shorten follow-up to 8 weeks, which keeps questions 1 and 2 and weakens question 3.

Contribution. A tested rule for which wrist to use and how far to trust the sensor after stroke, published as three papers, and a protocol other rehabilitation teams can copy. For the two services, the result is a decision: whether to add a sensor at discharge, and on which wrist. The full thesis proposal, including the sample size and the reference-measure subgroup, will be developed in the provisional year.

Relevant research or professional background (133 words; limit 200)

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from [university, Sri Lanka] and an MPhil by research from [university], awarded [year]. My MPhil thesis tested a balance assessment in 64 adults after stroke at one rehabilitation unit: I recruited all participants, ran every assessment and did the analysis, supervised by [name]. I presented the results as a poster at [conference, year] and the paper is under review at [journal]. For five years I have worked as a physiotherapist in [hospital], where two-thirds of my caseload was stroke rehabilitation. I have used wrist sensors only as a clinician, not in research, and I have not used mixed-effects models. Dr [Surname] and I have agreed that I would learn sensor data processing in the group and take [the university's statistics course] in my first year.

Other relevant information (78 words; limit 200)

I wish to be considered for a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship. Dr [Surname] has seen and endorsed the description above, and has agreed to submit the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Supervisor Statement by the closing date for this round. I hold no other funding for this project. My IELTS Academic result is dated [month, year]. My MPhil took three years instead of two because I worked full time throughout; my thesis examiners' reports are attached.

What the example is doing

• The first 100 words are for the non-specialist. No term in them needs a background in sleep science. The specialist detail (Bland-Altman, mixed-effects models) waits for the methods paragraph.
• Every research question has a method. Questions 1 and 2 are agreement questions answered by limits of agreement; question 3 is answered by the models.
• It names the one dependency and its fallback. Recruitment speed is the risk, and the fallback says what is lost.
• It shows fit as a route, not a compliment. The supervisor's study gives the recruitment pathway, which is the "viability given the resources" the Science criteria name.
• The background box gives numbers and roles. 64 participants, "all", "every assessment". It also names two skills gaps and how each one closes in year 1.
• The other-information box does the admin. Scholarship request, endorsement, supervisor statement, funding, English test, and one sentence of context.

Adapting it for Arts and Education or Law

The same content moves into different boxes in other faculties. If this applicant's question were framed as health education and sent to Arts and Education, or if a legal researcher used the same structure for Law:

Arts and Education's social and cultural background box asks for "your personal history, decisions concerning doctoral research, career plans, and future goals" and how "these experiences have affected your decisions". Write decisions, not a childhood.

Two constructed examples, written by us, not real applicant statements:

Weak: Ever since I was a child I have been passionate about helping people, and my grandmother's stroke inspired me to dedicate my life to rehabilitation.

Revised: I chose doctoral research after five years of discharging stroke patients with no way to follow their sleep at home. I am the first in my family to study beyond a bachelor's degree, and I paid for my MPhil while working full time, which is why it took three years. I plan to return to clinical research in Sri Lanka, where [state the gap in local rehabilitation research, with a source].

The revised version answers the box: a decision, the circumstance that shaped it, and a plan.

Research capacity is checked separately

The SRI shows a project. It does not replace Auckland's separate check of your earlier research. Our guide to Auckland's research-capacity assessment explains how that check reads one qualifying output, and why several small projects may not add up to it. If your record is thin, fix that question before you polish the SRI.

For funding beyond the scholarship, see New Zealand PhD fees and domestic-rate funding. For the visa statement that comes after an offer, see the New Zealand genuine intentions statement guide.

Before you upload: a seven-point check

1. Right template. Pass: you downloaded it from the SRI page this month, for your faculty or institute.
2. Every limit kept. Pass: you counted each box, not just the total.
3. First 100 words plain. Pass: someone outside your field can say what you will find out.
4. Each question has a method. Pass: you can point to the sentence that answers each one.
5. Scholarship request made, if you want to be considered. Pass: the box is ticked or the request is written in, and your supervisor has endorsed the description.
6. Supervisor statement, if your faculty needs one. Pass: your supervisor knows the closing date.
7. English, and PDF. Pass: the SRI is in English and saved as a PDF, as the SRI page recommends.

Questions about the Auckland SRI

Do I need a supervisor before I apply?

Not to apply: "You are not required to have organised a supervisor yet." But most templates say you are expected to contact one, and the application "will be declined" if none can be identified. For the Doctoral Scholarship, Science, Medical and Health Sciences, and Engineering and Design need a supervisor's endorsement or a confirmed supervisor.

PDF or Word?

The SRI page says "We recommend that you submit your Statement of Research Intent as a pdf document." The help page says "save it as a Word document". Follow the SRI page and keep the Word file in case the department asks for it.

Does the bibliography count toward the limit?

The ABI form on the institute's own page excludes it: "500-1000 words (excluding bibliography)". The Law template asks for a "Key works/bibliography" list with no limit. Other templates are silent, so keep references short and outside the counted boxes.

Can I change the title later?

Yes. The Engineering template says the title "can be changed when you develop the research proposal once admitted".

How long does assessment take?

The SRI page says "In general, doctoral applications can take eight weeks or longer to be assessed."

Is the SRI the same as the full thesis proposal?

No. The full thesis proposal is a first-year milestone for confirmation into the PhD. Applying for the Doctoral Scholarship too? See what Australian and NZ PhD scholarships read, including each Auckland faculty's scholarship boxes.

Get a free review of your research proposal

Get a free Quick Review of your research proposal against GradPilot's PhD research proposal rubric for UK, Ireland and Australia; it is the closest rubric for an Auckland SRI. It reads for a research question stated early, a gap built from named prior work, methods that answer each question, a scope you can finish in time, and where the project belongs in the supervisor's or department's work. Paste one box at a time with its word limit. If your SRI also carries a personal statement, use the proposal and statement of purpose rubric.

More guides for this application:

• PhD research proposal example for Australia: a full two-page proposal, annotated.
• Supervisor approval in Australia: what proof of agreement counts across the Tasman.
• PhD essays hub: every PhD statement and proposal guide in one place.

Sources

Retrieved 31 October 2026, except where noted.

• University of Auckland, Statement of Research Intent (no year stated): faculty templates, scholarship indication, PDF, translation, assessment time.
• University of Auckland, Doctoral application help (no year stated): one-page abstract, supervisor not required, Word file.
• University of Auckland, Doctor of Philosophy (no year stated): initial statement, provisional enrolment, full thesis proposal.
• University of Auckland faculty SRI templates, linked from the SRI page: Arts and Education (2025), Business School, Engineering and Design, Electrical, Computer Systems and Software Engineering (version 1.4, September 2026), Law, Medical and Health Sciences, Science (2025), Liggins Institute, Bioengineering Institute (2024): limits, supervisor rules, endorsement, round dates, Gen AI declaration.
• University of Auckland, Bioengineering Institute proposal form (no year stated): 500 to 1,000 words excluding bibliography.
• University of Auckland Faculty of Science, Selection criteria for University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships 2027: 44 scholarships, criteria, non-specialist reviewers, endorsement, rounds for international applicants.