More international PhD enrolments

International PhD student enrolments increased by 56 per cent last year and the Government is claiming credit.

Acting Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey said the increase was more than double the annual growth rate from 2003-2005.

He said results of a policy to attract the best and brightest to New Zealand by charging PhD students domestic fees was showing.

There were 1084 international student PhD enrolments last year compared to 693 in 2005.

The domestic fees policy followed the introduction three years ago of the International Doctoral Research Scholarship which funds studying and living costs.

The largest growth in PhD enrolments from 20052006 was from India, up 205 per cent, China, up 103 per cent and the United States, up 102 per cent. Most new enrolments were in sciences and arts.

Under the International Doctoral Research Scholarship recipients from 20 countries will study subjects ranging from global warming effects on glaciers to environmental chemistry.

- NZPA