Dunedin's largest industry is tertiary Education as this city owns the oldest university of New Zealand: University of Otago. Dunedin is home to many other notable institutions such as Otago Polytechnic Institute and Dunedin College of Education. Students account a large proportion of the total population of Dunedin.

The subject of mathematics is often paired up with other subjects such as education, statistics, finance, and computer science. This pairing can give added value in the teaching, computer programming, and financial forecasting and planning fields.

New Zealand is a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty. Kiwi are not only one of the national symbols – the others being the silver fern leaf and koru – but also the name New Zealanders usually call themselves. Overseas students will need to pay the full tuition fees and their own living costs while studying at a New Zealand institution.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.