List of Best Universities in New Zealand 2025

According to QS Ranking 2025, the University of Auckland is the number 1 university in New Zealand but do you know about other best universities in New Zealand for International students? Know about top universities in New Zealand including their ranking, popular courses and tuition fees.

Best Universities in New Zealand: Over the years New Zealand has emerged as a top study-abroad destination. There are only eight universities in New Zealand but the quality of education is unparalleled. The University of Auckland is the number 1 university in New Zealand. Other than this, there are some other renowned educational institutes in the country. 

The University of Otago, renowned for its medical and health sciences programs, consistently ranks among the top in the country. If you want to study a course related to law, humanities, and social sciences then Victoria University of Wellington can be a great choice for you. In this blog, you will get to know about the top universities in New Zealand, their ranking, popular courses and their respective fees. Our goal is to assist you in selecting the top university for your studies in NZ.

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Top Universities in New Zealand 2024

Students wanting to study in New Zealand can check out the list of best universities in New Zealand:

Check out:

• QS World University Ranking Methodology 2024

• Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking Methodology 2024

Best Universities in New Zealand

Read the following section for more details about the universities in detail below.

University of Auckland

Formally opened in 1883, The University of Auckland is regarded to be the top-tier University of New Zealand in terms of employability of graduates. The university includes faculty of arts, business school, science faculty, creative arts faculty and industries, medical faculty and health sciences, education faculty and social, faculty of engineering, faculty of law, Liggins Institute, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and a variety of research institutes and centres. Check: The University of Auckland - Courses

University of Otago 

The University of Otago was established in 1869 under an act of the Otago Provincial Council. The University of Otago offers a broad spectrum of graduate-level, PhD, and postgraduate-level programs in several fields of education like finance, economics, entrepreneurship, business, management, marketing, medicine, pharmacy, law, arts, social sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, zoology, botany, and computer science. Read more: University of Otago – Courses

Victoria University of Wellington 

Victoria University of Wellington was formed in 1897 by an act in the parliament. It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It has a faculty of around 1,000 members who are dedicated to providing comprehensive and quality education. Victoria University has around 40 research institutes and centres giving students the best possible resources to have practical knowledge. Check out: Victoria University of Wellington – Courses

University of Canterbury 

The University of Canterbury in New Zealand was founded in the year 1873 and is the second university in Aotearoa New Zealand. This university has five colleges namely the College of Arts, College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Education, Health and Human Development, and College of Business and Law. It also has over 35 research institutes. Each of these colleges offers various degree programs in arts, commerce, technology, fine arts, sports, music, law, and health sciences. Many programs are focused on teaching, physical education, forestry, and language pathology. Read: University of Canterbury – Courses

Massey University 

Massey University is special among New Zealand universities on account of its capacity to deliver research-driven teaching and research training on three campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Massey has a wide scope of scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students which are at present accessible for application. As a student at Massey University, you can avail a wide scope of study support services and resources that are intended to assist you with improving scholarly aptitudes at all levels of study. Check: Massey University – Courses

University of Waikato 

Founded in 1964, the University of Waikato is a public institution for higher education and research in New Zealand. The university has seven faculties, one school, and one college offering a plethora of programs in arts, social science, mathematics, education, health, business, language and mass communication, engineering, and management. It provides courses in 135 subjects such as anthropology, psychology, applied linguistics, aquaculture, biotechnology, communication design, and data analytics. Read: University of Waikato – Courses

Lincoln University

Lincoln University is a highly-ranked public institution for higher education and research. Lincoln University has three faculties offering a range of career-focused diplomas and undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral-level degree programs. It also has the University Studies and English Language Division that renders two teaching programs in the English language. The university offers specialization in the disciplines of agriculture, engineering, sciences, computing, business, commerce, landscape architecture, environment, horticulture, forestry, property valuation, sports and recreation, transport, food, winemaking, viticulture, tourism, and hospitality. Go to: Lincoln University - Courses

Auckland University of Technology (AUT  University)

Established in 2000, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is a publically-owned institution for higher education and research. The academic structure of the Auckland University of Technology has five faculties, which further subdivide into 17 schools. The university offers over 250 programs in varied disciplines of art, design, economics, science, business, education, engineering, mathematics, computer science, clinical studies, creative technologies, communication studies, languages, psychology, nursing, tourism and hospitality, law, public health, social science, and sports. Check out: AUT University - Courses

Popular Universities in New Zealand

The Universities mentioned above are the top universities in New Zealand in 2024. Candidates can also check out popular universities in Australia here:

• Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)
• Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)

Know more about the universities below. 

Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)

WelTec is a leading provider of quality tertiary education and training programs. The courses are designed to equip students with the skills they need to pursue rewarding careers in industry and commerce. WelTec certificates, diplomas, degrees, and graduate diplomas are NZQA-accredited. WelTec also offers City and Guilds and other international qualifications so that students’ qualifications will be well-recognized - both in New Zealand and overseas. Read more: Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) - Courses

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)

Established in 1975, the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) is a government-run institution of higher education in New Zealand. EIT offers over 130 academic programs across diverse disciplines at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It extends degrees in agriculture, grape-growing, winemaking, computing, art and design, business, fashion, hospitality, music, health sciences, nursing, social sciences, and creative studies. The institution also offers short courses, certificate and diploma programs across various disciplines. Check: Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) - Courses

The above tabular data has been sourced from Shiksha Study Abroad from an earlier date. The numbers could vary subject to the current economy. 

In recent years, New Zealand has been witnessing consistent growth in the number of students who opt to study in universities overseas. The quality of education and a conducive learning environment has contributed to being a destination of choice for many international students. Feel free to write to us regarding any query in the comments section below.

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