QS Rankings of Top Colleges & Universities in New Zealand 2026
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QS Rankings of Top Colleges & Universities in New Zealand 2026

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Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Nov 18, 2025 16:35 IST

New Zealand is one of the selected destinations in the world for higher education. Check out the QS ranking of top universities in New Zealand according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. This ranking will help you to understand the reputation of different universities in NZ.

QS ranking of top universities in New Zealand

The QS World University Rankings 2026 have been released. You know it is a reputable ranking website for universities. Like every other country, the ranking of Universities in New Zealand is updated. Like every year, University of Auckland got the top position in the list of top universities in New Zealand. The university got 65th position in the world ranking.

Other than this, there are 7 universities in New Zealand that secured a place in the ranking released by QS Top Universities. We have covered every possible information about these universities in detail.

There are different factors of QS ranking. The universities on the list are ranked on certain parameters such as Academic Reputation (40%), Employer Reputation (10%), Faculty/Student Ratio (20%), Citations per faculty (20%), and International Faculty Ratio /International Student Ratio (10%) to understand the scale of education being imparted in these institutions. That's why this ranking is helpful for those students who want to study in new Zealand. No student wants to select a university without having complete information about it. In this article, we have mentioned the QS ranking of these universities with an overview.

Table of contents
  • QS Ranking of Universities in New Zealand 2026
  • Why Study in New Zealand?
  • Top Universities in New Zealand

QS Ranking of Universities in New Zealand 2026

Every year, QS University Rankings publishes a list of top universities in the world for students looking to study anywhere in the world to take inspiration from. Check out QS World University Ranking Methodology to have an idea. Below, we have mentioned the updated QS ranking of universities in New Zealand. These university rankings are based on the parameters.

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New Zealand Universities

QS World University Ranking 2026

The University of Auckland

#65

University of Otago

#197

Massey University

#230

Victoria University of Wellington

#240

University of Canterbury

#261

University of Waikato

#281

Lincoln University

#407

Auckland University of Technology

#410

Why Study in New Zealand?

There are plenty of benefits for international students. The country is home to state-of-the-art universities complete with modern amenities. The country’s student-friendly post-study work permit and New Zealand study visa regulations only make the country a dream destination for students wanting to study abroad. Check out we have mentioned the top 7 reasons to study in NZ.

  1. Broad Opportunities for Study and Research
  2. Quality Learning Experience
  3. Globally Accepted Qualifications
  4. Easy Entry Requirements
  5. A Great Place to Live & Study
  6. Affordable Cost of Living & Studying
  7. Ample Job Opportunities

Top Universities in New Zealand

Check out the detailed information about the best universities in New Zealand, including the insights.

  • University of Auckland: The University of Auckland was founded in the year 1883. It consistently secures a place in the list of top 100 universities worldwide according to QS rankings.
  • University of Otago: It was founded in 1869. It is second most popular university in NZ. University of Otago offers UG, PG, and PhD courses.
  • Victoria University of Wellington: This is a popular public research university in New Zealand. It was founded in 1897.  
  • University of Canterbury: This university offers courses related to arts, Engineering, and science. The University of Canterbury has got 261st rank in QS World University Ranking 2026.
  • University of Waikato: It was established in 1964. This popular university of New Zealand is well famous for its research based. This has secured 281st in QS World University Rankings 2026.
Q:   What is the duration of MBA in New Zealand?
A:

New Zealand offers MBA programmes with flexible durations, which a candidate can choose as per his or her requirements. The full time MBA programmes in New Zealand mainly vary from one to two years. There are even some MBA programmes for 18-20 months in NZ universities. 

Q:   Is IELTS required for NZ student visa?
A:

Yes, IELTS is required for a New Zealand student visa. It is an eligibility to proove your English language proficiency if you're from a non-English-speaking country. Minimum IELTS scores vary by course level. However, there are some alterantives of IELTS scores TOEFL or PTE.

Q:   What are the top reasons for New Zealand student visa rejection?
A:

Here are some reasons to get your application for New Zealand student visa rejected

  • Insufficient funds
  • Incomplete or false documents
  • Poor academic records
  • Low English proficiency scores
  • Doubts about genuine study intentions
  • Health and character issues
  • Inconsistencies in the application
About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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Anuradha
All courses in ANZ
Armed with B.Com from Delhi University, Anuradha Sharma has accumulated rich experience as an education counsellor. She is especially adept at handling Australia and NZ admission procedure. Before becoming a GTE Exp Read Full Bio
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