New Zealand’s leading university
Around the world, we've earned a great reputation for academic and research excellence within a supportive learning environment. We can give you the edge you need to be a successful, globally confident citizen and give you a foundation that will set you apart for the rest of your life.
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and is the only one ranked among the world’s top 100 universities by the Times Higher Education - Quacquarelli Symonds (THE-QS) World Rankings of Universities.
The ranking of New Zealand universities according to the THE-QS rankings 2009
| University | THE-QS ranking 2009 |
|---|---|
| The University of Auckland | 61 |
| University of Otago | 125 |
| University of Canterbury | 188 |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 229 |
| Massey University | 299 |
| University of Waikato | 314 |
| Auckland University of Technology | Not ranked |
| Lincoln University | Not ranked |
The University of Auckland also ranked very highly in subject areas
| Subject area | THE-QS ranking 2009 |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 37 |
| Arts and Humanities | 42 |
| Life Sciences and Biomedicine | 40 |
| Engineering and IT | 55 |
| Natural Sciences | 83 |
As well as being New Zealand’s top university, The University of Auckland is the country’s largest. It has a strong focus on quality with selective entry to all programmes.
The University of Auckland has the most comprehensive range of courses in the country with teaching and research conducted over eight faculties, a School of Theology and two large-scale research institutes. There are unique opportunities for interdisciplinary studies and conjoint degrees.
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s pre-eminent research-led institution. Of the 600 researchers in the entire New Zealand tertiary system ranked as being of top international quality in the Government’s latest Performance-Based Review Fund (PBRF) report, one-third are at The University of Auckland. This offers students unparalleled opportunities to be taught and supervised by many of the very best academics in the country.
The University of Auckland also has the largest graduate school in the country, the largest annual number of postgraduate research student completions and the highest level of research income. Graduate students are part of a large and diverse cohort in an environment of very strong support for staff and student research.
PBRF summary of findings
(399KB PDF)
The purpose of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) review is to ensure that excellent research in the tertiary education sector is encouraged and rewarded. This entails assessing the research performance of Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) in New Zealand and funding them on the basis of their performance.
For more information about the PBRF, visit the Tertiary Education Committee website.
What's so important about research-led learning?
Learning from a research-led university ensures that your courses will incorporate the latest findings and perspectives related to your discipline, including the research carried out by your teachers.
Research-led learning also gives you the following opportunities:
- You will learn in a variety of research-related ways, which might include projects, case studies, problem-based learning or designing and conducting experiments.
- You can develop your practical skills and abilities in creative and critical inquiry, and learn how to use a variety of research techniques, practices and principles - all guided by experienced researchers.
- You can attend free research seminars, lectures and events to view presentations and learn about current research projects.
The University of Auckland has a strong international focus and is the only New Zealand member of Universitas 21 and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities – international consortia of research-led universities. Today more than 4,000 students from 93 countries choose to study here, while the University’s 360° Auckland Abroad Student Exchange programme enables New Zealand students to spend one or two semesters at one of the University’s more than 90 university exchange partners around the world.
