Structure of the University

The University’s governing body is the Council, a mixture of elected staff, students and graduates, and outside appointees. The Vice-Chancellor, the University’s chief
academic and administrative officer, is also a member. Council is chaired by the Chancellor, who is a lay member of the Council.

On academic matters, Council is bound to consult the Senate, which the Vice-Chancellor chairs. This body includes all the professors, some non-professorial staff and student representatives. The Senate takes advice from the Education and Research Committees, and from specialist committees, dealing for example with the Library and the Faculties.

The Vice-Chancellor is the head of the University: its chief academic and administrative officer and the employer of all staff. The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for providing academic leadership along with effective management, and for leading strategic planning and directing resource allocation.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the University's academic mission, overseeing learning and teaching, curriculum, and academic standards.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation is responsible for assisting and advising the Vice-Chancellor and University Council on research policy, research management and performance.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement is responsible for the University’s Sustainability Strategy, Communications and Engagement, Marketing and Recruitment, Alumni Relations and Development and for ensuring that the University develops, maintains and grows the key national and international relationships that will enhance and enable its ability to perform as a leading university.

The Chief Operating Officer and Registrar contributes to the strategic direction of the University and oversees the Enabling Environment and Operations portfolio, which includes Finance, Property, Digital, Legal and Governance, Strategic Planning, and Student and Scholarly Services. The role ensures that the University’s operating environment enables the success of students and staff and supports the University’s long-termstrategic objectives.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori has responsibility for developing a positive Māori profile, engaging with tangata whenua and other iwi. They champion He Makau Mauroa, the University’s Te Reo Māori Strategy for 2026–2030; as well as Waipapa Tangata Rau, the Māori staffing plan, and the Māori student cohort plan.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific has responsibility for developing a positive Pacific profile, engaging with Pacific communities, leading the Tai Tonga Campus and assisting in the development of Pacific programmes in liaison with the Vice-Chancellor, Pacific staff, students and the community.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Equity has responsibility for advising, monitoring, reporting, and developing policies and programmes that support our diverse students and staff to experience equitable access, participation and success.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Education contributes to the oversight of cross-University academic matters, ensuring the quality of its academic policy and offerings, and excellence in learning and teaching approaches.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Graduate Research is responsible for leading the School of Graduate Studies to enhance and grow the University’s graduate research offerings and advises on strategic international research collaborations to expand research partnerships.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Innovation and Enterprise leads strategic opportunities to advance knowledge translation and impact of research with industry, investors, public bodies and charities seeking to tap the expertise, inventions, technologies and intellectual property available from the University of Auckland.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Reputation and Performance oversees strategic research initiatives, including the University Research Centres and national research collaborations. They also guide the University’s response to new research performance frameworks and contribute to cross-University research activities such as AI in research and health research governance.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching is responsible for the professional learning of new and experienced teachers, and in leading institutional transformations in teaching and learning.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Success and Experience leads the University’s strategy for learner success, supporting students’ transition to university, their retention and completion, and their educational experience.  

Each faculty is a sub-committee of Senate and is headed by a Dean who is supported by a Deputy Dean, Associate Deans, a Director of Faculty Operations and other administrative staff. The Dean is responsible for leading the academic and research activities of individual schools, departments and research centres and liaises with both the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and the Senate committees on academic programmes, staff appointments, buildings, research funding, library facilities, timetabling etc.

Each Large Scale Research Institute (LSRI) is headed by a Director, supported by a Deputy Director and administrative staff. The Director is responsible for coordinating the research activities of LSRI staff, including postgraduate research supervision, and liaises with both the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and the Senate committees on regulations, staff appointments, buildings, research funding, library facilities etc. Information is available on LSRI websites.

Day-to-day central administration and services are provided by the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Student and Scholarly Services, Alumni Relations and Development, Communications, Marketing and Recruitment, Finance, Human Resources, the International Office, Digital Services, the Research and Innovation Office, Organisational Performance and Improvement, and Campus Environment.