University of Auckland reinforces lead in university subject rankings

Being recognised among the top 10 tertiary institutions in the world for Archaeology is just one indication the University of Auckland is firmly embedded as New Zealand’s leading university.

In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject released today, the University has three individual disciplines ranked in the world’s top 20 (up from two last year). These are Archaeology (10th, up six places) Education (17th, up three) and Anatomy and Physiology (18th, up 16 places).

Other high performing subjects include Law (29), Geography (29), Philosophy (36), and Business and Management Studies (43).

Altogether, Auckland has 18 top-fifty places across the 48 subject rankings (more than twice as many as the other New Zealand universities combined) and is ranked in 40 disciplines. This result, according to QS Quacquarelli Symonds, is “a testament to its global competitiveness for a range of core disciplines”.


Also out today, the QS World University Rankings by Faculty show the highest Faculty ranking for any New Zealand university remains the University of Auckland’s Arts and Humanities at 28.

University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, said he was particularly pleased with this year’s results given the increasing need to be globally competitive.

“Not only do these outstanding rankings cement our status as New Zealand’s leading university, they show that we are more than holding our own internationally.

“To have achieved this given the low levels of funding that New Zealand universities receive is testimony to the hard work of our excellent staff. There is no doubt at all of the calibre and comprehensive nature of our teaching and research. Our graduates and research outputs are effecting real change here and around the world.”

The eighth edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject was released today by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds which ranks the world’s top universities in 48 different subjects.