University of Auckland shines in global subject rankings

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has recorded strong gains in the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject, with three subjects ranked in the global top 30 and eight subjects ranked in the global top 50.

Psychology recorded the University’s biggest rise, jumping 23 places to rank 28th globally, up from 51st last year. Alongside Archaeology, it is now the University’s highest‑ranked subject. Education also returned to the global top 30, rising from 34th to 29th and remains the University’s most consistently high-performing subject, having been ranked in the global top 50 for 14 consecutive years.

In another milestone, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence was ranked in the global top 100 for the first time, placing the University among the top 3–5 percent of universities worldwide in this rapidly growing and highly competitive field.

The University also recorded broader momentum across a range of disciplines, with English Language and Literature, Linguistics, and Anatomy and Physiology all entering the global top 50 in 2026.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater says the results highlight the strength of the University’s teaching and research community and the commitment of staff to delivering work with real impact.

“These results show the depth of expertise across the University, with high performance in traditional disciplines and emerging fields.

“As QS rankings place emphasis on research performance, these results reflect the quality, impact and global reach of our academic work."

Professor Freshwater says Psychology’s rise into the global top 30 reflects growing international recognition of that work, including psychology Professor Virginia Braun’s designation as a Highly Cited Researcher. She also welcomed the University’s first‑time global ranking in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Being ranked globally in Data Science and AI puts the University among a small and highly competitive group of institutions worldwide and shows that our academics are leaders in their fields.”

Professor Freshwater says the outcome is testament to the hard work of staff throughout the institution.

“Congratulations and thank you to all our staff whose expertise and dedication have made this outcome possible.”

• 28 - Archaeology
• = 28 - Psychology
• 29 - Education
• 33 - Sports-related subjects
• 48 - Civil & Structural Engineering
• 49 - Anatomy & Physiology
• = 49 - Linguistics
• 50 - English Language & Literature

The 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject provides independent comparative analysis of more than 18,300 individual university programmes across 55 academic disciplines, covering more than 1700 universities in 100 locations worldwide.

Further information on the rankings is available on the QS subject rankings website.