Massey University, New Zealand - Ranking, Reviews, Courses, Tuition Fees

Overview

About Massey University

Spanning three cities in New Zealand’s stunning North Island, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University ranks in the top 250 universities globally (QS World University Rankings, 2025) and boasts a QS 5+ star rating.

With 160 study programmes available at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as a range of research programmes, the university offers teaching excellence across all subject areas. Students learn from inspiring academics with innovative and world-class facilities at their fingertips.

The university’s curricula are designed with employability at their core, and students benefit from the university’s wide-ranging industry connections across New Zealand and the world. For many qualifications, work-integrated learning opportunities enhance practical skills, while all students have access to comprehensive career support outside of class.

Campuses are diverse and friendly communities, with the university in the top 100 globally for its international student ratio. Students enjoy a range of activities, clubs and societies, while international students receive extensive additional support to help them settle into life in a new country.

Each of the university’s three campuses (Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North) offer their own specialisations. Campuses boast state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including a Bloomberg financial trading centre, an equestrian centre, a veterinary teaching hospital, an airstrip and Australasia’s best sound and film production facilities.

All three cities offer a vibrant and exciting lifestyle, with plenty of entertainment options to enjoy. The surrounding areas are full of natural beauty and both Auckland and Wellington offer their own beautiful beaches. Each city has its own airport, connecting international students quickly to the rest of New Zealand and, in the case of Auckland and Wellington, the world.

University Ranking

Academic Ranking of World Universities

2025 801

2024 801 100

2023 701

QS World University Rankings

2026 230 9

2025 239

2024 239

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

2026 501

2025 501

2024 501

Graduate outcomes

Each of the colleges at Massey University works closely with businesses across industry, constantly seeking to expand and improve these partnerships and promote meaningful professional connections for its students. Many courses offer work-integrated learning, ensuring students graduate from the university as desirable candidates in their field.

The Massey Career Centre offers extensive careers advice and support for students, which lasts even after graduation. Students can attend drop-in sessions or make an appointment to speak with a careers adviser, or attend regular careers events and workshops.

Careers support at Massey University may include:

Career planning
Assistance in choosing career-relevant courses
Assistance in finding work-integrated learning opportunities
Assistance in finding and applying for jobs, including CV-writing and interview preparation
Access to the university’s online job vacancy board
Access to career talks, workshops, fairs, online seminars, and employer presentations

All career resources offered by the Massey Career Centre are also available digitally through its own platform, MyHub. This remains accessible to all students even after they have graduated.

Whats new

New programmes

Commencing in 2025, Massey University is offering three new specialist qualifications:

Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science: designed with sustainability at its core to provide students with a thorough understanding of some of the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern world. It offers two specialisations: land and water science and geoscience.
Horticulture management: a new specialisation within the Bachelor of Agribusiness. With an industry focus, it provides in-depth, specialised knowledge of horticulture within a business context, producing graduates who can meet an industry demand that has historically been unmet.
Applied communication: a new specialisation within the Bachelor of Communication. Available to study as a major or a minor, it provides a deep and practical understanding of the most modern communication applications.

Accolades

Massey University has received the following awards and accolades in recent months:

Gold rating in the inaugural Times Higher Education Online Learning rankings (2024).
Ranked in the top 250 universities globally (QS World University Rankings (QS), 2025).
Second place in the Asia and Pacific Region category in the Red Dot Design Ranking (2024).
School of Accountancy named the MYOB New Zealand Education Partner of the Year (2024).
Two majors within the Bachelor of Health Science (mental health and addiction and health promotion), became the first programmes in New Zealand to receive accreditation from the International Union of Health Promotion and Education.

Finances

How much will it cost?

Average tuition fees per year

20,00,882 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details

22,00,492 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details

16,95,028 Vocational Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details

Scholarships and funding

With a view to keeping higher education accessible and attracting top academic minds, Massey University offers a comprehensive range of scholarship opportunities for international students.

Scholarships are available at all levels of study, including for undergraduate programmes, master’s programmes and research programmes. Examples include:

International Creative Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship: NZD $10,000

Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarship: NZD $5,000

Toroa International Postgraduate Fee Scholarship: NZD $5,000

MBA awards: up to NZD $6,000

Massey University Doctoral Scholarship: NZD $90,000 plus fees

Massey University Master’s Research Scholarship: NZD $15,000

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships: open to eligible students from developing countries.

Scholarships may be awarded based on financial need, academic or sporting excellence, for the study of a particular subject, or for other reasons. Applicants are advised to check they meet the eligibility requirements for a scholarship, and should submit their funding application in advance of any deadlines.

International students may also be eligible for external scholarships, and all PhD students in New Zealand benefit from paying domestic tuition fee rates.

Eligibility

Entry requirements

Entry requirements at Massey University vary between courses, and for some subjects students may be required to submit additional materials such as a portfolio of work. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Foundation courses are available for students requiring an entry pathway.

For undergraduate study, international students must typically hold one of the following:

International Baccalaureate diploma: minimum of 24 points, or
Cambridge International Examination: three A-Levels including at least one at grade C or above, taken in a country other than New Zealand or the United Kingdom, or
Other, equivalent qualification.

Prospective undergraduate students can review accepted qualifications from their country of origin.

For postgraduate study programmes, students must usually hold an undergraduate degree from a recognised university, with above-average achievement. Some courses may permit relevant professional or scholarly experience in place of an undergraduate degree.

For doctoral study, students must hold:

Honours or master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject with a B+ average
Completed research project, dissertation or thesis, worth at least 25 per cent of the honours or master’s degree, with a B+ grade
Two academic references
Relevant work experience (for professional doctorates).

English language

International students may be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency. English language requirements for degree-level study are as follows:

Undergraduate programmes: overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5
Postgraduate programmes (sub-doctoral): overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0
Doctoral programmes (except the Institute of Education): overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0
Doctoral programmes (Institute of Education): overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 7.0 in Reading and Writing, and 6.0 in Listening and Speaking.

Other equivalent language tests are accepted.

Department and Faculty

Teaching quality

Massey University offers 160 undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across an expansive range of subject areas. Programmes are highly flexible, with students able to select from over 2,800 courses to ensure their programme meets their ambitions and interests.

Studying on campus, students benefit from the expertise of highly experienced teaching staff, with many having their own backgrounds in industry. Students also have access to world-class facilities, with Massey University being a national pioneer in facilities across a number of disciplines. Distance learning students benefit from the same teaching expertise, delivered through an intuitive and purpose-built virtual learning platform.

Massey University ranks in the top 30 universities globally for veterinary science (first in Australasia and Asia), and for development studies (QS 2025). It ranks first in New Zealand for the following subjects:

Veterinary science
Development studies
Agriculture and forestry
Communication and media studies
Art and design

The university also has a strong research community and makes use of both national, university and college research centres to bring together the best and most innovative thinking. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to research, and has an unrivalled record of research excellence in New Zealand.

Department structure

At Massey University, students can choose from 160 qualifications, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates, diplomas and certificates. Courses are available across five key subject areas, each of which boasts their own school.

Massey University’s five colleges are:

College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi
College of Health – Te Kura Hauora Tangata
College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Te Kura Pūkenga Tangata
College of Science – Te Wāhanga Pūtaiao
Massey School of Business – Te Kura Whai Pakihi

The university also features several of its own research and specialist centres, promoting impactful and valuable research across a number of key disciplines.

Students can opt to study at one of the university’s three campuses. These are located in three key cities in New Zealand’s beautiful and dynamic North Island: Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington. Each has its own areas of specialism and a comprehensive array of specialist facilities.

The university also offers more than 1,500 courses available for flexible distance study via its purpose-built online learning system. These are accessible to international students living outside of New Zealand. Massey University is an accredited member of the International Association for Distance Learning.