The University of Auckland

About The University of Auckland

As the top-ranked university in New Zealand, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, is a research-driven university with diversity and innovation as its strengths. Formally opened in 1883, the University now has more than 47,000 students across seven campuses including more than 10,000 international students from over 100 countries.

Regarded as New Zealand’s leading university (65^th worldwide, QS World University Rankings 2026), the University of Auckland offers study programmes over a wide range of disciplines, while continuing to diversify its array of programmes at all levels.

With more than 180 partner universities worldwide, they collaborate on research that positively impacts the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. In 2025, the University was ranked in the top 2% globally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings for progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Degrees earned at the University of Auckland are globally respected and graduates are considered highly employable, both locally and internationally. The university is ranked 1^st in the New Zealand for graduate employment comes (QS World Rankings 2025), and eligible graduates may stay in New Zealand for up to three years after completing their studies.

Students at the university learn from outstanding teachers, many of whom are world leaders in their field.

Why Auckland?

Stunning natural beauty combined with the energy of a bustling cosmopolitan city makes Auckland a sought-after place to live, work and study. Auckland boasts a subtropical climate, with mild winters, warm, humid summers, and is one of the sunniest main centres in New Zealand.

As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland is home to approximately one third of New Zealand’s population. Around 400,000 live in the city itself and 1.8 million live in the greater Auckland area. With over 40 per cent of Auckland’s residents born outside of New Zealand, the city is joining the ranks of the world’s superdiverse cities.

Picturesque islands and a harbour-side location enhance the scenic beauty of the city, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’, owing to the large number of yachts sailing in the harbour. Unwind at an inner-city beach or head to the Waitākere Ranges west of the city, to explore the spectacular surf beaches and native rainforest walks.

Auckland offers a wonderful range of entertainment, sport, and recreation possibilities for students to explore. While the many theatres and art galleries cater to the artistically inclined, the vast scope for activities such as swimming, kayaking, and hiking means those who prefer the outdoors will not be disappointed. Sports lovers can also catch live action from rugby, soccer, and cricket matches at international stadiums.

Auckland is developing an international reputation as a business hub and is home to the greatest concentration of New Zealand’s entrepreneurs and innovators. Many international graduates choose to make the city their home to take advantage of employment opportunities, both during and after their studies.

Study options

The University of Auckland offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for international students. At undergraduate level, many of the programmes give students the opportunity to expand their learning by choosing from courses outside of their main focus in areas such as the arts, sciences, medicine, engineering, education, law, and much more.

Students can choose a specialisation, a single or double major, a major and a minor, or a conjoint degree. This determines the subjects and courses to focus on for most of the degree as students pursue their chosen area to the most advanced undergraduate stage.

Master’s programmes are generally offered as either research or taught programmes. Taught masters aim to provide students with advanced specialist training in their chosen field, and are usually completed by coursework only, although they may in some cases involve a dissertation. Many of these qualifications can be completed in 18 months or less.

Doctoral programmes, leading to the award of a PhD, are generally undertaken over a minimum of three years full-time. They require students to prepare a substantial thesis of original research that contributes significantly to knowledge and understanding in that discipline, followed by an oral examination.

The PhD is available in over 100 subjects and offers a wealth of research opportunities, including the chance to work in cross-disciplinary projects.

New international PhD students pay the same annual tuition fee as New Zealand PhD students for most programmes.

Financial aid, in the form of various scholarships is available at all levels of study for international students.

Research

The University of Auckland is committed to cutting-edge research and identifies research-led teaching as a primary responsibility of its academic staff, in addition to publishing and disseminating research of the highest international quality.

The university has the most research activity in the New Zealand tertiary sector with 25 per cent of all research-active staff and 35 per cent of the top A-rated academic researchers in New Zealand coming from the University of Auckland.

Research centres and institutes include:

• Auckland Bioengineering Institute
• Liggins Institute
• James Henare Māori Research Centre
• Public Policy Institute
• Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures
• Four of New Zealand’s ten Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs)
• Centre for Automation and Robotic Engineering Science
• Centre for Brain Research

Research topics cover a diverse spectrum and include subjects under domains such as sustainability, health, education, business, engineering, and science. Postgraduate students contribute meaningfully to the university's research while studying for their degrees. There are also summer research scholarships available for students who have completed at least two years of their undergraduate degree.

What’s new

Hiwa, Recreation Centre            

Their new state-of-the-art recreation facility is now open. Located in the heart of the City Campus, it features new and fun ways to stay active including an 8-lane swimming pool, six fitness and wellbeing studios, fully loaded cardio and weight zones and much more. Auckland have affordable student memberships aand membership is included in accommodation fees for students living in university accommodation.

Scholarships

Scholarships for new international students

• International Student Excellence Scholarship: offering up to NZD 10,000 to eligible international students
• ASEAN High Achievers Scholarship: offering up to NZD 10,000 to eligible international students from ASEAN countries
• India High Achievers Scholarship: offering up to NZD 20,000 to eligible international students from India

Facilities

Recent additions to the university’s extensive provision of cutting-edge facilities and equipment include:

• Fully renovated nine storey building containing the Faculty of Arts and Education, housing lecture theatres, dance and drama studios, social work suites, and specialist creative areas
• The Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society, the university’s first cross-faculty research centre
• Esports arena

Rankings

Recent rankings of note for the University of Auckland include:

• Ranked 65^th globally (QS World University Rankings, 2026)
• Top university in New Zealand (QS World University Rankings, 2026)
• A top 50 university in eight subject areas, including sports-related subjects, linguistics, education, anatomy and physiology (QS, 2026)
• A top 100 university for graduate employability (QS Graduate Employability Outcomes, 2026)
•  200 academics ranking in the top two percent globally (Stanford Elsevier Database,2024)