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Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, sits across three campuses in New Zealand’s vibrant capital city. The university’s central location gives students access to diverse national organisations in the areas of business, government, politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, and science and technology communities.
Wellington is a compact city where students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Victoria University of Wellington is consistently placed among the best universities in the world across major global rankings. It’s one of just 13 institutions to achieve a full ‘5 Stars Plus’ according to the QS Stars rating of excellence – built on a 5-star rating across all eight categories, from employment to global engagement, teaching, facilities, arts and more.
Victoria University of Wellington conducts teaching and research in the following subject areas: Architecture and Design Innovation, Business and Government, Education, Engineering, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, and Science.The university is home to more than 40 research centres and institutes, including the Antarctic Research Centre and Centre for Data Science and AI.
The university has a diverse community that welcomes international students from more than 100 countries and offers students complete support through a range of wellbeing and learning services.
Students will discover endless opportunities to get involved during their time at Victoria University of Wellington. There are more than 140 clubs, societies, and sports to explore, while extracurricular programmes like the free Wellington International Leadership Programme support students in developing their personal global citizenship skills.
2023 401
2022 401
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2025 244 3
2024 241 34
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2023 401 100
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Victoria University of Wellington’s careers and employment team helps students achieve their career goals. The team offers professional advice on career planning, job exploration, and career development. The team can also help international students apply for jobs and internships, write CVs and cover letters, as well as learn interview tips.
Students can find useful resources online about internships, work experience, and job opportunities. Career expos and graduation recruitment events are held throughout the year and give students the opportunity to meet potential employers and find out about jobs and internships. The Alumni as Mentors programme matches final-year students with successful graduates who can offer valuable tips and advice for transitioning from study to a work environment.
Victoria University of Wellington prepares its graduates to:
Of the graduates from Victoria University of Wellington who completed the 2022–2023 Graduate Destinations Survey:
Students can connect with Victoria University of Wellington’s current international students. The university’s student ambassadors are available to answer questions. Start by asking about what it’s like to live in Wellington, New Zealand.
Victoria University of Wellington holds a strong performance in the QS World University Rankings for 2024. The university is ranked 244th overall.
The university ranks in the top one percent of institutions surveyed around the world for 15 subjects and within the top two percent for 27 subjects. These results include one subject —Linguistics— in the top 50 in the world and nine in the top 100.
Top 100 in the world in the following subjects:
Within New Zealand, the university ranks first in the following subjects:
Visit Victoria University of Wellington for the latest news.
NZ$34,610 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
NZ$36,440 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
NZ$25,500 Living costs
NZ$17,176 To live on campus
Victoria University of Wellington has a range of scholarships available to international students, including:
International students can search the university’s full scholarships database.
To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need to demonstrate good command over the English language and have a good record of academic achievement.
Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The university considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications.
If a student doesn’t meet the English-language requirements for the course of their choice, they can enrol in the university’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme. This 12-week course aims to develop a student’s English language and equip them with academic skills for university study. The course includes 10 weeks of teaching, orientation, and testing. Students may need to take two or more consecutive courses to meet the university’s eligibility criteria.
If a student doesn’t meet the academic requirements for their undergraduate courses, they can enrol in the Foundation Studies Programme. This flexible programme is taught by the university’s partner UP Education and offers successful students guaranteed entry to Victoria University of Wellington’s undergraduate degrees.
At Victoria University of Wellington, students will learn from academics who are among the best and brightest in their fields. More than 850 academics at the university are actively involved in research, and 66 percent of those are operating at the highest levels.
The university has more A-rated researchers than any other New Zealand university in eight subject areas, including earth sciences, English language and literature, international relations, public policy, and political science.
In the 2022 QS Stars audit, the university scored full marks on inclusiveness across performance areas of low-income outreach, student cohort diversity, access to scholarships and bursaries, and access for students with disabilities.
A number of the university’s staff have won National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards for innovative teaching. The most recent award winners were Associate Professor Christian Schott of the School of Management, Wellington School of Business and Government and David Cox from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Engineering, both within the category Innovation in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum.
Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s top university for research intensity, according to the latest Performance-Based Research Fund evaluation. Most staff at the university have undertaken research at the highest levels, and all are encouraged to integrate their research into their teaching. Students interested in postgraduate study have access to world-class facilities and expertise.
In addition to lectures, most courses include tutoring in small groups where students can discuss their ideas, ask questions, and get individual help. Students also have access to a range of academic resources and student learning services that will help them succeed at the university.
Victoria University of Wellington’s dedicated international team is the first point of contact for international students. The team provides support and advice to students from the time of application to graduation.
Support services on offer include:
The university’s halls of residence offer a variety of accommodation styles, including single rooms, studio rooms, shared rooms, and shared apartments or houses. Some halls provide meals and others have kitchens for students to cater for themselves. All halls provide support for students and facilities for recreation and study. Living in a hall provides international students with the opportunity to make new friends and live alongside students from Wellington and all over the world.
Success at university requires independence and new skills. The university’s Student Learning team can help with:
Mauri Ora—Student Health and Wellbeing offers a full range of affordable general practice medical services on campus. Highly trained counsellors are also available to confidentially discuss personal and academic issues that affect a student’s general wellbeing or their learning.
Wellington is a friendly city and consistently makes the list as one of the safest cities in the world. In 2024, it was ranked the 11th safest city in the world by World Population Review (Safest Cities in the World 2024).
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