At a glance

Key facts about the University's performance on the national and world stage.

Research

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s top ranked university for intensity of high-quality research (latest Performance-Based Research Fund evaluation). It is the only university to twice top the country's main measure of research excellence.

More than 2,200 publications resulting from our researchers’ work were published in 2021.

Global rankings

Victoria University of Wellington consistently ranks among the top 300 of the world’s 18,000 universities in the QS World University Rankings.

QS logo with five stars and the word outstanding

At the top

Overall, Victoria University of Wellington is in the top 2 percent of the world’s 18,000 universities.

In 18 subject areas, we are among the top 1 percent of the world’s universities (2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject).

Library and Information Management at the University is ranked 42nd in the world and Development Studies is ranked 43rd in the world. We are ranked number three in Australasia for Library and Information Management, number one in New Zealand for Linguistics and Politics and International Studies, and first equal in New Zealand for History, Earth and Marine Sciences, and Sociology.

We are ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for seven subjects in total:

  • Development Studies
  • English Language and Literature
  • Geography
  • Law
  • Library and Information Management
  • Linguistics
  • Politics and International Studies.

Victoria University of Wellington is also ranked 112 equal for the Arts and Humanities group of subjects.

Triple crown

Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB (Business), and AMBA.

Our students

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has approximately 22,000 students, including international students from around 100 countries. We awarded 4,369 qualifications in 2022.

Staff, schools, and faculties

The University has around 2,330 full-time equivalent staff and more than 1,100 of those are involved in teaching and research. About half our academic staff were born outside New Zealand.

The University has nine faculties, eight of which conduct teaching and research. The University's faculties are divided into schools, many of which are closely aligned with the University’s numerous research centres and institutes. The Faculty of Graduate Research is responsible for the administration of doctoral students’ candidature.

In addition, Toihuarewa is a university-wide faculty equivalent that provides a forum for Māori academic issues at the University and ensures there is appropriate Māori content in the University's teaching and research programmes.

Campuses and research institutes

Victoria University of Wellington has three main campuses and the Miramar Creative Centre in Wellington. We also have premises in Auckland.

In addition to the main campuses, we have a number of research centres and institutes.

Globally connected, nationally engaged

Victoria University of Wellington is a capital city university with strong global engagement. We work in partnership with universities and organisations around the world for the benefit of students, researchers, and communities.