New Zealand

Universities

8 institutions

University of Auckland

Public

Established

1883 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#67

Ranking & recognition

New Zealand's top-ranked university

Popular with international students

Business, Engineering, Computer Science

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Public

Established

1895 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#431

Ranking & recognition

New Zealand's newest university (university status in 2000)

Popular with international students

Business, Computer & Information Sciences, Health Sciences

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

University of Waikato

Public

Established

1964 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#293 (joint)

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Management, Computer Science, Engineering

City

Hamilton

Province / region

Waikato

City population

~185,000

Massey University

Public

Established

1927 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#215

Ranking & recognition

Campuses in Palmerston North, Auckland and Wellington

Popular with international students

Business, Agriculture & Veterinary Science, Aviation

City

Palmerston North

Province / region

Manawatū-Whanganui

City population

~92,000

Victoria University of Wellington

Public

Established

1897 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#241 (joint)

Ranking & recognition

Located in New Zealand's capital

Popular with international students

Law, Business, Architecture & Design

City

Wellington

Province / region

Wellington Region

City population

~215,000

University of Canterbury

Public

Established

1873 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#257

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Engineering, Business, Computer Science

City

Christchurch

Province / region

Canterbury

City population

~400,000

Lincoln University

Public

Established

1878 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#419 (joint)

Ranking & recognition

Specialist land-based university with a focus on agriculture

Popular with international students

Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Management

City

Lincoln

Province / region

Canterbury

City population

~8,000

University of Otago

Public

Established

1869 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

#198

Ranking & recognition

New Zealand's oldest university

Popular with international students

Health Sciences, Business, Science

City

Dunedin

Province / region

Otago

City population

~135,000

Government institutes & polytechnics

16 institutions

Unitec Institute of Technology

Public

Established

1976 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Construction & Architecture, IT, Business

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)

Public

Established

1970 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Engineering, Maritime

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Wintec – Waikato Institute of Technology

Public

Established

1924 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, IT, Business

City

Hamilton

Province / region

Waikato

City population

~185,000

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Public

Established

2016 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Business, Tourism, IT

City

Tauranga

Province / region

Bay of Plenty

City population

~160,000

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Public

Established

1901 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Engineering, Nursing, Business

City

Christchurch

Province / region

Canterbury

City population

~400,000

Otago Polytechnic

Public

Established

1966 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, IT, Design

City

Dunedin

Province / region

Otago

City population

~135,000

Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)

Public

Established

1971 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

IT, Nursing, Business

City

Invercargill

Province / region

Southland

City population

~57,000

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)

Public

Established

1975 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Business, Viticulture & Wine

City

Napier

Province / region

Hawke's Bay

City population

~66,000

NorthTec

Public

Established

1978 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Business, Environmental Management

City

Whangārei

Province / region

Northland

City population

~56,000

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT)

Public

Established

1972 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Engineering, Business

City

New Plymouth

Province / region

Taranaki

City population

~60,000

WelTec – Wellington Institute of Technology

Public

Established

1904 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Engineering, IT, Construction

City

Lower Hutt

Province / region

Wellington Region

City population

~110,000

Whitireia New Zealand

Public

Established

1986 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Health, Creative Arts

City

Porirua

Province / region

Wellington Region

City population

~60,000

UCOL – Universal College of Learning

Public

Established

1902 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Nursing, Business, Construction

City

Palmerston North

Province / region

Manawatū-Whanganui

City population

~92,000

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)

Public

Established

1904 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Aviation Engineering, Maritime, Viticulture

City

Nelson

Province / region

Nelson-Tasman

City population

~55,000

Tai Poutini Polytechnic

Public

Established

1989 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network

Popular with international students

Adventure Tourism, Trades, Outdoor Education

City

Greymouth

Province / region

West Coast

City population

~10,000

Open Polytechnic

Public

Established

1946 · Public

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Public institute within New Zealand's vocational education network; online and distance learning

Popular with international students

Business, Accounting, Social Work

City

Lower Hutt

Province / region

Wellington Region

City population

~110,000

Private institutions

11 institutions

Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design

Private

Established

1983 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Fine Arts, Fashion Design, Arts Therapy

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

New Zealand Skills & Education Group (NZSEG)

Private

Established

2003 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Business, Hospitality, Health Care

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS)

Private

Established

1995 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Specialist hotel management school

Popular with international students

Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, Hospitality

City

New Plymouth

Province / region

Taranaki

City population

~60,000

IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute

Private

Established

1990 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

International Studies, Business, Language Studies

City

Palmerston North

Province / region

Manawatū-Whanganui

City population

~92,000

Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS)

Private

Established

1990 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Business, IT, Hospitality

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

ICL Business School

Private

Established

1987 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Business, Hospitality, IT

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

NZMA

Private

Established

1995 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Health Care, Hospitality, Business

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Yoobee Colleges

Private

Established

1994 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Creative technology specialist

Popular with international students

Animation, Game Development, Design

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Media Design School

Private

Established

1998 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Specialist in game and digital design

Popular with international students

Game Art & Programming, Digital Design, Artificial Intelligence

City

Auckland

Province / region

Auckland Region

City population

~1.7 million

Queenstown Resort College

Private

Established

2006 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

NZQA-approved provider and signatory of the international student Code of Practice

Popular with international students

Hospitality & Tourism, Business, Adventure Tourism

City

Queenstown

Province / region

Otago

City population

~16,000

Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand

Private

Established

2012 · Private

QS World Ranking 2027

N/A

Ranking & recognition

Part of the international Le Cordon Bleu network

Popular with international students

Culinary Arts, Pâtisserie, Hospitality

City

Wellington

Province / region

Wellington Region

City population

~215,000

No university matches that search. Try a city or subject instead.

Rankings from the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026), checked on topuniversities.com; “N/A” means the institution is not in the QS overall table. City populations are approximate.