About the University

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious tertiary institutions with a proud tradition of academic excellence. Learn more about our 125 years of rich history.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, originally known as Victoria College, was founded in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

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 2,178 publications resulting from our researchers’ work were published in 2019.

Global rankings

Victoria University of Wellington consistently ranks among the top 250 of the world’s 18,000 universities in the QS World University Rankings.

Rating of excellence

Victoria University of Wellington is one of only 13 universities in the world to hold the maximum 5 Stars Plus in the QS Stars rating of excellence and five stars in each of eight categories—arts and culture, discipline ranking and accreditations, employability, facilities, inclusiveness, internationalisation, research, and teaching.

At the top

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

In 20 subject areas, we are among the top 1 percent of the world’s universities (2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject).

Library and Information Management at the University is ranked 25th in the world and we are ranked number one in New Zealand for Politics and International Studies and the broad subject area of Arts and Humanities.

We are ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for 11 subjects in total:

• Development Studies
• Earth and Marine Sciences
• English Language and Literature
• Geology
• Hospitality and Leisure Management
• Law
• Library and Information Management
• Linguistics
• Performing Arts
• Politics and International Studies
• Psychology

In addition to the 11 subjects in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings, Education is ranked equal 73^rd in the world in the 2022 Times Higher Education Rankings by Subject.

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 over 22,000 students, including international students from over 100 countries. In 2020, we awarded 4,883 qualifications at graduation ceremonies.

Staff, schools, and faculties

The University has over 2,330 full-time equivalent staff and over 1,150 of those are involved in teaching and research. About half our academic staff were born outside New Zealand.

We have 10 faculties, eight of which conduct teaching and research—each faculty is divided into schools.

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.

Location of Victoria University of Wellington

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