Address: Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Architecture and Design Innovation, Business and Government, Education Health and Psychological Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Science and Engineering
Victoria University of Wellington was founded in 1897 by an Act of the New Zealand Parliament. It became an independent university in 1961, when the University of New Zealand was dissolved. The main campus is at Kelburn, on a hill above the centre of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, and hosts the central library and the administration.
The university works on several sites in the capital. The Pipitea campus, near Parliament, hosts Law and the schools of business and government. The Te Aro campus hosts Architecture and Design. Premises in the Auckland central business district opened in 2015 and offer selected business and government courses. Research institutes operate in Lower Hutt, a coastal ecology laboratory in Island Bay and a creative centre in Miramar.
In 2024 the university counted 20,939 students, equal to 14,250 equivalent full-time students. The staff totalled 2,202, with 1,018 academics. The record does not give a share of international students. The location of the university next to Parliament and government departments gives it a particular role in law, public policy and political science.
Since October 2024 the university has been organised in faculties of Architecture and Design Innovation, Business and Government, Education, Health and Psychological Sciences, Graduate Research, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, and Science and Engineering. The School of Māori Studies sits under Iho Māori, and not under a faculty.
The alumni include the filmmakers Jane Campion and Taika Waititi, the actor Sam Neill and the Nobel laureate in Chemistry Alan MacDiarmid, who received the prize in 2000. The prime ministers Chris Hipkins and Bill English also studied there. Applicants should read the official pages for the entry conditions, the scholarships and the housing in Wellington. Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff.
The capital location is a strong point for students. Wellington has a compact centre, a lively arts scene and a short distance between the university and the institutions of government, which helps internships in public policy, law and the creative sector. Applicants should note that the city is windy and hilly. Check the official pages for the entry conditions of each faculty and the scholarships available.
Domains taught:
Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Engineering, Finance, Life Sciences, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Campuses at Kelburn, Pipitea, Te Aro and Auckland CBD, research institutes in Lower Hutt, Island Bay Coastal Ecology Laboratory.
Research:
Architecture and design, business and government, science and engineering, law, humanities and social sciences.
Famous Alumnis:
Jane Campion, Taika Waititi, Alan MacDiarmid, Chris Hipkins, Bill English, Sam Neill
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2202
Current students***:
20939
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Capital city location near Parliament, Nobel laureate in chemistry among its alumni, wide faculties, campuses in the city.
Cons
Hilly Kelburn campus, wind and weather in Wellington, high rents.
Best For
Students interested in law, government, design and sciences in the capital of New Zealand.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
University of Canterbury offers a comparable education in ecology and sustainability, physics and life sciences: it covers geotechnics and civil engineering as well, and is slightly larger, at about 27,121 students against roughly 20,939 here.
University of Otago takes a similar route through finance, physics and life sciences, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
University of Auckland shares the core fields of this university, namely physics, life sciences and data analytics; it is also a public institution and also offers graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
For a study option in Israel with a comparable spread of ecology and sustainability, physics and life sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is the reference point: it covers agriculture and nanotechnologies as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 18,357 students against roughly 20,939 here.
On content, University of New South Wales in Australia and this institution are close, as both teach finance, physics and life sciences; it is far larger, with about 82,300 students against roughly 20,939 here, and is also a public institution.
George Mason University, based in the United States, is built around finance, ecology and sustainability and life sciences much like this institution, and it is larger, enrolling about 39,638 students against roughly 20,939 here, and is also a public institution.
For finance, ecology and sustainability and life sciences outside the home country, University of Newcastle Australia in Australia is a natural reference; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
For finance, life sciences and data analytics outside the home country, Indiana University Indianapolis in the United States is a natural reference; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers bioinformatics as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is Victoria University of Wellington?
At Kelburn, in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.
When was it founded?
In 1897, by an Act of the New Zealand Parliament.
When did it become independent?
In 1961.
Which campuses does it have?
Kelburn, Pipitea, Te Aro and premises in Auckland.
Where is Law taught?
At the Pipitea campus, near Parliament.
How many students does it have?
20,939 in 2024.
How many faculties does it have?
Seven.
Which Nobel laureate studied there?
Alan MacDiarmid, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2000.
Which filmmakers studied there?
Jane Campion and Taika Waititi.
What does it cost?
Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff.
Architecture, Engineering, Environment, Innovation, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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