| University | QS Ranking | Location |
|---|---|---|
| University of Auckland | 65 | Auckland |
| University of Otago | 206 | Dunedin |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 240 | Wellington |
| University of Canterbury | 261 | Christchurch |
| Massey University | 239 | Palmerston North (multiple campuses) |
| University of Waikato | 244 | Hamilton |
| Lincoln University | 403 | Lincoln (near Christchurch) |
| AUT (Auckland University of Technology) | 407 | Auckland |
Academic specialisations
- Medicine / Dentistry / Pharmacy: Otago (home to New Zealand’s oldest medical school)
- Law / Political Science / Public Policy: Victoria (capital city advantage)
- Engineering / Aerospace: Canterbury, Auckland
- Agriculture / Veterinary Medicine / Food Science: Massey, Lincoln
- Management / Finance / Accounting: Auckland, Otago, Victoria
- Creative Industries / Design: AUT, Massey
- Māori Studies / Anthropology: Waikato, Otago
Admission standards (Bachelor’s level entry)
- 985- and 211-sector backgrounds, or high school results above your province’s first-tier university cutoff (some institutions accept direct high school entry); or high school graduation plus one year of foundation study
- IELTS 6.0–6.5 (individual components no lower than 5.5–6.0)
- Some programmes (medicine, law, design) require additional assessments
Admission standards (Master’s level entry)
- Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury: 985/211-sector applicants with 80+ GPA, non-211 applicants with 85+ GPA
- Otago, Waikato, Massey, Lincoln, AUT: 985/211-sector applicants with 75+ GPA, non-211 applicants with 80+ GPA
- IELTS 6.5, individual components no lower than 6.0; research-focused programmes sometimes require 7.0
Tuition (international students, annual)
- Business Master’s: NZD 35,000–50,000
- Engineering Master’s: NZD 40,000–55,000
- Medicine-related programmes: NZD 75,000–85,000
- Annual living expenses: NZD 18,000–25,000 (Auckland, Wellington)
Post-graduation employment and residency
- Post-Study Work Visa: Bachelor’s (three-year programme) graduates get three years of open work visa; even a one-year Master’s confers three years of open work visa
- Skilled migration via Green List: occupations like medicine, engineering, architecture, IT, and teaching qualify for direct resident visa application
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): employer-sponsored work visa pathway
- Key advantage over Australia: New Zealand’s three-year post-graduation work visa is statutory and stable — unlike Australia’s temporary visa schemes, it’s not subject to policy reversals
Application timeline (July 2026 intake as an example)
- December 2025 – January 2026: Submit applications
- February–March 2026: Receive offers, pay deposits
- April–May 2026: Health checks, police clearances, gather financial documentation
- May–June 2026: Submit student visa application
- June–July 2026: Visa approval, book flights
- July 2026: Arrive and enrol
UNILINK’s New Zealand service
- Full partnership network: all eight universities plus AUT are UNILINK partner institutions
- Student visa (subclass) GS statements: included at no additional cost
- Migration-focused planning: we connect you with New Zealand immigration lawyers at application time, so your degree pathway aligns with your longer-term residency goals
Ready to explore New Zealand? Complete our intake form or get in touch via WeChat to discuss which universities match your background and ambitions.
Last updated: April 2026