Top Universities in New Zealand in 2026: Requirements & Fees
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Top universities in New Zealand offer world-class education, excellent research opportunities, and strong career outcomes to international students. Check out the article for the best universities' popular courses, average tuition fees, and more details
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The University of Auckland is ranked as the top university in New Zealand according to QS Rankings 2026. But are you aware of which are the other best universities in New Zealand for international students in 2026-27
Over the years, New Zealand has successfully emerged as one of the top study abroad destinations in the world. In today's article, we will explore the list of top universities in New Zealand for 2026-27, along with details on popular courses, requirements, fees, and more.
Top Universities in New Zealand in 2026
The top universities in New Zealand have been consistently ranked higher which apparently proves their finest education quality worldwide
Read further to know in detail about what courses and opportunities they offer.
|
University |
QS World Rank 2026 |
Popular Courses |
Annual Tuition Fees (NZD) |
|
The University of Auckland |
65 |
Engineering, Business, IT, Law, Medicine & Health Sciences, Arts & Design |
35,000 - 55,000 |
|
University of Otago |
197 |
Medicine & Health Sciences, Humanities, Business, Science, IT |
25,000 - 40,000 |
|
Massey University |
230 |
Business, Aviation, Agriculture, Engineering, Arts |
30,000 - 45,000 |
|
Victoria University of Wellington |
240 |
Law, Architecture, Humanities, Business, Science |
28,000 - 42,000 |
|
University of Canterbury |
261 |
Engineering, Science, Business, Education |
26,000 - 38,000 |
|
University of Waikato |
281 |
Cybersecurity, Mgmt, IT, Science, Business |
30,000 - 38,000 |
|
Lincoln University |
407 |
Agribusiness, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Tourism |
18,000 - 30,000 |
|
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) |
410 |
Hospitality, Tourism, IT, Design, Business |
29,000 - 46,000 |
Explore the听Top Universities in New Zealand for Masters听for international students in 2026-27
1. University of Auckland
Top University ranked within 100 in QS Rankings is located in Auckland which city stands under the top 30 of the QS Best Student Cities 2017. Its employment outcomes and the academic reputation has been consistently increasing and has reached a solid 80% in quantitative terms according to QS. By far, it is the largest and one of the best public universities in New Zealand for International students, consisting of 5 campuses and 8 faculties out of which 3 are research institutions.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
45% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Engineering, Business, IT, Law, Medicine & Health Sciences, Arts & Design |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
IELTS 6.5+, UCAT ANZ 1200-3600 (Medical), TOEFL UG - 80 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
ASEAN High Achievers Scholarship, India High Achievers Scholarship |
2. University of Otago
University of Otago is situated in Dunedin, creating a student-friendly atmosphere as Dunedin is one of the best places to study abroad. It has received a Five Stars Plus QS Stars University rating thrice in the past 10 years, making it one of the top universities in New Zealand. Medical Researchers and Specialists earn a high package after completing their studies from the campus in Wellington, which is a home to leading medicine practitioners.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
58% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Medicine & Health Sciences, Humanities, Business, Science, IT |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
IELTS 6, TOEFL UG 80 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
N G Stewart Scholarship, The Sophia McMillan Crestani Memorial University Scholarship |
3. Massey University
Massey University ranks 31 out of 1920 Universities for the academic specification in Animal Sciences and has more than 35,000 publications cited by almost 850,000 people all across the globe. The diversified environment in all 3 campuses where 5000+ international students apply from 100+ countries creates a multi-cultural lifestyle.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
65% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Business, Aviation, Agriculture, Engineering, Arts |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
GPA 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale), IELTS 6+, TOEFL 80 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
Allan Kay Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship, Edna Waddell Undergraduate Scholarships for Women in Technology and Engineering |
4. Victoria University of Wellington
Established in 1897 and running by the motto 鈥淲isdom is more to be desired than gold,鈥� it is one of the top-ranked universities in New Zealand. It has been doing exceptionally well in the field of law, and the faculty has been recently ranked 65th in the world in the QS World University Rankings. Victoria University has around 40 research institutes and centers, providing students with the finest resources to have practical knowledge and to stand out while pursuing masters
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
64% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Law, Architecture, Humanities, Business, Science |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
IELTS 6+, TOEFL 67+, CAE 169, HIGH SCHOOL 65% |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship, Tongarewa Scholarship - for Excellence |
5. University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury is the first constituent college of the University of New Zealand which creates a strong alumni network and provides lectures from the most qualified professors. The university has over 140 academic, sporting, recreational and cultural societies and clubs, making it famous for extra curricular activities among the students. The university was the first in New Zealand to be granted five stars by QS Stars which has built credibility among the crowd.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
50% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Engineering, Science, Business, Education, Criminal Justice, Commerce, Arts |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
Mathematics at AS level, TOEFL-80, IELTS-6 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
Ada Wells Memorial Prize, Ah Nua Scholarship |
6. University of Waikato
University of Waikato, established in 1964, comparatively new to other top-ranked Universities, has gathered fame among the students in numerous subjects with a special focus on research. The name earned and the strong connections of the University with other notable institutions make it beneficial for students to bag a higher salary just after graduation. The Management School of the University has achieved Triple Crown Accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS and is also the best course to study abroad after 12th.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
72% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Cybersecurity, Management, IT, Science, Business |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
High School 85%, TOEFL-80, IELTS-6 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship for India, University of Waikato International Entrance Scholarship for School Leavers |
7. Lincoln University
It is the smallest university in New Zealand in terms of enrollment which accepts the candidature of highly selective students, making it even more prestigious. The University is doing exceptionally well in the field of ecology and wildlife management and has its own Entomology Research Collection (one of its kind in New Zealand). Higher scope of research lies here as it has been receiving the most amount of funding from the government which also lowers the cost of studying in public universities in New Zealand.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
60% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Agribusiness, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Tourism |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
IELTS 6.5+, TOEFL 80, HIGH SCHOOL (ENGLISH) 75% |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
International student merit scholarship |
8. Auckland University of Technology
The modern approach followed by the University attracts the crowd, and organizations around the world are drawn to the young blood. 86% of AUT's graduates are employed full-time within nine months of graduating from majors such as engineering, business, and health sciences. AUT bagged the 8th place in the 2006 Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) ranking and has been showing constant improvement over the past 10 years.
|
ACCEPTANCE RATE |
50% |
|
TOP COURSES OFFERED |
Business, Communications studies, Health science, Hospitality management, Tourism, IT, Design, Business |
|
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA |
HIGH SCHOOL 75%, IELTS 6+, TOEFL 80 |
|
SCHOLARSHIPS |
International Scholarship - Southeast Asia, International Scholarship - South Asia |
Choose the Best Universities in New Zealand for your further studies
In recent years, New Zealand has been witnessing a consistent increase in the number of students who are opting to study in universities overseas. The quality of Education and its conducive learning have contributed to making it one of the top study abroad destinations for many international students.听
If you are also looking for expert guidance for your study abroad requirements, reach out to听成人每日大赛, study abroad experts. Our team provides comprehensive guidance through your university selection process, meeting admission requirements, drafting SOP, securing LOR, to securing a New Zealand study visa, and more to ensure your best study abroad experience.
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