Universities in New Zealand

Every public university in New Zealand ranks in the global top 500. You cannot make a wrong choice. The question is which one is right for you.

The 8 Public Universities

QS rankings: 2026 edition · Fees indicative, in NZD

University of Auckland

QS #65
Auckland·Est. 1883
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 47,000–58,000
Intakes:February (S1) · July (S2)
Strength areas
BusinessEngineeringComputer ScienceHealth Sciences
Top courses for Indian students
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) · 1 yr
  • Master of Information Technology · 1 yr
  • Master of Engineering Studies · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) · 4 yrs
  • Bachelor of Commerce · 3 yrs
  • Master of Professional Accounting · 1.5 yrs

University of Otago

QS #197
Dunedin·Est. 1869
IELTS6.0 (no band below 6.0)Tuition / yrNZD 33,000–46,000
Intakes:February · July
Strength areas
MedicineDentistryBiomedical SciencesMarine Science
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) · 6 yrs
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) · 5 yrs
  • Master of Business (MBus) · 1 yr
  • Master of Biomedical Sciences · 1 yr
  • Master of Marine Science · 1 yr
  • Master of Public Health · 1.5 yrs

Victoria University of Wellington

QS #240
Wellington·Est. 1897
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 35,000–47,000
Intakes:February (T1) · July (T2)
Strength areas
Public PolicyLawArchitectureComputer Graphics
Top courses for Indian students
  • Master of Architecture (Professional) · 2 yrs
  • Master of Information Technology · 1 yr
  • Master of Computer Graphic Sciences · 1.5 yrs
  • Master of Public Policy · 1 yr
  • Master of Data Science · 1.5 yrs
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) · 4 yrs

Massey University

QS #230
Palmerston North · Auckland · Wellington·Est. 1927
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 34,000–46,000
Intakes:February · July · November (select courses)
Strength areas
AgricultureVeterinary ScienceAviationFood Technology
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Aviation (Air Transport Pilot) · 3 yrs
  • Bachelor of Veterinary Science · 5 yrs
  • Master of Food Technology · 2 yrs
  • Master of Agribusiness · 1 yr
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Construction · 3 yrs

University of Waikato

QS #281
Hamilton·Est. 1964
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 32,000–48,000
Intakes:March (A) · July (B)
Strength areas
Computer ScienceManagementCybersecurityEnvironment
Top courses for Indian students
  • Master of Cyber Security · 1 yr
  • Master of Computer Science · 1 yr
  • Master of Management Studies · 1 yr
  • Master of Environmental Sciences · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Computing & Mathematical Sciences · 3 yrs
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) · 4 yrs

University of Canterbury

QS #261
Christchurch·Est. 1873
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 35,000–52,000
Intakes:February · July
Strength areas
Civil EngineeringForestryDisaster ResilienceAstronomy
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil · 4 yrs
  • Master of Engineering Studies · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Forestry Science · 4 yrs
  • Master of Disaster Risk & Resilience · 1 yr
  • Master of Financial Engineering · 1 yr
  • Master of Business Information Systems · 1 yr

Lincoln University

QS #407
Lincoln (near Christchurch)·Est. 1878
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 33,000–45,000
Intakes:February · July
Strength areas
AgribusinessViticultureEnvironmentLandscape
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Agribusiness & Food Marketing · 3 yrs
  • Master of Wine & Viticulture · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Landscape Architecture · 4 yrs
  • Master of Environmental Policy & Management · 1 yr
  • Master of Sport & Recreation Management · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) · 3 yrs

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

QS #410
Auckland·Est. 2000
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 39,921–45,721
Intakes:February (S1) · July (S2)
Strength areas
HospitalityCommunicationSport ScienceDesign
Top courses for Indian students
  • Master of Hospitality Management · 1 yr
  • Master of Sport, Exercise & Health · 1 yr
  • Master of Communication Studies · 1 yr
  • Bachelor of Design · 3 yrs
  • Master of Engineering Project Management · 1 yr
  • Master of Computer & Information Sciences · 1 yr
Alternative pathway

ITPs and Polytechnics

More affordable, more practical, often a faster pathway to a Post-Study Work Visa. Nine regional institutions across the country, same NZQA-accredited qualifications, lower fees, smaller class sizes.

Otago Polytechnic

Dunedin · Auckland International Campus
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 23,000–30,000
Strength areas
EngineeringITdesignhospitalitymidwifery
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Information Technology
  • Bachelor of Engineering Technology
  • Master of Design Enterprise
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Management

Wintec, Te Pūkenga (Hamilton)

Hamilton
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 25,000–32,000
Strength areas
Nursingbusinesstradesmedia artsengineering
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Engineering Technology
  • Diploma in Cookery (Level 4–5)

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)

Auckland (South)
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 25,000–30,000
Strength areas
EngineeringautomotivehealthcareIT
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Engineering Technology
  • Bachelor of Applied Information Technology
  • Diploma in Automotive Engineering
  • Bachelor of Nursing

Unitec Institute of Technology

Auckland (Mt Albert · Waitākere)
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 26,000–30,000
Strength areas
ConstructionITanimal managementsocial practice
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Construction (Construction Management)
  • Bachelor of Computing Systems
  • Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Cybersecurity

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Christchurch · Timaru · Ashburton
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 20,000–26,000
Strength areas
ArchitecturebusinessICThospitalitynursing
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Architectural Studies
  • Bachelor of Information & Communication Technologies
  • Bachelor of Hospitality Management
  • Bachelor of Nursing

NMIT, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology

Nelson · Marlborough
IELTS6.5 (no band below 6.0)Tuition / yrNZD 25,000–32,000
Strength areas
AviationviticulturemaritimeconservationIT
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Aviation (Airline Preparation)
  • Bachelor of Viticulture & Winemaking
  • Bachelor of IT
  • New Zealand Certificate in Conservation

EIT, Eastern Institute of Technology

Hawke's Bay · Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) · Auckland
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 24,000–26,000
Strength areas
Viticulturenursingcomputingbusinesswine science
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Computing Systems
  • Bachelor of Wine Science
  • Bachelor of Business Studies
  • Bachelor of Nursing

WelTec, Wellington Institute of Technology

Wellington · Lower Hutt
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 27,000–30,000
Strength areas
EngineeringITdesignhospitalityconstruction
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Engineering Technology
  • Bachelor of IT (Networking · Software Development)
  • Bachelor of Creativity in Design
  • Diploma in Hospitality Management

SIT, Southern Institute of Technology

Invercargill · Queenstown · Gore
IELTS6.0 (no band below 5.5)Tuition / yrNZD 19,000–26,000
Strength areas
Aviationaudio productionbusinesshospitality
Top courses for Indian students
  • Bachelor of Commercial Aviation
  • Bachelor of Audio Production
  • Bachelor of Applied Management
  • Bachelor of Hospitality Management

Note: Te Pūkenga (the national merged entity) is being broken back into regional polytechnics through 2026. Names above reflect the regional brands currently used for international recruitment.

Our framework

How to choose: a simple 3-step approach

These three filters, in this order, narrow the field fast.

1

Set your budget

Total cost for a year ranges from INR 20L (Hamilton, Dunedin) to INR 35L (Auckland Masters). Decide your real number first. It eliminates half the options instantly.

2

Match course strength

Each NZ uni is genuinely best-in-class for something. Otago for medicine, Lincoln for agribusiness, Auckland for business, Canterbury for engineering. Pick the uni that's deep in YOUR field.

3

Consider city lifestyle

Auckland is busy and Indian-heavy. Wellington is cultural and political. Christchurch and Dunedin are quieter but cheaper. Your city shapes your life more than your campus does.

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