Your input will help us improve your experience.You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.
New Zealand’s largest city earns a particularly strong score for student mix, thanks to its large and diverse student community, combined with an inclusive and tolerant culture.
Other high scores for Auckland come in the desirability and employer activity indicators, showing it’s both an in-demand and comfortable place to live, and a favoured recruiting ground for graduate employers.
Its weak spot is affordability, due to comparatively high tuition fees and living costs. But don’t let costs dissuade you – the city has plenty to offer in return.
Auckland is particularly well-known for its multicultural diversity, and (like most of New Zealand), for the wide range of adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer in and around the local area – climbing, jet-skiing, diving, snowboarding, sailing, canyoning, surfing – pretty much anything you can think of. This is definitely a good choice for students who like to unwind by getting active! There’s also plenty of culture on offer, from classical music to the huge annual Pasifika Festival.
There are more than 200 different cultural groups from around the world living in the city, giving Auckland a rich cultural mix that’s reflected in our restaurants, meeting places, events, music and art.
Outstanding lifestyle
Students can discover an excellent balance between work, study and play in Auckland. As an international student you can work up to 20 hours per week, so why not earn while you study and take advantage of Auckland’s superb shopping, dining and outdoor lifestyle in your free time.
And there's so many things to see and do in Auckland too! Where else can you go sailing, horse riding, hiking, surfing, paddle boarding or mountain biking all within an hour of the city centre? Dive into our calendar of events year round, including cultural festivals, sports events, concerts and theatre.
Careers in Auckland
With 1.6 million people and counting, and home to a third of the country’s population, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and one of its fastest growing too.
As New Zealand’s financial and economic powerhouse, the city needs skilled people to help us grow and there are opportunities in many sectors.
What is the cost of studying in Auckland?
It may surprise you that studying in Auckland could actually cost more than the average tuition in London (US$21,000) at US$22,500.
Numbeo estimates that a single person's living cost without rent will be NZ$1,495.47 (US$1,032). Whereas a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre would set you back US$1,322.73.
Boasting a high quality of life, low cost of living and a number of job opportunities, there are a lot of options available for graduates considering work in New Zealand.
There are currently plenty of job openings in industries such as engineering, IT and medicine - however, there are also opportunities to contribute more general skills.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a huge number of New Zealand businesses, even the country's big businesses are considered small by international standards. Higher education institutions, IBM and New Zealand Air are all popular graduate employers.
Niamh is Deputy Head of Content at QS (TopMBA.com; topuniversities.com), creating and editing content for an international student audience. Having gained her journalism qualification at the Press Association, London and since written for different international publications, she's now enjoying telling the stories of students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs and organizations from across the globe.
Views
Study in Auckland
Niamh Ollerton
Updated Jul 14, 2025Save
Share
Share via
Share this Page12
Table of contents
Table of contents
New Zealand’s largest city earns a particularly strong score for student mix, thanks to its large and diverse student community, combined with an inclusive and tolerant culture.
Other high scores for Auckland come in the desirability and employer activity indicators, showing it’s both an in-demand and comfortable place to live, and a favoured recruiting ground for graduate employers.
Its weak spot is affordability, due to comparatively high tuition fees and living costs. But don’t let costs dissuade you – the city has plenty to offer in return.
Auckland is particularly well-known for its multicultural diversity, and (like most of New Zealand), for the wide range of adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer in and around the local area – climbing, jet-skiing, diving, snowboarding, sailing, canyoning, surfing – pretty much anything you can think of. This is definitely a good choice for students who like to unwind by getting active! There’s also plenty of culture on offer, from classical music to the huge annual Pasifika Festival.
Top universities in Auckland
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
Auckland's QS Best Student Cities performance
Why study in Auckland
A city rich with culture
There are more than 200 different cultural groups from around the world living in the city, giving Auckland a rich cultural mix that’s reflected in our restaurants, meeting places, events, music and art.
Outstanding lifestyle
Students can discover an excellent balance between work, study and play in Auckland. As an international student you can work up to 20 hours per week, so why not earn while you study and take advantage of Auckland’s superb shopping, dining and outdoor lifestyle in your free time.
And there's so many things to see and do in Auckland too! Where else can you go sailing, horse riding, hiking, surfing, paddle boarding or mountain biking all within an hour of the city centre? Dive into our calendar of events year round, including cultural festivals, sports events, concerts and theatre.
Careers in Auckland
With 1.6 million people and counting, and home to a third of the country’s population, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and one of its fastest growing too.
As New Zealand’s financial and economic powerhouse, the city needs skilled people to help us grow and there are opportunities in many sectors.
What is the cost of studying in Auckland?
It may surprise you that studying in Auckland could actually cost more than the average tuition in London (US$21,000) at US$22,500.
Numbeo estimates that a single person's living cost without rent will be NZ$1,495.47 (US$1,032). Whereas a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre would set you back US$1,322.73.
Testimonials
Careers in Auckland
Boasting a high quality of life, low cost of living and a number of job opportunities, there are a lot of options available for graduates considering work in New Zealand.
There are currently plenty of job openings in industries such as engineering, IT and medicine - however, there are also opportunities to contribute more general skills.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a huge number of New Zealand businesses, even the country's big businesses are considered small by international standards. Higher education institutions, IBM and New Zealand Air are all popular graduate employers.
Search for jobs in New Zealand at:
+ 3 others
saved this article
+ 4 others saved this article
Niamh is Deputy Head of Content at QS (TopMBA.com; topuniversities.com), creating and editing content for an international student audience. Having gained her journalism qualification at the Press Association, London and since written for different international publications, she's now enjoying telling the stories of students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs and organizations from across the globe.
Recommended articles Last year
Why you should choose Rome for your social sciences degree
Top universities in the most affordable UK cities
Study in Dallas