University of Waikato

Welcome to the University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, where a world of possibilities and opportunities await you. Whether you are looking for a degree that will prepare you for a rewarding career, a research programme that will challenge you and make an impact, or a study abroad experience that will enrich your life, you will find it here at Waikato. Learn more about how to apply.

We are proud to be one of the leading universities in New Zealand, with a position of 250th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. 

We have world renowned schools offering a broad range of programmes - ten of our subjects are ranked by QS in the top 300 globally. In addition we are home to the Waikato Management School, which is ranked number 1 in New Zealand for Business and Economics (in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject). Our management school has achieved Triple Crown Accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS and is in the top 1% of business schools globally.

Our School of Education is one of New Zealand's largest providers of initial teacher education as well as providing national and international in-service teacher professional development.  Both of these are informed by our cutting edge Research through the Wilf Malcolm Institute for Education Research. 

Our School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences became the first New Zealand member of the international group of iSchools in 2016, a partnership of the world's leading information technology schools. In 2021, we launched The Artificial Intelligence Institute so we could better leverage AI for the benefit of our communities. We are focused on real-time analytics for big data and have created some of the world's most popular open source tools for machine learning, such as WEKA (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis). Since its creation in 1993, WEKA has been downloaded more than 10 million times and has also been cited in more than 18,000 research and applied data science publications. 

The University is internationally recognised for its excellence across the humanities and social sciences. We have a vibrant set of programmes across the Arts, including world class facilities for opera, music and performance, as well as thriving schools of Law, Psychology and Social Sciences. Likewise in the sciences and engineering, which is accredited by the world famous Washington Accord, we offer a wide range of programmes from our schools of Science, Engineering and Health, including Sport and Human Performance. 

Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, provides global leadership in sustainable development and indigenous issues, and our staff include leading researchers in issues pertaining to Māori and Pacific Development, indigenous studies and culture and language revitalization.

We are proud of the positive impact of our research and education, and this has been recognised with a top 100 worldwide position in the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and the QS Sustainability Rankings. Both these measure universities’ commitment to driving and delivering lasting change across the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. An example is our Bachelor of Climate Change degree, which was the first of its kind in the world, combining scientific knowledge and an understanding of people, global economic and political systems. 

Established in 1964, the university has two campuses. Our original campus is located in Hamilton city and we opened another campus in Tauranga in 2019. Both cities are the heart of New Zealand’s export driven economy. The campuses offer modern facilities, vibrant student life, and easy access to nature and recreation. You will enjoy the benefits of a close-knit university where you will be known as an individual and nurtured throughout your time with us by our dedicated team of international student support advisors. In addition to academic support, international students are assisted consistently throughout their studies, from peer-to-peer student buddies, on-campus nurses and doctors, to counselors and career advisors. In addition, international students also have the opportunity to apply for numerous bursaries and scholarships at the university.

We are a university that not only delivers a world-class education and research portfolio, but also provides a full and dynamic university experience. We have strong partnerships with industry, government and community organizations, which will enable us to provide you with practical learning opportunities and career pathways. You will gain valuable hands-on experience through our work-integrated learning papers, internships, and industry projects, which are part of all of our undergraduate degrees and many of our taught masters programmes.

With a supportive academic environment and a culturally diverse student community, the University of Waikato is the perfect choice for international students seeking quality education and a dynamic university experience. Don't just take our word for it. The overwhelming majority of Waikato international students recommended the university to others (as per the 2023 student barometer survey). 

Apply now and get ready for an amazing journey with us. We look forward to welcoming you to our whānau (family)!