About Victoria University of Wellington
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is a public university located in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, with additional premises in Auckland. It was founded more than 125 years ago with a mandate for close involvement in the social, cultural, and economic life of its city and region.
The university has around 22,000 students and approximately 2,200 full-time equivalent staff, more than 1,000 of whom are involved in teaching and research. It is governed by the University Council, with the Vice-Chancellor serving as chief executive.
The university is organised into seven faculties, six of which conduct teaching and research. The seventh, the Faculty of Graduate Research, administers doctoral students' candidature. Toihuarewa is a university-wide faculty equivalent that provides a forum for Māori academic issues and ensures appropriate Māori content across teaching and research programmes.
The Māori name Te Herenga Waka — meaning "the mooring place of canoes" — is also the name of the university's marae, which includes the first fully carved wharenui established at a New Zealand university. The marae has been part of the university community for more than three decades.
The university describes its role as that of a global–civic university, treating community engagement as a core function alongside teaching and research, in both local and international contexts. It has established the Capital City Universities Initiative, which connects capital city universities to foster evidence-based global governance through their relationships with government leaders and decision-makers.
The Wellington School of Business and Government holds the Triple Crown of international business school accreditations: EQUIS, AACSB (Business), and AMBA.
Faculties and Schools
Victoria University of Wellington is organised into the following faculties:
- Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation / Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa, comprising the School of Architecture / Te Kura Waihanga and the School of Design Innovation / Te Kura Hoahoa.
- Wellington School of Business and Government / Orauariki, comprising the School of Accounting and Commercial Law / Te Kura Kaute, Ture Tauhokohoko; School of Economics and Finance / Te Kura Ohaoha Pūtea; School of Government / Te Kura Kāwanatanga; School of Information Management / Te Kura Tiaki, Whakawhiti Kōrero; School of Management / Te Kura Whakahaere; and School of Marketing and International Business / Te Kura Hokohoko, Pakihi ki te Ao.
- Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences / Te Pukenga Wai, comprising the School of Education / Te Whānau O Ako Pai; School of Health / Te Puna Hauora; and School of Psychological Sciences / Te Kura Mātai Hinengaro.
- Faculty of Graduate Research / Te Here Tāura Rangahau.
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences / Te Wāhanga Aronui, comprising the School of Arts and Media / Te Kura Kōmanawa; School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations / Te Kura Aro Whakamuri, Rapunga Whakaaro, Matai Tōrangapū me te Ao; School of Languages and Cultures / Te Kura o ngā Reo me ngā Tikanga-ā-iwi; School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies / Te Kura Tātari Reo; School of Social and Cultural Studies / Te Kura Mahinga Tangata; International Institute of Modern Letters / Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao; and New Zealand School of Music / Te Kōkī.
- Iho Māori, comprising Te Kawa a Māui / School of Māori Studies.
- Faculty of Law / Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture.
- Te Wāhanga a Manaia—Faculty of Science and Engineering, comprising the School of Biological Sciences / Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora; School of Chemical and Physical Sciences / Te Wānanga Matū; School of Engineering and Computer Science / Te Kura Mātai Pūkaha, Pūrorohiko; School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences / Te Kura Tātai Aro Whenua; School of Mathematics and Statistics / Te Kura Mātai Taturanga; and School of Science in Society.
Campuses
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington operates across several campuses and sites in Wellington and Auckland.
- Kelburn campus — the main campus, located centrally in Wellington on Kelburn Parade, approximately ten to fifteen minutes' walk from the city centre. It is accessible by bus and from the Wellington Cable Car.
- Pipitea campus — located in Wellington's CBD opposite Parliament, adjacent to Wellington's railway station and bus terminus. It includes Government Buildings and Rutherford House, and serves approximately 6,000 students.
- Te Aro campus — located at 139 Vivian Street in Wellington's Cuba Quarter, near the Cuba Street intersection.
- Auckland premises — located in the Auckland CBD, offering some courses in education, business, and architecture and design innovation.
- Miramar Creative Centre — a Wellington site focused on film-making, game design, visual effects, exhibition design, and multimedia design.
Address
Where Victoria University of Wellington is based, taken directly from the Ministry of Education's own address record for this provider.
Approximate location, estimated from the provider's address via OpenStreetMap — not an official Ministry-verified coordinate. View larger map →
- StreetKelburn Parade
- SuburbKelburn
- CityWellington
- Postcode6140
- Territorial authorityWellington City
- RegionWellington Region
Contact Victoria University of Wellington
Find the published contact details for Victoria University of Wellington, including its phone number, website and other available contact information.
- Phone+64800040404
- Emailinfo@vuw.ac.nz
- Fax04-4712070
- Websitewww.vuw.ac.nz
Contact details combine official Ministry of Education records with information published on Victoria University of Wellington's own website, reviewed by the KuraData team on 14 September 2026.
Other universities in New Zealand
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Massey University Palmerston North
-
University of Auckland Auckland Central
-
University of Otago Dunedin North
-
University of Waikato Hillcrest
Entry Requirements for International Students
Undergraduate entry requirements
Applicants must have completed one of the following:
- A recognised high school qualification
- A recognised foundation studies programme
- At least one year of tertiary-level study towards a qualification equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor's degree at a recognised institution
- An approved partnership and pathway programme
Minimum scores for selected international high school qualifications are:
- IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma: minimum 24 points
- CAIE A Levels (UK): three GCE A-Level passes at grade C or higher
- CAIE A Levels (outside UK): three GCE A-Level passes, with at least one subject at grade C or higher
- CAIE AS Levels: two AS Levels may substitute one A-Level (subjects must differ from A-Level subjects); total score must equal 120 points on the NZ Tariff
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: considered at the university's discretion
- IAD (International Advanced Diploma): three GCE A-Level passes at grade C or higher
The standard English language requirement for Bachelor's degrees is IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall, with no band below 5.5. Two programmes require a higher standard of IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with no band below 7.0: the Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood Education and the Bachelor of Midwifery.
Postgraduate entry requirements
Applicants typically need a qualification equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution. In selected programmes, relevant work experience may substitute for a degree, subject to approval by the Head of School on a case-by-case basis. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission.
PhD applications follow a separate process from other postgraduate programmes and use a different application system.
Applying and Enrolling
Victoria University of Wellington uses a two-step process to enrol in a new qualification. First, applicants apply for a place in their chosen programme — a certificate, diploma, Bachelor's, Honours, or Master's degree — through the university's Pūaha online portal. Once an Offer of Place is received, applicants complete enrolment by selecting their courses online.
Current students must re-enrol and select courses each year of a multi-year degree. Students returning to begin an Honours or Master's degree must first apply for the new qualification before selecting courses.
International students apply through the same Pūaha portal or through an agent portal. PhD and other doctoral applicants — both domestic and international — apply through the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research.
Published application deadlines include:
- 20 January 2027 to begin a new programme in Trimester 1 (some programmes have earlier deadlines)
- 19 November 2026 for admission applications to commence study in Trimester 3
Separate deadlines apply for international students.
Student Fees
Domestic undergraduate tuition fees (2026)
Tuition fees are calculated per point based on subject area and level of study. The figures below are estimated costs for 2026, including GST.
| Subject area | Cost per point (incl. GST) | Estimated cost per average full-time year (120 points, incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities and Social Sciences | $57.80 | $6,936.00 |
| Education | $57.80 | $6,936.00 |
| Music | $73.15 | $8,778.00 |
| Health (HLWB) and Wellbeing | $71.07 | $8,528.40 |
| Midwifery | $80.45 | $9,654.00 |
| Commerce | $68.00 | $8,160.00 |
| Law | $68.00 | $8,160.00 |
| Mathematics and Statistics | $63.55 | $7,626.00 |
| Architecture | $80.37 | $9,644.40 |
| Design | $72.23 | $8,667.60 |
| Psychology and Computer Science | $72.23 | $8,667.60 |
| Chemical, Physical, Biological and Earth Sciences | $73.01 | $8,761.20 |
| Engineering | $84.63 | $10,155.60 |
Student Services Fee (2026)
The Student Services Fee (SSF) is compulsory for all enrolled students, whether domestic or international, full-time or part-time. The rate depends on the total points enrolled (up to a maximum of 150 points / 1.25 EFTS) and on whether the student is studying from within the Wellington region.
| Study location | Rate per point (incl. GST) | Example: 15-point course (incl. GST) | Example: 120 points / 1 EFTS (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within the Wellington region (on campus or online) | $10.441 | $156.601 | $1,252.801 |
| Outside Wellington (elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas) | $5.221 | $78.301 | $626.401 |
Student Hardship Fee (2026)
A Student Hardship Fee of $32 (GST included) is charged annually to all enrolled students. These funds are used to assist students experiencing exceptional financial hardship.
International Students
International students at Victoria University of Wellington pay tuition fees calculated per course, based on the level of study (undergraduate or postgraduate), the per-point cost of the subject area, and the point value of the course (typically 15 or 20 points).
Several programmes are charged at a flat point rate rather than a course rate for international students:
- Study Abroad
- Master of Conservation Biology
- Master of Marine Conservation
- Master of International Trade
- Master of Information Studies (including the nested qualifications PGDipIS and PGCertIS)
In addition to tuition fees, all students pay a compulsory Student Services Fee and a compulsory Student Hardship Fee. International students are also required to hold approved medical and travel insurance and a valid visa, both renewed annually.
Students who need assistance meeting fee payment deadlines in time for visa renewal can contact the Student Fees Advisors at student-finance@vuw.ac.nz.
The tables below show 2026 international tuition fees, including GST, for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
| Subject area | Cost per point (NZD incl. GST) | Average full-time year — 120 points (NZD incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||
| Humanities and Social Sciences | $294.68 | $35,361.60 |
| Education | $294.68 | $35,361.60 |
| Music | $342.74 | $41,128.80 |
| Health and Midwifery | $311.40 | $37,368.00 |
| Commerce | $312.88 | $37,545.60 |
| Law | $344.36 | $41,323.20 |
| Science | $337.20 | $40,464.00 |
| Design | $349.05 | $41,886.00 |
| Architecture | $370.58 | $44,469.60 |
| Engineering | $387.09 | $46,450.80 |
| Postgraduate (most courses) | ||
| Humanities and Social Sciences | $319.18 | $38,301.60 |
| Education | $319.18 | $38,301.60 |
| Music | $369.38 | $44,325.60 |
| Commerce | $323.26 | $38,791.20 |
| Law | $363.99 | $43,678.80 |
| Science | $378.60 | $45,432.00 |
Curated by the KuraData team from Victoria University of Wellington's own website, reviewed 14 September 2026.
Data source
- SourceTertiary Providers Directory — Ministry of Education
- KuraData last checked6 September 2026
- Editorial content based onVictoria University of Wellington's official website — reviewed 14 September 2026