Victoria University of Wellington

Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city university and celebrates its 125th year in 2022. It is a world-ranked university with a proud tradition of academic excellence.

The University is located at the heart of New Zealand in Wellington, across three vibrant city campuses. Like Wellington—recently­ ranked the world's most liveable capital city (The Global Liveability Index 2021) —the University actively encourages creativity, innovation, and sustainability, as seen in globally-ranked research, the Miramar Creative Centre, the Atom Innovation Lab, and our commitment to being a zero carbon University by 2030.

Wellington’s capital city status gives the University networks and relationships with many national organisations, including with leaders and thinkers in politics, government, culture and heritage, business, and science. The University’s Kelburn campus is just a short walk from New Zealand’s Parliament buildings, where government officials meet to discuss and pass legislature. Wellington is a compact city with easy access to nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and events. It is also multicultural, safe, and friendly and has a reputation for great food and coffee.

Victoria University of Wellington is the top university in New Zealand for research intensity (New Zealand’s main measure of research excellence) and is home to more than 40 research institutes. With more than 170 subjects to choose from, the University fosters critical thinking and provides its students with knowledge and practical skills through internships, field trips, and research projects.

Te Herenga Waka, the University’s marae (Māori meeting house and surroundings), is the centre of our commitment to tikanga Māori (Māori cultural practices) and is central for students and whānau (family) on campus. The University is also proud of its Living Pā project: a redevelopment of the marae to connect to the past to inform our future. As a purpose-built living lab, the Living Pā will be an incubator for innovation, and a place for multiple communities and disciplines to come together to discuss how we can build a more equitable, fair, and sustainable society.

The University’s core ethical values are respect, responsibility, fairness, integrity, and empathy. These core ethical values are demonstrated in our commitment to sustainability, wellbeing, inclusivity, equity, diversity, collegiality, and openness. The University also lives its core values through its diverse and welcoming community, and offers students support through a range of wellbeing and learning services, including a specialist international support team that provides advice and support to students during their studies.

Victoria University of Wellington is committed to global citizenship, contributing to the resolution of international challenges, and preparing critically informed, globally confident graduates.