University Education In New Zealand: Student Population Insights

New Zealand has eight universities, all of which are public and ranked within the top 600 universities in the world. In 2023, there were 177,210 university students in New Zealand, including 147,915 domestic students and 29,300 international students. This was a slight decrease from 2022, when there were 175,240 university students in the country. New Zealand has approximately one university for every 500,000 people, which is in line with international norms.

University student numbers in 2023

Overview

As of 2023, there are eight universities in New Zealand, all of which are public. These universities offer a diverse range of study opportunities and are highly ranked globally. The latest data from 2023 shows that there were 177,210 university students in New Zealand. This includes both domestic and international students, with the number of international students steadily climbing after the country's borders reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic Students

Out of the total student population, 147,915 are domestic students, including 18,420 Māori students (13%) and 13,675 Pacific students (9%). This means that domestic students make up the majority of the university population in New Zealand.

International Students

In contrast, there were 29,300 international students in New Zealand's universities in 2023, accounting for 17% of the total student population. The number of international students had been significantly impacted by the country's border closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many opting for alternative study destinations. However, as of 2023, international enrolments are on the rise again, and the New Zealand government is supportive of the sector's recovery.

Postgraduate Students

Additionally, it is worth noting that a substantial proportion of university students in New Zealand are pursuing postgraduate studies. Approximately 43% of the student population, amounting to over 43,100 students, are enrolled in postgraduate programmes.

University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is one of the leading universities in New Zealand and is ranked highly in various international university ranking systems. It offers a range of faculties, including Humanities, Social Sciences, Māori and Indigenous Studies, and Health Sciences.

University student numbers in 2018

In 2018, there were 175,240 university students in New Zealand, including 49,400 postgraduate students (29%). The number of students enrolled in formal study at tertiary providers increased by 2.3% from 2022 to 2023, reaching 385,050. This growth was driven by a 28% increase in international student numbers, which rose from 33,470 in 2022 to 42,695 in 2023. Despite this increase, international student numbers in 2023 were still lower than pre-COVID years, such as in 2019 when there were 59,700 international students.

New Zealand has eight universities, including the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury, and Auckland University of Technology. In 2021, these universities provided tertiary education to over 182,900 students or 142,720 equivalent full-time students (EFTS).

The University of Auckland, the country's largest research organisation, played a significant role in these enrolments. With over 13,000 staff and postgraduate students involved in research, the university generates around $230 million in annual research revenue. In the 2018 Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) evaluation, the University of Auckland had 33% of the top-rated researchers in the country and secured 30% of the overall funding.

New Zealand's universities offer a wide range of study opportunities, and all are ranked within the world's top 600 (3%). The country's graduates enjoy excellent outcomes, with high completion and employment rates and low under-employment rates. The strong reputation of New Zealand's universities attracts international students, with 93% citing it as their primary reason for choosing to study in the country.

Domestic vs international students

New Zealand is home to eight universities, all of which are ranked in the top 3% worldwide. In 2023, there were 177,210 university students in New Zealand, including both domestic and international students. Of these, 147,915 were New Zealand students, 18,420 of whom were Māori and 13,675 of whom were Pacific Islanders. The remaining 29,300 students were international, making up 17% of the total student population.

The definition of a domestic student in New Zealand is determined by the type of visa an individual holds. According to the Education Act, a domestic student is a New Zealand citizen or a holder of a residence-class visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 who satisfies the prescribed criteria. A person may also be treated as a domestic student if they fall into a class or description of persons required by the Minister and published in the Gazette. Domestic students pay lower fees than international students, which are typically half to a third of the international rate.

International students are those who do not hold New Zealand or Australian citizenship or permanent residence status. They are required to pay international fees, which are higher than domestic fees. The visa status of international students determines whether they pay domestic or international fees, regardless of how long they have lived in New Zealand or if they were residing there before enrolment.

The strong reputation of New Zealand universities is a key factor attracting international students, with 93% citing this as their reason for choosing to study in the country. New Zealand universities offer a wide range of study opportunities and are highly ranked globally, with top rankings in 31 out of 54 subjects. The universities also produce excellent graduate outcomes, with high completion and employment rates and low under-employment rates.

Undergraduate vs postgraduate students

There are eight universities in New Zealand, with a total of 177,210 university students as of 2023. This includes both domestic and international students. In this answer, I will discuss the differences between undergraduate and postgraduate students in New Zealand.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate programmes include a large number of subjects and create the initial foundation for further higher education or career development. Undergraduate programmes are designed to help school graduates get the first level of higher education and lead to a bachelor's degree. The bachelor's programme lasts from three to six years, depending on the field of study, and gives students the right to gain about 180-240 credits. To enrol in a bachelor's degree programme, students need to have a high school diploma. There are several types of bachelor's degrees offered in New Zealand, including:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Education (BEd)
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BN, BSN, BScN)
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM, BMed, MBBS, etc.)
• Bachelor of Computer Science (BSC)

Postgraduate Students

Postgraduate study is when a student finishes their first degree and wants to study another qualification that builds on this. For example, a student who finishes a Bachelor of Arts might then study a Master of Arts. Postgraduate courses are listed at level 8 or above in the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and can include postgraduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, and bachelor's degrees with honours. Postgraduate education begins with a master's degree, which is designed to make students experts in a particular field of science. The duration of this level is usually one to two years, but some programmes may be longer to accommodate the required number of teaching hours.

University student numbers by ethnicity

As of 2023, there were 177,210 university students in New Zealand, including both domestic and international students. Of these, 147,915 were New Zealand students, of whom 13% were Māori (18,420) and 9% were Pacific Islanders (13,675). This means that there were 29,300 international students in 2023, making up 17% of the total student population.

In 2021, universities in New Zealand provided tertiary education to over 182,900 students, or 142,720 equivalent full-time students (EFTS). The University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest university, with over 13,000 staff and postgraduate students involved in research. In 2023, women made up 55% of all enrolled students at the University of Auckland and represented a majority of all enrolments for six of the eight faculties.

Frequently asked questions