Massey University
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa
New Zealand's only vet school and only university pilot degree, on three campuses plus the country's largest distance programme.
- Students
- 26,099
- International
- 19%
- of students
- Tuition
- NZ$35,250
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1927
About Massey
Massey University began in 1927 as an agricultural college on farmland outside Palmerston North, became a full university in 1964, and marks its centenary in 2027. Its Māori name is Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa. Today it has campuses in Palmerston North (Manawatū), Auckland (Albany) and Wellington (Pukeahu), and in 2024 it taught 26,099 students, about 65% of them partly or fully online, the highest share of any New Zealand university.
Massey's strengths still reflect its farming roots. It is home to New Zealand's only veterinary school, whose Bachelor of Veterinary Science is accredited by the American and Canadian veterinary associations and ranked 14th in the world by QS in 2026, and it is the only New Zealand university where you can train as an airline pilot within a degree. It also has an art and design school in Wellington that traces back to 1886, alongside business, health, humanities and science.
Teaching and research are organised into five colleges: Massey Business School, Creative Arts, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Sciences. Massey suits students who want hands-on, applied study, such as vet science, agriculture, aviation, food technology or design, and anyone who needs the flexibility to mix on-campus and online courses.
Floreat scientia
“Let knowledge flourish” — university motto
Why students choose Massey
The five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science is New Zealand's only vet degree and is AVMA- and CVMA-accredited, so graduates can sit the North American licensing exam.
The Bachelor of Aviation integrates commercial pilot flight training with a university degree, something no other New Zealand university offers.
Massey ranks 49th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry and first in New Zealand in six QS subjects, including Development Studies and Art and Design (joint).
Students can combine on-campus study in Palmerston North, Auckland or Wellington with online courses, and 25% of on-campus students took at least one distance course in 2024.
Admissions
2027 intakes (Semester One from 22 February 2027, Semester Two from 12 July 2027)
Selectivity
Massey does not publish an acceptance rate. Most undergraduate degrees admit anyone who meets University Entrance (or the international equivalent); where a programme has more applicants than places, domestic applicants are ranked by a Preferential Entry Score (140 points from NCEA for most degrees). Selected-entry programmes such as Aviation, Nursing and Veterinary Science are competitive.
Typical entry requirements
| NCEA (New Zealand) | University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 with 14 credits in each of 3 approved subjects, plus 10 Level 2 literacy credits (5 reading, 5 writing) and 10 Level 1 numeracy credits; where places are limited, a Preferential Entry Score of 140 from the best 80 Level 3 credits |
|---|---|
| ATAR (Australia) | ATAR 74 or greater |
| International Baccalaureate | Complete IB Diploma with 24 points |
| Cambridge A-levels (outside NZ and UK) | 3 A-levels including at least one C grade or better; UK A-levels considered case by case |
| India (CBSE/ISC) | Year 12 overall average of 75% with at least 60% in English |
| China | Gaokao at 65% of the maximum (or the provincial tier 1 score if lower), or one year of bachelor's-level study |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Undergraduate minimum: Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80 with at least 19 in Writing (for tests from 21 January 2026 on the new scale: 4.0 overall and 4.0 in writing); PTE Academic 50 with no communicative skill below 42; Duolingo 105 with no band below 95. Some qualifications set higher levels. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor of Aviation, Semester One 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In 24 days30 October 2026 (international), 6 November 2026 (domestic)
Selected-entry qualification with extra requirements.
- Semester One 2027 (new international students) Non-binding In 25 days31 October 2026
Applications are considered after this date if spaces are available. Semester and lectures start 22 February 2027.
- Semester One 2027 (domestic students) Non-binding In ~4 months5 February 2027
Standard qualifications. Selected-entry degrees close earlier, e.g. Bachelor of Nursing 31 January 2027.
- Semester Two 2027 (new international students) Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027
Domestic and returning international students: 18 June 2027. Semester Two lectures start 12 July 2027.
Dates are Massey's published 2027 admission due dates. Most applicants who apply by the due date are admitted to their chosen qualification, and late applications are accepted if places remain. The Bachelor of Veterinary Science is entered through the February pre-selection semester.
How to apply
Apply online directly to Massey for admission to a qualification, with transcripts, English test results and any personal statement, portfolio or form your programme requires. After accepting your Offer of Place (and, for international students, paying fees to receive a Receipt of Payment for your visa), you enrol in individual courses through the student portal.
What admissions looks for
- University Entrance or an equivalent school qualification from your country, meeting any subject requirements for your qualification.
- English language evidence at the undergraduate level (e.g. IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5) if English is not your first language.
- For Veterinary Science, strong performance in the pre-selection semester courses and selection assessments, plus good communication and interpersonal skills and a solid science and maths background.
- For the Bachelor of Aviation, leadership qualities and an aptitude for mathematics and physics, with higher academic levels than standard entry.
Tips for applying to Massey
- 1 International applicants should aim for the 31 October 2026 due date for February 2027: it leaves time to accept your offer, pay fees and get a student visa.
- 2 If you want to be a vet, prepare for the February pre-selection semester in Palmerston North: selection into the professional phase starting in July is competitive.
- 3 New international undergraduates starting in February 2027 can apply by 20 October 2026 for a Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarship worth NZ$10,000 (up to 40 awards).
- 4 Aviation has its own earlier deadline (30 October 2026 for international applicants) and much higher fees, since flight training is included.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in NZD
International undergraduates can apply for Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarships (NZ$10,000 towards first-year tuition, up to 40 awards for Semester 1 2027) and the International Creative Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship. Domestic students can use StudyLink loans and allowances; the government Fees Free final-year scheme ends on 31 December 2026 and does not apply to qualifications completed after that.
- NZ$10,000 towards tuition, up to 40 awards (closes 20 October 2026)
- Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarship
- NZ$3,000 for one semester of full-time study (GPA A- or higher)
- Massey University Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship (Science)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Semester One from February, Semester Two from July, plus Summer School)
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
New Zealand's only vet degree: five years on the Manawatū campus, AVMA and CVMA accredited, and 14th in the world in the QS 2026 subject ranking.
Bachelor of Aviation (BAv)
The only New Zealand university degree that integrates professional pilot training, with an Air Transport Pilot major taught by the School of Aviation.
Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Built on Massey's origins as an agricultural college; Agriculture and Forestry ranks 49th in the world (QS 2026).
Bachelor of Design
Taught through the Wellington School of Design – Ngā Pae Māhutonga in the College of Creative Arts; Art and Design ranks joint first in New Zealand (QS 2026).
Bachelor of Screen Arts
Offered through the National Academy of Screen Arts, with specialisations such as Documentary and Factual.
Bachelor of Nursing
A selected-entry health degree in the College of Health, with a 31 January 2027 application deadline.
Research
- The Riddet Institute, a Centre of Research Excellence hosted at Massey, developed the Ferri-Pro iron fortification technology acquired by Nestlé.
- Wildbase Hospital on the Manawatū campus treats rare and endangered native birds, reptiles and bats from across New Zealand.
- The Joint Centre for Disaster Research in Wellington has worked in disaster risk and emergency management for 20 years and is New Zealand's leading provider of emergency management education.
- Research centres include the Al Rae Centre for Genetics and Breeding and the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre.
Schools & faculties
- Massey Business School – Te Kura Whai Pakihi
- College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi
- College of Health – Te Kura Hauora Tangata
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Te Kura Pūkenga Tangata
- College of Sciences – Te Wāhanga Pūtaiao
Massey scores in the QS top 200 for Employment Outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2027). The university's alumni community numbered 180,763 in 2024.
Student life
Student life depends on the campus. Manawatū, in Palmerston North, is the original campus, with halls of residence, an arboretum, farms and the vet hospital. The Auckland campus at Albany has the Te Ōhanga Village halls, and Wellington's Pukeahu campus in Mount Cook offers self-catered apartments and studios close to the city. Te Tira Ahu Pae, the students' association, runs clubs and societies, events, advocacy and student media, including Radio Control 99.4FM and Massive Magazine. Because so many students study online or part-time, you will meet more mature students here than at most New Zealand universities.
- Three New Zealand campuses (Manawatū, Auckland, Wellington) plus study facilities in Singapore.
- 2027 is Massey's centenary year, marking 100 years since the college's founding in 1927.
- Student media include Radio Control 99.4FM and Massive Magazine.
- The Colombo Hall hostel on the Manawatū campus, built in 1964, is a Heritage New Zealand category 2 historic place.
Housing. Massey has halls, apartments and studio units on all three campuses; applications for Semester One open on 1 August and offers are released from 1 October, so apply early for the best chance of a place.
Location
Palmerston North, New Zealand's eighth-largest urban area, sits on the Manawatū Plains about 140 km north of Wellington, and Massey's Manawatū campus sits on the edge of town beside farmland and the Turitea Stream. Students on the Auckland campus live on the city's fast-growing North Shore, while the Wellington campus in Mount Cook is a short walk from the capital's centre.
Nearest airport: Palmerston North Airport (PMR)
Notable alumni
- RM Ross McEwanFormer CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland and National Australia Bank, chairman of BHP; business studies graduate
- RH Robert Holmes à CourtAustralian businessman; Bachelor of Agricultural Science (1962)
- KL Kyle LockwoodDesigner of the Silver Fern Flag, the leading alternative in New Zealand's 2015–16 flag referendums; studied architectural technology
- SJ Steven JoyceFormer New Zealand Minister of Finance; BSc in zoology
- PH Pete HodgsonLabour MP and cabinet minister; veterinary science graduate
- SM Simon MoutterFormer managing director of Spark New Zealand; BSc in physics
- JA Jo AlehOlympic champion sailor; studied information science at Massey by distance
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into Massey University?
Most Massey degrees admit students who meet University Entrance or an equivalent, such as ATAR 74 or a 24-point IB Diploma. Selected-entry programmes such as Veterinary Science, Aviation and Nursing are competitive.
What is the Massey application deadline for 2027?
New international students should apply by 31 October 2026 for Semester One (starting 22 February 2027) and by 1 May 2027 for Semester Two. Domestic students have until 5 February 2027 for most Semester One qualifications.
How much does Massey cost for international students?
Estimated 2027 fees for one full-time year start at NZ$35,250 (Science, Arts) and are NZ$39,230 for Business, NZ$86,750 for Veterinary Science and NZ$117,780 for Aviation, including flight training.
What IELTS score do I need for Massey?
Undergraduate study needs Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 80 with at least 19 in Writing. Some qualifications ask for more.
How do I get into vet school at Massey?
You enrol in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science pre-selection semester in February on the Manawatū campus. Selection into the 4.5-year professional phase, starting in July, depends on your results in that semester and selection assessments.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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Universities ranked close to Massey in the QS World University Rankings 2027.