Victoria University of Wellington
Te Herenga Waka
New Zealand's capital-city university, with law and business opposite Parliament and a hillside campus reached by cable car.
- Students
- 21,143
- International
- 16%
- of students
- Tuition
- NZ$34,736
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1897
About VUW
Victoria University of Wellington was founded in 1897, and teaching began in 1899 with 115 students. Its Māori name, Te Herenga Waka, means the mooring place of canoes and is also the name of its marae, whose carved wharenui was the first to be established at a New Zealand university. It became an independent university in 1962 and in 2025 enrolled 21,143 students.
The university is spread across Wellington. The main Kelburn campus sits on a hill above the city centre, linked to Lambton Quay by the Wellington Cable Car; the Pipitea campus, beside the railway station and Parliament, houses the Faculty of Law in the historic Government Buildings and the Wellington School of Business and Government; and the Te Aro campus hosts Architecture and Design Innovation. It is known for law, public policy, the humanities and creative writing, and it is ranked first in New Zealand for research intensity in the latest PBRF evaluation.
Study is organised into faculties for Architecture and Design Innovation; Business and Government; Education, Health and Psychological Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Law; and Science and Engineering. It suits students who want to learn in the capital, close to government, courts, the film industry and national institutions, and who value a strong arts and humanities culture.
Sapientia magis auro desideranda
“Wisdom is more to be desired than gold” — university motto
Why students choose VUW
The Faculty of Law and the School of Government sit in Wellington's legal and government district, and Law is ranked in the global top 1% by THE's 2026 subject rankings.
The International Institute of Modern Letters runs New Zealand's best-known creative writing programme, where Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton completed her master's.
Every new full-fee international undergraduate is automatically assessed for the VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship, worth NZ$15,000 off first-year tuition, with no separate application.
Research institutes such as Paihau–Robinson (superconducting power systems) and the Antarctic Research Centre offer summer research roles for undergraduates.
Admissions
2027 entry (Trimester 1 from February 2027; also July and November intakes)
Selectivity
Victoria does not publish an acceptance rate. Domestic applicants with University Entrance who meet any degree-specific requirements and apply by the deadline are automatically accepted into most programmes; limited-entry courses and some programmes have their own selection. All bachelor's degrees share the same academic entry criteria for international students.
Typical entry requirements
| NCEA (New Zealand) | University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 with 14 credits in each of 3 approved subjects, 10 literacy credits at Level 2 or above (5 reading, 5 writing) and 10 numeracy credits at Level 1 or above |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | IB Diploma with a minimum of 24 points |
| A-levels | UK: three GCE A-level passes at grade C or higher; outside the UK: three A-level passes with at least one at grade C or higher (120 points on the NZ Tariff) |
| ATAR (Australia) | ATAR 69.6 or better if taken in Australia (Queensland OP 14 or lower); ATAR 75 or higher if taken outside Australia |
| India (CBSE/CISCE) | Minimum overall average of 75% (best four academic subjects); 80% for most other state boards |
| China | 65% of the total Gaokao score, or senior high school graduation plus one year of undergraduate study |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Standard undergraduate requirement: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 50 with no communicative skill below 42; Duolingo 105 with no band below 95. The Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Midwifery require IELTS 7.0 with no band below 7.0. You can apply before meeting the requirement and receive a conditional offer. |
Deadlines
- Limited-entry courses (domestic) Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 days1 December 2026
Some limited-entry, postgraduate and teacher education programmes have their own deadlines listed on the programme page.
- Trimester 1, 2027 (international students) Non-binding In ~2 months8 December 2026
Trimester 1 starts in February. Later applications are assessed case by case.
- Trimester 1, 2027 (domestic students) Non-binding In ~3 months20 January 2027
Apply for your 2027 programme of study by this date.
- Trimester 2, 2027 (international students) Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027
Trimester 2 starts in July; Trimester 3 (November) applications close 1 September.
International deadlines (8 December, 1 May, 1 September) are the university's standing dates for each trimester, and the domestic Trimester 1 2027 deadline is 20 January 2027. Applications can be made at any time; apply early to leave time for a student visa and accommodation.
How to apply
Apply online through Pūaha, the student portal, choosing your programme; international applicants upload academic transcripts and English test results and can apply directly or through an agent. Once you accept your Offer of Place you select and enrol in courses. International students pay fees when applying for their student visa.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised high school qualification at the published minimum for your country, a recognised foundation programme, or at least one year of degree-level study.
- English language evidence at the standard undergraduate level (IELTS 6.0, no band below 5.5), or higher for teaching and midwifery degrees.
- For New Zealand school leavers, University Entrance plus any degree-specific requirements such as a performance audition.
- Applications submitted by the deadline, which is required for automatic acceptance into most programmes.
Tips for applying to VUW
- 1 International students should apply by 8 December 2026 for a February 2027 start so there is time for the student visa and a hall place.
- 2 Hall applications for 2027 opened on 1 August 2026 and offers are made in rounds; apply early, as late applications miss the first-round offers.
- 3 If your English score is not ready yet, you can still apply and get a conditional offer, but you must meet the requirement before applying for your visa.
- 4 If you are not quite at the academic entry level, completing Victoria's Foundation Studies programme guarantees entry into undergraduate study.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in NZD
The university awards more than NZ$28 million in scholarships each year. New full-fee international students entering their first year of a bachelor's degree full-time on campus are considered automatically for the VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship of NZ$15,000 towards first-year tuition, and students from eligible countries can apply for fully funded Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships. Domestic students can use government student loans and allowances.
- NZ$15,000 off first-year tuition (no separate application)
- VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship
- More than NZ$28 million
- Scholarships awarded each year
Academics
Academic calendar: Trimesters (Trimester 1 from February, Trimester 2 from July, Trimester 3 from November)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
A four-year degree taught in the historic Government Buildings at Pipitea, next to Parliament; THE ranks Victoria top in New Zealand and in the global top 1% for Law (2026).
Creative Writing (International Institute of Modern Letters)
Undergraduate workshops and an MA in Creative Writing whose graduates include Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton.
Bachelor of Commerce
Taught by the Wellington School of Business and Government in the capital's business and government district.
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
Offered by the School of Engineering and Computer Science; Victoria is ranked first in New Zealand for Artificial Intelligence in ShanghaiRanking's 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (50th in the world).
Bachelor of Design Innovation
Studied at the Te Aro campus in the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.
Bachelor of Music
Taught through the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī.
Research
- The Antarctic Research Centre studies how Antarctica is responding to climate change, using ice cores and ocean-floor sediments.
- Paihau–Robinson Research Institute develops superconducting power systems for aircraft, wind turbines and transformers.
- Nobel laureate Alan MacDiarmid (Chemistry, 2000) completed his BSc at Victoria, where he began as a lab assistant.
- Victoria is first in New Zealand for research intensity in the latest Performance-Based Research Fund evaluation.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
- Wellington School of Business and Government
- Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences
- Faculty of Graduate Research
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Te Wāhanga a Manaia—Faculty of Science and Engineering
92% of graduates are employed or in further study, according to the university's latest Graduate Destinations Report as cited in its International Student Guide 2026–2027. Victoria is in the QS top 200 for Employment Outcomes.
Student life
The university runs around 15 halls, flats and apartment buildings, including catered halls for first-years (move-in day 7 February 2027) and independent flats, apartments and studios. Te Herenga Waka Marae is a centre of campus life, and the university counts more than 130 clubs and societies across its three central-city campuses. The Wellington Cable Car carries students from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn, and Pipitea students study among the courts, ministries and Parliament. Victoria's theatre and film students have gone on to shape New Zealand comedy and cinema.
- Te Herenga Waka Marae, with the first wharenui established at a New Zealand university.
- More than 130 clubs and societies, and about 3,400 international students (2025 headcount) from more than 120 countries.
- Around 15 halls, flats and apartment buildings, including catered first-year halls.
- The Wellington Cable Car links the Kelburn campus to Lambton Quay in the city centre.
Housing. Applications for 2027 halls opened on 1 August 2026 and offers are made in stages because demand exceeds beds; residential agreements usually run from February to November.
Location
Wellington is New Zealand's capital, a compact harbour city where government, the courts, national museums and a large film and creative industry sit close together. The Kelburn campus overlooks the central business district, while Pipitea is next to the railway station and bus terminus, so students get around easily without a car.
Nearest airport: Wellington Airport (WLG)
Notable alumni
- AM Alan MacDiarmidNobel Prize in Chemistry 2000; BSc from Victoria (1947)
- TW Taika WaititiAcademy Award-winning filmmaker and actor; BA in theatre (1997)
- JC Jemaine ClementComedian and actor, Flight of the Conchords; studied drama and film
- EC Eleanor CattonBooker Prize-winning novelist (The Luminaries); MA in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters
- BE Bill English39th Prime Minister of New Zealand; honours degree in English literature
- CH Chris Hipkins41st Prime Minister of New Zealand; twice president of the students' association (VUWSA)
Frequently asked questions
What are the entry requirements for Victoria University of Wellington?
New Zealand students need University Entrance through NCEA. International students need a recognised school qualification, for example an IB Diploma with 24 points, three A-levels at grade C or higher, or ATAR 75 if taken outside Australia, plus IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5.
When is the application deadline for 2027?
International students should apply by 8 December 2026 for Trimester 1 (February) and by 1 May 2027 for Trimester 2 (July). Domestic students should apply for Trimester 1 2027 by 20 January 2027, and by 1 December 2026 for limited-entry courses.
How much does Victoria University of Wellington cost for international students?
The International Student Guide 2026–2027 gives annual bachelor's fees of about NZ$34,736 to NZ$47,358 depending on the faculty, with Engineering at the top of the range. New international undergraduates are considered automatically for a NZ$15,000 first-year scholarship.
Is Victoria University of Wellington good for law?
Yes. THE's 2026 subject rankings place Victoria top in New Zealand and in the global top 1% for Law, and the Faculty of Law is in the historic Government Buildings next to Parliament.
What does Te Herenga Waka mean?
It is the university's Māori name and the name of its marae, meaning the mooring place of canoes: a place where people can hitch their canoes and find shelter.
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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