Rankings and reputation

We are ranked as New Zealand's leading faculty for social sciences by the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

We are proud to be home to archaeology, anthropology, English language and literature and linguistics, all placed in the top 50 in the world (2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject).

The University of Auckland has achieved its highest ranking, 65th in the world out of 1,500 universities and is the highest-ranked university in New Zealand.

We have four subjects placed in the world's top 50:

• Anthropology: 48
• Psychology: 45
• English language and literature: 48
• Linguistics: 49

The excellence of our research has been recognised by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. 

• Professor Tim Mulgan, Humanities Aronui 2023
• Professor Yvonne Underhill-Sem,  Metge Medal 2023
• Professor Linda Waimarie, Nikora Te Rangi Hiroa Medal 2022
• Professor Annie Goldson, Humanities Aronui 2022
• Professor Steve D Matthewman, Social Sciences Standard Grant 2022
• Associate Professor Mohi Rua, Social Sciences Standard Grant 2022
• Professor Simon Holdaway 2022
• Professor Helen Sword 2022
• Associate Professor Alex J Calder, Humanities Standard Grant 2021
• Dr Sereana Naepi 2021
• Professor Ngarino Ellis, Te Apārangi ECR Award in Humanities 2020
• Professor Brian Boyd, Rutherford Medal 2020
• Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellow and Humanities Aronui Medal 2019
• Professor Tim Mulgan, Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellow 2019
• Professor Emeritus Roger Horrocks, Pou Aronui Award 2019
• Associate Professor Ngarino Ellis, Humanities Standard Grant 2019
• Associate Professor Susanna Trnka, Social Sciences Standard Grant 2019
• Associate Professor Marama Muru-Lanning, Humanities Standard Grant 2019
• Associate Professor Sarina Pearson, Standard Grant 2019
• Dr Charlotte Bennett, Fast Start Grant 2019
• Professor Tim Mulgan 2019
• Professor Gillian Brock, Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellow 2018
• Professor Linda Waimaire Nikora, Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellow 2018
• Professor Gillian Brock 2018
• Professor Linda Nikora 2018    
• Professor Tracey McIntosh, Te Rangi Hiroa Medal 2017
• Professor Cris Shore, Mason Durie Medal 2017
• Associate Professor Aroha Harris, Early Career Research Excellence Award for Humanities 2017
• Professor Margaret Mutu, Pou Aronui Award 2015
• Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd, Humanities Aronui Medal 2014
• Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond, Rutherford Medal 2013

Seven of our current staff have won nine national book awards between them in history, art history, fiction and poetry, including kaupapa Māori research.

• Associate Professor Ngarino Ellis, Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-fiction 2017 for A Whakapapa of Tradition: One Hundred Years of Ngāti Porou Carving, 1830-1930
• Associate Professor Aroha Harris (with Atholl Anderson and Judith Binney), Illustrated Non-fiction 2016 for Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History
• Dr Paula Morris, Fiction 2012 for Rangatira , NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction 2003 for Queen of Beauty
• Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry 2010 for Fast Talking PI
• Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora (with Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Mohi Rua and Rolinda Karapu), Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture 2008 for Mau Moko: The World of Māori Tattoo
• Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond, Montana Medal for Non-Fiction 2004 for The Trial of the Cannibal Dog: Captain Cook in the South Seas, Non-fiction 1992 for Two Worlds: First Meetings Between Māori and Europeans, 1642–1772
• Professor Michele Leggott, Poetry 1995 for DIA

*QS World University Ranksings 2024

The University is ranked 65th in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2025, making it New Zealand’s highest ranked university. It is also the largest and most comprehensive, with more than 35,000 students, including in 2023, 9,350 international students representing around 107 countries.

Consistently ranked in the Top 50 for Education as a subject

The University of Auckland has been ranked 37 in the world for Education as a subject in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.  

Best graduate employability

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university for Graduate Employability.

The University has been ranked #1 in New Zealand and #68 worldwide in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2024.

The University of Auckland is No 1 in Aotearoa New Zealand and 152 in the world in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2025. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dawn Freshwater, said: “Maintaining our position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings amidst growing global competition is a testament to the resilience, innovation and dedication of our entire University community. It underscores our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and research impact on a global scale.”

Earlier in the year, the University was ranked in the top 1 percent in the world in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Ratings for sustainability.