With its strong focus on research and innovation, New Zealand has become a popular destination for students seeking a world-class higher education. The country has also been ranked among the top study destinations. Studying in New Zealand can be a life-changing experience, providing international students a chance to enhance their academic skills, gain valuable work experience, and build a strong network of connections.
This small island nation is home to some of the World’s Top Universities, all of them ranking in the world’s top 3%, well-known for offering a unique blend of academic excellence and employability skills.
In this article, we will explore one of these top universities in New Zealand, which is the Victoria University of Wellington.
Read on to know more about this University and understand how studying here will be beneficial for your career growth.
Table of Content
- About Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)
- Rankings & Reputation
- Top Courses to Study at VUW
- Academic Intakes at VUW
- Eligibility Criteria for International Students
- Cost to Study
- Scholarships for International Students at VUW
- Student Life at VUW
- Career Support Services
- FAQs
About Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)
Victoria University of Wellington was established in the year 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It was initially started as Victoria College and now the University has grown to have 3 campuses in the country namely Kelburn Campus, Pipitea Campus and Te Aro Campus. The University also has a CBD premises in Auckland.
Apart from this, the University has a separate campus for Fine Arts, the Miramar Creative Centre for students. The University is also known for its excellence in research in the country with 40+ research centres.
Curious to know its rankings, well then read on.
Rankings & Reputation
- Victoria University of Wellington had an impressive ranking of 48 in the World University Subject Rankings and 81 for Sustainability as per QS World University Rankings 2024
- According to the Times Higher Education Ranking 2024, the University ranked 58 for Impact.
- It is ranked 244 in the World as per QS World University Rankings 2025.
- Along with this, the University’s Wellington School of Business and Government is also considered in the world’s top-tier Commerce faculties. It has the most sought-after international Triple Crown Accreditation of EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA.
Now that we know about the University and its rankings, let’s look at the top course offerings in different fields.
Top Courses to Study at VUW
The University is popular for a lot of courses, and highly regarded in the global Subject rankings. Some of the top courses offered by the University for Masters and Bachelors include:
Masters
- Master of Engineering
- Master of Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Renewable Energy
- Master of Public Management
- Master of Professional Business Analysis
- Executive MBA
- Master of Professional Accounting
- Master of Regional and Urban Planning
- Master of Arts (Education)
- Master of Applied Linguistics
Bachelors
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honors)
- BSc in Space Science
- Bachelor of Science – Development Studies
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Global Studies
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood
These are just a few of the top courses to study in New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington. You can check the university website if you are looking for a course beyond those enlisted above. Moving on to the intakes offered by the university.
Academic Intakes at VUW
Intakes at the University are dependent on the program. Most of the programs are available in the month of February and July. However, some programs are also available in November.
Apart from these, there are also programs at the University that are not bound by any intakes allowing students to apply for them at any time of the year.
Now comes the most important aspect i.e., the eligibility criteria to study at the University based on the level of education you are looking for.
Eligibility Criteria for International Students
To study at VUW, you will have to fulfil the following eligibility requirements.
For Masters
- Minimum score of 60% in the relevant subject
- Other academic requirements may differ as per the program’s needs.
- English Language Proficiency Test Scores of IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE
- Applicants can choose to take any one of these tests and the details of the required band scores are given below:
| Name of the Test | Overall Score | No less than |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| PTE | 58 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 | 20 |
For Bachelors
- Completion of general secondary education along with one year of Undergraduate Degree study at a recognized Institution with a minimum GPA as required by the course.
- Successful completion of the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies Programme or another similar recognized program (Only for selected courses).
These are the general requirements for international students, it may vary from country to country. For English Language Proficiency, the University accepts popular tests like IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTE.
Students can choose to take any one of these tests and the details of their required scores are given below:
| Name of the Test | Overall Score | No less than |
| IELTS | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| PTE | 50 | 42 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 | N/A |
Having checked the entry requirements for Masters and Bachelor’s level of study at the University, let’s move on to discuss the cost of studying at VUW.
Cost to Study
The cost to study in New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington has a wider range for a Master’s as compared to the Bachelor’s Degree.
Here’s an estimated range of tuition fees for both the levels
| Level of Study | Minimum Tuition Fees per Annum | Maximum Tuition Fees per Annum |
| Masters | NZD 33,350 (approx.) | NZD 70,150 (approx.) |
| Bachelors | NZD 31,800 (approx.) | NZD 41,750 (approx.) |
Having checked the financial aspects of this immersive academic experience, let’s have a glance at the scholarships available in this university.
Scholarships for International Students at VUW
Victoria University of Wellington offers a lot of scholarships for international students on different levels of education. Some of the popular scholarships offered by the University are given below.
1. Wellington Master’s by Thesis Scholarship
Scholarship Type: Academic
Level of Study: Masters
Scholarship Value: 1-year Tuition Fee Waiver and a Tax-Free Stipend of NZD 15,000
Application Deadline: 1st November for Every Academic Year
Description: The Wellington Master’s by Thesis Scholarship is for postgraduate research at the Te Herenga Waka (Victora University Wellington). This is open to students who begin their full-time research Master’s Degrees at VUW.
Eligibility Criteria
- The scholarship is open for students who will start their 2nd Trimester the following year. They must be enrolled for a Master’s Degree by Thesis for 90 points or more.
- Students who are taking a 60-point dissertation are not eligible.
- Students are expected to complete the first part of their Honours or Master’s Degree with a minimum GPA of 7.0 from a New Zealand University or its equivalent. It is the minimum requirement which might increase depending on the number of applicants.
The students will be selected based on academic merit by the University Research Scholarships Committee.
2. Wellington Graduate Award
Scholarship Type: Academic
Level of Study: Masters
Scholarship Value: NZD 5,000 Tuition Fee Waiver
Application Deadline: 1st November for Every Academic Year
Description: The Wellington Graduate Award is for Bachelors students proceeding to study at a Master’s level and for research degrees. This award is for international as well as domestic students and it goes directly towards the students’ tuition fees.
Eligibility Criteria
- This scholarship is open for applicants starting a Postgraduate Honours Degree or a Master’s Degree with Coursework with 90 points at 400 or 500 level.
- The applicant should have a minimum of A grade average or a GPA of 8.0 at a 300-level course or above.
- The scholarship is not available for post-experience or vocational master’s degrees like MBA, MIM or MIS and is not available to Honors students as well.
The number of awards varies depending on the funds available every year. The section for the scholarship will be made by the Victoria University Scholarship Committee.
3. Tongarewa International Scholarship
Scholarship Type: Academic
Level of Study: Masters & Bachelors
Scholarship Value: NZD 5,000 or NZD 10,000
Application Deadline: Trimester 1: 1 November; Trimester 2: 1 May; Trimester 3: 1 August
Description: The Tongarewa International Scholarships are offered to international students starting their first year of study for Bachelor’s or Masters. It is awarded based on academic performance of the student.
Those who receive this scholarship are guaranteed an offer of accommodation at the University’s Halls of Residence if they have applied for accommodation by the deadline.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be an international tuition fee paying student.
- Should be enrolled in the first year of Masters or Bachelors program at VUW.
To apply for this scholarship, students need to submit a personal statement along with other required documents and the selection for the scholarship will be done by a panel of the University Staff.
So far, we have talked about the academics and its related aspects, but the University offers a lot more than just academic excellence. So, here’s a glimpse of the student life at Victoria University of Wellington.
Student Life at VUW
Students can learn a lot more outside the classroom than inside, this holds true at the University. Keeping this in mind, the University offers a lot of opportunities for students to engage in extra-curricular activities through its clubs, events, sports and more.
- Part-Time Work Support
The University of Wellington offers international students support to find employment opportunities during their tenure as students. They help in finding part-time work as per the norms set by the country.
- Clubs
Victoria University of Wellington has more than 140 clubs, societies, and sports to choose from where student can engage socially, learn new skills, or just balance their academic endeavour with something unique. These clubs offer experiences that can help students in their academic or even professional lives.
- Student Communities
The University has various student communities for new international students. These communities help students to network and learn from each other’s experiences for a fruitful overall development.
- Volunteering Opportunities
The University offers students a chance to create an impact in local communities through volunteering work. Students can find causes they care about while developing skills, gaining reputation and support through university programs like the Wellington Plus program.
- Student Representation
Victoria University of Wellington has various student bodies that represent student needs like VUWSA (Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association), University Council, Class Representatives, Faculty Delegate and Representative group executives.
- Wellington Plus
Wellington Plus is a program offered by the university for extracurricular services and a leadership development program. It helps students to connect with a community, offers leadership opportunities and a chance to develop social relationships and employability skills.
It is a self-driven program offering workshops on topics like leadership, skills, and career to enhance personal development. This initiative has received international recognition by the UN and has won the ‘International Green Gown Award’ in 2019 to recognize its contributions to sustainability initiatives taken by the University.
Apart from all these activities, students can also engage their artistic side at the Adam Art Gallery which is located on the Kelburn Campus. The University also offers support for students with children by providing daycare facilities.
This is not all the University also offers excellent career support services so, here’s a glance of the support offered.
Career Support Services
VUW ensures that its Graduates thrive beyond their academics. Some of the best career assistance offered by the University is given below:
- 30-minute appointment with career consultants for career planning, decision making, and job application assistance.
- ‘Job Application Check’ assistance for feedback on CVs, Cover Letters, Job Application forms, Scholarship Application forms and Scholarship Applications via email.
- Work-integrated learning and internships with various organizations
- Alumni as Mentors programme (AAM) which connects final-year students with Victoria University of Wellington Alumni who are experienced mentors in the workforce.
In conclusion, we can say that the University’s dedication to excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement sets it apart as a leader in higher education. Furthermore, VUW’s strong industry connections and focus on practical, career-oriented learning ensure that graduates are well-equipped to thrive in their chosen fields.
So those aspiring to study at the Victoria University of Wellington, we suggest you reach out to us at KC Overseas Education. Being one among the Top 10 Overseas Education Consultants in India, we are well-known for providing end-to-end assistance to aspirants for all their abroad education needs.
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So, reach out to us today and make your dream of studying in the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ a reality!
FAQs
Q1. Which is the largest and main campus of VUW?
The largest and main campus of Victoria University of Wellington is the Kelburn Campus, Wellington.
Q2. Is there any campus of VUW which is situated in Auckland?
Yes, the university does have a campus in Auckland.
Q3. What are the courses offered at VUW’s Auckland campus?
Master of Professional Business Analysis (MBusAn), Master of Secondary School Leadership (MSSL), and Master of User Experience Design (MUXD) are some of the popular courses offered at the Auckland campus.
Q4. What is the turnaround time of the offer letter for VUW?
The turnaround time for an offer letter at the University is around 4-5 weeks
Q 5. Is Duolingo accepted by the Victoria University of Wellington?
Yes, but the decision totally depends on the university and the student’s profile.
Q6. Does the University have its own accommodation facility?
Yes, the university does offer its accommodation facilities. You can find more information regarding this on their official website.
