The University of Otago is ranked as one of the best universities in New Zealand and the world.
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Top 1%
of higher education institutions in the world
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#1
in NZ for educational performance
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Top 5%
in world for sustainability
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5 Stars +
Global university performance ratings
Top 1% of universities in the world
The University of Otago is one of the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide, and the second-highest ranked university in New Zealand with a global ranking of 214th in the QS World University Rankings.
5 Stars Plus rating
Otago has the highest-possible rating of 5 Stars Plus in the QS Stars global university ratings.
As part of the QS Stars Ratings, we received the maximum 5-star ratings for:
- Teaching
- Employability
- Global Engagement
- Research
- Facilities
- Arts
- Inclusiveness
- Specialist Subject – Life Sciences and Medicine
Top New Zealand university for educational performance
Otago ranks first overall for all four Tertiary Education Commission measures:
- first-year retention
- qualification completion
- course completion
- progression from sub-degree programmes to undergraduate study.
Unmatched record in National Teaching Excellence Awards
For 8 of the past 11 years, Otago has beaten all other universities and polytechnics to win the Prime Minister's Supreme Award for Teaching Excellence.
No. 2 in New Zealand for Sustainability
Otago ranks second in New Zealand for sustainability and is in the top 100 in the QS World Sustainability rankings.
No.1 MBA programme in New Zealand
The Otago Online MBA is ranked top in New Zealand and is No. 37 in the world.
The Online MBA is No. 1 in the world for its Online Classroom Experience, and ranked third in the Asia Pacific Region.
Only New Zealand university in the global top 20 QS Subject Rankings
The University of Otago is the only New Zealand University to secure a placing in the world’s top 20 subjects in the QS World University Subject Rankings.
No.1 subjects in New Zealand
Otago has four subjects in the global top 50, all of which rank top in New Zealand.
- Sports Related Subjects – #12 worldwide
- Anatomy & Physiology – #30 worldwide
- Dentistry – #40 worldwide
- Hospitality & Leisure Management – #44 worldwide
Global top 100 subjects
- Nursing – Top 51–100 worldwide
- Archaeology – Top 51–100 worldwide
- Philosophy – Top 51–100 worldwide
- Theology and Religious Studies – Top 51–100 worldwide
Otago also has a further 16 subjects ranked in the top 200 in the world, a further six subjects ranked between 201 and 300, and five more in the global top 500.
Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
Top 100 subjects worldwide
In the 2023 Shanghai Rankings, the University of Otago ranked in the top 50 for Hospitality & Tourism Management and the top 75 for Dentistry and Oral Sciences.
Top New Zealand subjects
Otago also ranked top in New Zealand in the following subjects:
- Dentistry – No. 1
- Human Biological Sciences – No. 1 equal
- Nursing – No .1 equal
- Public Health – No. 1 equal
US News and Review
The University of Otago has a solid reputation for excellence, particularly in health sciences. Otago ranks top in New Zealand for four subjects:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Microbiology
Otago is also ranked second in New Zealand for a further seven other Health Sciences related subjects in the in US News Subjects Rankings.
Th University of Otago also ranks top in New Zealand for Psychiatry/ Psychology, Environment/Ecology, and number two for Environment/Ecology and Neuroscience.
University of Otago statistics
Annual statistics about students, staff, land, buildings, and the University of Otago Library.