University of Otago Rankings

The University of Otago is ranked as one of the best universities in New Zealand and the world.

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
• Facilities
• Subject Rankings – Life Sciences and Medicine
• Employability
• Good Governance
• Environmental Impact
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Research
• Global Engagement

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.

University of Otago statistics

Annual statistics about students, staff, land, buildings, and the University of Otago Library.