AUCKLAND — The University of Auckland has once again secured its position as New Zealand’s top-ranked university, retaining 65th place in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. It remains the only institution in Aotearoa to make the global top 100, in a field of 1,501 institutions worldwide.
The result cements a steady upward trend for the university over recent years, having ranked 87th in 2023, 68th in 2024, and 65th in 2025 and 2026. This year’s rankings introduced a more demanding scoring methodology, yet the university’s overall score rose from 69.7 to 77.5.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said the result is a testament to the strength and resilience of the university community.
“Retaining our 65th spot in the QS rankings is an endorsement of the University of Auckland’s pursuit of excellence in all it does,” she said. “We are proud to be New Zealand’s highest-ranked university and a sought-after destination for both students and academics globally.”
The University improved its standing in five key categories: employment outcomes, international research networks, international student ratio, academic reputation, and citations per faculty.
Across the Tasman, several top Australian universities saw declines. The University of Sydney fell out of the top 20, dropping seven places, while the University of Melbourne slipped six.
Sustainability Impact Ranking Also Strong
In a separate set of results, the University of Auckland also ranked 28th globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That places Auckland in the top 1.2% of more than 2,300 institutions worldwide.
The university made a notable leap in SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), improving its global ranking from 75th to 11th. Overall, it ranks in the top 5% globally for nine of the 17 SDGs.
In January, Auckland was appointed chair of the global hub for SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), reinforcing its leadership role in supporting inclusive economic development and fair work practices.
Recognition for Digital Talent Development
Adding to a strong year of accolades, the University was ranked 76th globally in the 2025 Top 200 Global Leaders in Digital Talent Development by Emerging Group. The ranking highlights institutions producing graduates with high-level digital skills, capable of driving innovation and leading digital transformation in the modern workforce.
Professor Freshwater said that while global rankings are valuable benchmarks, the university’s success is built on the daily work of staff and students.
“Top rankings are a wonderful recognition, but it’s the ongoing efforts in teaching, learning, research, and innovation that define a truly great institution.”
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