University of Otago Rankings

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

Top 200 universities in the world

The University of Otago is one of the top 200 universities worldwide, and the second-highest ranked university in New Zealand. TIME magazine ranks the University of Otago at number 155 in their list of the world’s top universities of 2026, and Otago is ranked 197th 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 been the proud winner of the Prime Minister's Supreme Award for Teaching Excellence, standing out among other universities and polytechnics.

No. 3 in New Zealand for Sustainability

Otago ranks third in New Zealand for sustainability and is ranked #110 in the world – QS World Sustainability rankings.

No. 1 MBA programme in New Zealand

The Otago Online MBA is ranked top in New Zealand and is No. 51 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.

New Zealand’s top-ranking subjects

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 – #22 worldwide
• Anatomy & Physiology – #36 worldwide
• Dentistry – #50 worldwide
• Hospitality & Leisure Management – #50 worldwide

Global top 100 subjects

• Archaeology – Top 51–100 worldwide
• Philosophy –Top 51–100 worldwide
• Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies – Top 51–100 worldwide
• Classics and Ancient History – Top 51–150 worldwide

Otago also has a further 9 subjects ranked in the top 200 in the world, a further 8 subjects ranked between 201 and 300, and 6 more in the global top 500.

Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

Top 100 subjects worldwide

In the 2025 Shanghai Rankings, the University of Otago ranked 21 for Dentistry & Oral Sciences, 51–75 for Hospitality & Tourism Management and 101–150 for Food Science & Technology and Earth Sciences.

Top New Zealand subjects

Otago also ranked top in New Zealand in the following subjects:

• Dentistry – No. 1
• Earth Sciences – No. 1
• Biotechnology – No. 1
• Medical Technology – No. 1
• Oceanography – No. 1 equal

Data submitted to ARWU

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.

The University of Otago also ranks top in New Zealand for Psychiatry / Psychology, Environment / Ecology, and number two for Environment/Ecology and Neuroscience.

References: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education, Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), AKO Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards , Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), US News and Review

University of Otago statistics

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