Overview of University of Otago's Rankings

The University of Otago, New Zealand's oldest university founded in 1869, continues to affirm its status as a leading research-intensive institution. Located in the vibrant student city of Dunedin, Otago excels in health sciences, business, and sustainability, attracting over 20,000 students from more than 100 countries, including a growing number from India. Its rankings are evaluated on teaching quality, research impact, international outlook, and employability. This page provides a detailed analysis of Otago's performance in global, national, and subject-specific rankings, highlighting its appeal for the next intake in 2026.

Global University Rankings

University of Otago maintains a strong presence in international rankings, emphasizing its research prowess and student-centered approach. Metrics from QS, THE, and US News include academic reputation, citations, and international diversity.

QS World University Rankings

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, University of Otago is ranked #=197 globally, a rise from #214 in 2025, reflecting improvements in employer reputation and international research networks. This positions it as New Zealand's second-highest ranked university.

• Key Strengths: International student ratio (top 100 globally) and sustainability (top 5% worldwide).
• Areas for Improvement: Faculty-student ratio, with ongoing investments in staff recruitment.
• Historical Trend: Consistently in the top 200 since 2020, with a peak at #184 in 2019.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

The THE 2025 rankings place Otago in the 351–400 band out of over 2,000 institutions, a slight dip from previous years due to intensified global competition but strong in health sciences.

Year	Global Rank Band	Key Metric Scores (out of 100)
2025	351-400	Teaching: 48.5 | Research: 55.2 | International Outlook: 72.1
2024	301-350	Teaching: 47.9 | Research: 54.8 | International Outlook: 70.5
2023	301-350	Teaching: 46.2 | Research: 53.1 | International Outlook: 69.3

This trajectory shows resilience in research and internationalization, key for Indian students seeking global credentials.

Other Global Rankings

• US News & World Report Best Global Universities 2025: #296 globally, #2 in New Zealand, excelling in clinical medicine.
• Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) 2024: Top 301-400, with strengths in dentistry (#24 globally).

Otago's global standing supports its 95% graduate employability rate, appealing to international students.

National New Zealand University Rankings

Among New Zealand's eight universities, Otago ranks #2, behind only the University of Auckland, in most national and regional assessments focusing on research, teaching, and student outcomes.

QS Asia Pacific University Rankings 2025

Otago ranks #2 in New Zealand and #=37 in Asia Pacific, praised for academic reputation and employer links.

• Research Impact: #1 in NZ for citations per faculty.
• Student Satisfaction: High scores in the Quality Research Index (QRI).
• Employability: Top 2 for graduate destinations.

Research.com University Rankings 2025

Ranked #2 in New Zealand with a D-index of 137, Otago leads in scholarly output across disciplines.

Indicator	Score	NZ Rank
Overall Scholarly Publications	31,285	2nd
Distinguished Scholars	137	2nd
Research Leadership	High	1st in Health Sciences

This underscores Otago's research dominance in a compact national landscape.

Universities New Zealand Performance Indicators

In the latest QRI 2024 (updated 2025), Otago scores highly in teaching quality and postgraduate outcomes, ranking #2 overall and #1 for student engagement.

• Research Excellence Framework Equivalent: 85% of research world-leading (2023 assessment).
• Employability: 95% of graduates in work or study within six months.

Subject-Specific Rankings

Otago excels in 25 subjects in the QS top 200 globally, particularly health and life sciences, leveraging its Division of Health Sciences.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

• Sports-Related Subjects: #11 globally, #1 in NZ—ideal for adventure and health enthusiasts.
• Dentistry: #25 globally, NZ's top program.
• Anatomy & Physiology: #51-100 globally.
• Business & Management Studies: #151 globally.
• Hospitality & Tourism Management: Top 50 globally (Shanghai).

THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Otago ranks in top bands for several areas:

Subject	Global Rank Band	Key Strength
Medical and Health	201-250	Clinical research impact
Business and Economics	251-300	Innovation in finance
Life Sciences	301-400	Wildlife and environmental studies
Arts and Humanities	201-250	Cultural heritage research
Computer Science	401-500	AI and data science labs

These rankings highlight Otago's niche expertise, beneficial for Indian students in STEM and health fields.

Other Subject Highlights

In the Shanghai Rankings 2024, Otago is top 50 for Hospitality and Tourism, and leads NZ in Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

Student Satisfaction and Employability Rankings

Otago boasts exceptional student satisfaction, with a 5 Stars Plus rating in QS Stars for employability and teaching. In New Zealand's QRI, it ranks #1 for overall student experience.

• What Students Say: Small class sizes and supportive international offices praised in surveys.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Top-ranked for international student support, with dedicated Indian student networks.

For employability, CWUR 2025 ranks Otago #991 globally but #2 in NZ, with 95% of graduates securing jobs or further study within six months—strong pathways to Australia, UK, and India.

Trends and Future Outlook

Otago's rankings show positive momentum, rising to #197 in QS 2026 from #214 in 2025, driven by sustainability initiatives and research funding. Despite a minor dip in THE to 351-400, investments in digital infrastructure and health research aim to reclaim top 300 status by 2030. Challenges include funding in a small national market, but Otago's focus on employability and global partnerships positions it strongly for international growth.

Prospective students, especially from India, will find Otago's rankings align with affordable, high-quality education in a safe, scenic environment—prioritizing practical skills over sheer prestige.

In summary, University of Otago's rankings affirm its role as New Zealand's premier research university, with world-class programs and robust student outcomes.