Massey is committed to supporting a diverse student population and providing high-quality learning experiences to all eligible learners, especially those from underrepresented and 'non-traditional' backgrounds.
While many of our students are school leavers who enjoy the full experience of studying on-campus and the vibrant, dynamic atmosphere that this brings, we also support a significant number of mature students who are often studying part-time or through distance (online) learning, whilst balancing work or caring responsibilities. This includes a high proportion of female students, particularly from Māori and Pacific communities.
University statistics on student numbers for 2020 to 2024 are available below. Both headcounts (HC) and equivalent full-time students (EFTS) are included. All numbers are based on calendar year numbers, as per Massey's 31 December Single Data Returns. For additional key facts and figures about our students and staff, please refer to our Annual Report.
All students
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | 30,653 | 30,132 | 27,534 | 26,632 | 26,099 |
| EFTS | 18,568 | 18,808 | 16,848 | 16,246 | 15,947 |
Students by gender
More than 6 out of every 10 of Massey’s students self-identify as female, with the conversion rate for female applicants 10.8% higher than for male applicants in 2024.
The percentage of female students has had steady but small increases in recent years, with a slight decline in 2024. Among Māori and Pacific students, the percentage of female students is notably higher, with 72.2% and 70.9% identifying as female in 2024, respectively.
More information about our female students
In recent years the number of students self-identifying as another gender has also increased, to 0.9% of all students in 2024.
Students by gender - headcounts
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | |
| Female | 19,676 | 64.2% | 19,500 | 64.7% | 17,824 | 64.7% | 17,250 | 64.8% | 16,789 | 64.3% |
| Male | 10,964 | 35.8% | 10,562 | 35.1% | 9,543 | 34.7% | 9,169 | 34.4% | 9,065 | 34.7% |
| Another gender | 13 | 0.0% | 70 | 0.2% | 167 | 0.6% | 213 | 0.8% | 245 | 0.9% |
| All | 30,653 | 100% | 30,132 | 100% | 27,534 | 100% | 26,632 | 100% | 26,099 | 100% |
Students by gender - EFTS
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | |
| Female | 11,850 | 63.8% | 12,053 | 64.1% | 10,856 | 64.4% | 10,375 | 63.9% | 10,241 | 64.2% |
| Male | 6,709 | 36.1% | 6,704 | 35.6% | 5,868 | 34.8% | 5,714 | 35.2% | 5,527 | 34.7% |
| Another gender | 9 | 0.0% | 51 | 0.3% | 123 | 0.7% | 157 | 1.0% | 180 | 1.1% |
| All | 18,568 | 100% | 18,808 | 100% | 16,848 | 100% | 16,246 | 100% | 15,947 | 100% |
Students by campus
Many of Massey’s students enjoy the flexibility of learning by distance, with almost two-thirds of students (65%) studying partly or fully online in 2024. This is the highest proportion of all New Zealand universities.
25% of all students who studied on campus also chose to study 1 or more courses by distance (online). They made up nearly one-fifth (18%) of the distance students, with the remaining four-fifths of distance students studying by distance (online) only.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | |
|
Ako mai tawhiti/ Distance |
19,230 | 7,255 | 20,102 | 8,474 | 18,359 | 7,821 | 17,407 | 7,380 | 17,064 | 7,606 |
|
Manawatū/ Palmerston North |
6,102 | 4,304 | 5,528 | 3,919 | 4,934 | 3,390 | 4,335 | 3,119 | 4,017 | 2,825 |
|
Ōtehā/ Auckland |
6,972 | 4,385 | 5,951 | 3,752 | 4,809 | 2,939 | 4,646 | 2,891 | 4,185 | 2,584 |
|
Pukeahu/ Wellington |
3,029 | 2,418 | 2,980 | 2,467 | 2,812 | 2,340 | 2,677 | 2,251 | 2,592 | 2,113 |
| Other | 575 | 206 | 576 | 196 | 866 | 357 | 1,157 | 605 | 1,419 | 819 |
| All | 30,653 | 18,568 | 30,132 | 18,808 | 27,534 | 16,848 | 26,632 | 16,246 | 26,099 | 15,947 |
Notes:
1. Some students study on more than 1 campus (for example, on the Manawatū campus and by distance). This means that the sum of the responses for each campus is higher than the total number of students.
2. 'Other' includes other onshore and offshore locations. Please note that not all Massey offshore learners are included in these numbers as some are enrolled with partner providers.
Students by ethnic group
Massey’s students come from a diverse range of ethnicities. In 2024, Massey had the second highest number of Māori students and third highest number of Pacific students of all New Zealand universities.
More information about our Māori students
More information about our Pacific Peoples students
Students by ethnic group - headcounts
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | HC | % | |
| European | 19,506 | 63.6% | 19,606 | 65.1% | 17,866 | 64.9% | 16,734 | 62.8% | 15,565 | 59.6% |
| Asian | 7,188 | 23.4% | 6,895 | 22.9% | 6,614 | 24.0% | 7,015 | 26.3% | 7,668 | 29.4% |
| Māori | 3,651 | 11.9% | 3,786 | 12.6% | 3,428 | 12.5% | 3,277 | 12.3% | 3,163 | 12.1% |
| Pacific Peoples | 1,672 | 5.5% | 1,740 | 5.8% | 1,574 | 5.7% | 1,496 | 5.6% | 1,593 | 6.1% |
|
Middle Eastern/ Latin American/ African |
971 | 3.2% | 995 | 3.3% | 958 | 3.5% | 1,001 | 3.8% | 1,015 | 3.9% |
|
Other/ Unknown |
913 | 3.0% | 820 | 2.7% | 605 | 2.2% | 595 | 2.2% | 588 | 2.3% |
| All | 30,653 | 30,132 | 27,534 | 26,632 | 26,099 |
Note: Some students self-identify with more than 1 ethnic group and are counted once in each group reported. This means that the sum of the responses for each ethnic group is higher than the total number of students.
Students by ethnic group - EFTS
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | EFTS | % | |
| European | 11,443 | 61.6% | 12,105 | 64.4% | 10,925 | 64.8% | 10,117 | 62.3% | 9,405 | 59.0% |
| Asian | 4,808 | 25.9% | 4,592 | 24.4% | 4,219 | 25.0% | 4,524 | 27.8% | 4,940 | 31.0% |
| Māori | 2,102 | 11.3% | 2,275 | 12.1% | 2,029 | 12.0% | 1,955 | 12.0% | 1,881 | 11.8% |
| Pacific Peoples | 967 | 5.2% | 1,054 | 5.6% | 943 | 5.6% | 887 | 5.5% | 954 | 6.0% |
|
Middle Eastern/ Latin American/ African |
625 | 3.4% | 634 | 3.4% | 617 | 3.7% | 629 | 3.9% | 636 | 4.0% |
|
Other/ Unknown |
503 | 2.7% | 464 | 2.5% | 350 | 2.1% | 328 | 2.0% | 330 | 2.1% |
| All | 18,568 | 18,808 | 16,848 | 16,246 | 15,947 |
Note: Some students self-identify with more than 1 ethnic group and are counted once in each group reported. This means that the sum of the responses for each ethnic group is higher than the total number of students.
Students by age
Massey has the highest proportion of mature students of all New Zealand universities. Many of these students study part-time or via distance (online) learning.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | |
| Under 25 | 13,088 | 9,981 | 12,322 | 9,748 | 11,322 | 8,785 | 11,023 | 8,463 | 10,671 | 8,091 |
| 25 and over | 17,565 | 8,587 | 17,810 | 9,060 | 16,212 | 8,062 | 15,609 | 7,783 | 15,428 | 7,855 |
| All | 30,653 | 18,568 | 30,132 | 18,808 | 27,534 | 16,848 | 26,632 | 16,246 | 26,099 | 15,947 |
Note: Age is as at 31 December each year.
Domestic and international students
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | |
| Domestic | 25,850 | 15,094 | 25,946 | 15,824 | 23,697 | 14,233 | 22,362 | 13,265 | 21,240 | 12,578 |
| International | 4,803 | 3,474 | 4,186 | 2,985 | 3,837 | 2,615 | 4,270 | 2,980 | 4,859 | 3,369 |
| All | 30,653 | 18,568 | 30,132 | 18,808 | 27,534 | 16,848 | 26,632 | 16,246 | 26,099 | 15,947 |
Note: International students are students who are not New Zealand citizens/permanent residents, nor Australian citizens/permanent residents.
TEC-funded and international fee-paying students
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | |
|
TEC- funded |
26,157 | 15,420 | 26,271 | 16,083 | 23,856 | 14,449 | 22,502 | 13,459 | 21,590 | 12,874 |
|
International fee-paying |
4,092 | 2,885 | 3,567 | 2,493 | 3,316 | 2,207 | 3,709 | 2,573 | 4,320 | 2,936 |
| All | 30,653 | 18,568 | 30,132 | 18,808 | 27,534 | 16,848 | 26,632 | 16,246 | 26,099 | 15,947 |
Note: TEC-funded students are as per the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)'s funding classifications 01 and 37. International fee-paying students are as per TEC's funding classification 02.
Students by country of citizenship
Massey’s students came from over 130 countries in 2024, bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience with them to enhance the learning experiences of all students.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | HC | EFTS | |
| New Zealand | 22,365 | 13,145 | 22,351 | 13,743 | 20,266 | 12,301 | 18,898 | 11,365 | 17,817 | 10,690 |
| China, People's Republic of | 3,447 | 2,392 | 3,282 | 2,311 | 3,246 | 2,144 | 3,388 | 2,268 | 3,613 | 2,394 |
| India | 554 | 386 | 455 | 247 | 348 | 193 | 477 | 285 | 665 | 396 |
| United Kingdom | 666 | 358 | 665 | 386 | 585 | 340 | 560 | 307 | 486 | 264 |
| South Africa | 315 | 187 | 341 | 206 | 342 | 205 | 344 | 201 | 329 | 201 |
| United States of America | 262 | 168 | 201 | 141 | 190 | 122 | 293 | 172 | 318 | 206 |
| Australia | 376 | 206 | 372 | 211 | 336 | 200 | 323 | 185 | 271 | 148 |
| Sri Lanka | 125 | 89 | 118 | 76 | 102 | 65 | 165 | 108 | 261 | 182 |
| Philippines | 172 | 105 | 164 | 105 | 178 | 97 | 206 | 123 | 244 | 144 |
| Viet Nam | 179 | 126 | 154 | 93 | 142 | 87 | 154 | 94 | 152 | 96 |
| Singapore | 135 | 78 | 124 | 73 | 125 | 67 | 123 | 79 | 127 | 77 |
| Korea, Republic of | 143 | 94 | 145 | 101 | 127 | 88 | 120 | 83 | 127 | 91 |
| Fiji | 104 | 61 | 96 | 51 | 76 | 43 | 106 | 53 | 114 | 73 |
| Malaysia | 212 | 137 | 162 | 110 | 127 | 81 | 113 | 74 | 107 | 68 |
| Other | 1,598 | 1,035 | 1,502 | 953 | 1,344 | 814 | 1,362 | 848 | 1,468 | 919 |
| All students | 30,653 | 18,568 | 30,132 | 18,808 | 27,534 | 16,848 | 26,632 | 16,246 | 26,099 | 15,947 |
Note: Counts are based on the United Nations Statistics Division M49 standard country or area codes for statistical use.
Alumni
Massey's alumni are a vital part of our community. Their achievements, support and engagement help create a strong, connected community that benefits both current students and future generations.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 158,725 | 164,628 | 170,225 | 175,567 | 180,763 |
|
Actively engaged |
51,257 | 58,021 | 59,616 | 65,493 | 66,998 |
|
Actively engaged % |
32.3 | 35.2 | 35.0 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
Note: Active engagement is defined as: attending an alumni event, clicking through on the alumni e‐newsletter, donating to the Foundation, contacting the alumni office, updating information, joining the alumni library scheme, belonging to an alumni social media group, visiting the alumni office, and/or registering on the internet community pages.