World university rankings
There are a number of world university, subject and sustainability rankings that Massey University participates in each year.
These rankings systems assess various criteria that include our reputation, quality of research, teaching quality, international outreach, collaboration with industry and sustainability.
Massey’s international rankings are of interest to a range of people, such as prospective international students, prospective employees, prospective employers, potential research collaborators, funders and government agencies.
QS World University Ranking
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings is one of the more recognised international university rankings in the world.
QS top 250 universities in the world
Massey is ranked 239th in the world by QS. Massey is ranked 96th in the world for our high ratio of international students and 112th globally for our international faculty ratio. Massey’s strong commitment to sustainability is highlighted by our global rank of 81st for sustainability.
QS 5+ star rating
Massey was awarded 5+ stars by QS for the third consecutive time. This rating highlights our strengths independent of rankings. We received 5 stars in each of the 9 assessed categories: employability, environmental impact, facilities, global engagement, inclusiveness, innovation & knowledge transfer, online learning, research & teaching. This includes 5 stars in the subject of Veterinary Science.
Find out more about the 2025 QS World University Rankings
Find out more about QS 5 stars
Times Higher Education Online Learning Ranking
Massey University received a Gold rank in the inaugural Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings 2024.
This ranking is the first attempt to measure online learning on a global basis. Massey was the only New Zealand university that was awarded the highest possible rank in this global ranking, where 11 institutions were awarded Gold, 14 awarded Silver and 31 awarded Bronze.
Institutions were assessed for 4 pillars: Resources, Engagement, Outcomes and Environment. Massey was the only university that was ranked first in 2 pillars: Engagement and Environment.
Find out more about the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings.
World-class subjects
QS subject rankings
1 subject ranked in the top 20 globally
Veterinary Science is ranked 19th in the world and 1st in Australasia and Asia.
3 subjects ranked in the top 100 globally
Veterinary Science, Agriculture and Forestry and Development Studies.
4 subjects ranked 1st in New Zealand
Veterinary Science, Agriculture and Forestry, Development Studies, and Communication and Media Studies
| Subject | 2025 QS ranking |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Science | 19 |
| Agriculture and Forestry | 67 |
| Development Studies | 51-100 |
| Architecture/Built Environment | 101-150 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 101-150 |
| Art & Design | 151-200 |
| Nursing | 151-225 |
| Accounting and Finance | 201-250 |
| Education | 201-250 |
| English Language and Literature | 201-250 |
| Geography | 201-250 |
| Economics and Econometrics | 301-350 |
| Psychology | 301-350 |
| Sociology | 301-375 |
| Environmental Sciences | 351-400 |
| Biological Sciences | 451-500 |
| Business and Management Studies | 451-500 |
| Chemistry | 551-600 |
| Computer Science & Information Systems | 551-600 |
| Medicine | 601-650 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 601-675 |
Shanghai subject rankings
In the 2024 Global Rankings of Academic Subjects (GRAS), also known as the Shanghai Rankings, Massey is ranked in the top 50 globally for Food Science and Technology (43rd) and Communication (45th).
Massey is also ranked first in New Zealand in six subjects: Communication, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Sciences, Finance, Biotechnology and Political Sciences.
Overall, Massey was ranked in 16 subjects.
2 subjects ranked in the top 50 globally
Food Science and Technology, and Communication.
6 subjects ranked 1st in New Zealand
Communication, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Sciences, Finance, Biotechnology, and Political Sciences.
16 subjects in latest rankings
Overall, we were ranked in 16 subjects in the latest Shanghai Subject Rankings.
| Subject | 2024 Shanghai ranking |
|---|---|
| Food Science & Technology | 43 |
| Communication | 45 |
| Veterinary Sciences | 51-75 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 101-150 |
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | 101-150 |
| Finance | 151-200 |
| Nursing | 151-200 |
| Biotechnology | 201-300 |
| Business Administration | 201-300 |
| Geography | 201-300 |
| Political Sciences | 201-300 |
| Earth Sciences | 301-400 |
| Ecology | 301-400 |
| Economics | 301-400 |
| Psychology | 401-500 |
| Public Health | 401-500 |
Find out more about the Shanghai Subject Rankings
Find out more about our subjects
Shanghai Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments
The Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments allows sport-related institutions and units to compare with similar peers other than multi-disciplinary universities in a specific subject.
300 institutions were ranked in the 2024 rankings round, and Massey University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition is now ranked 151-200, up from 201-300 in 2023.
Find out more about the Shanghai Rankings of Sport Science Schools and Departments
Find out more about Massey’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition
Sustainability rankings
At Massey we have a strong commitment to tackling the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges. We recognise the importance of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of a worldwide plan to help people, prosperity and the planet by 2030.
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings
Massey has a strong commitment to achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is ranked 75th equal in the world in the 2024 THE Impact Rankings
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings measure global universities’ successes in delivering on the United Nations’ SDGs. In achieving its global 75th equal rank, Massey is now ranked second in New Zealand, with 11 SDGs ranked in the top 100 worldwide.
Massey’s three top SDGs are SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (5th), SDG 15: Life on Land (12th equal) and SDG2: Zero Hunger (13th).
Along with the three SDGs above, Massey also has two additional SDGs in the top 50 worldwide, SDG13: Climate Action (35th equal) and SDG5: Gender Equality (40th equal).
Massey is also ranked 1st in New Zealand in SDG1: No Poverty and SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and ranked in the top 3 in New Zealand for 14 out of the 17 SDGs.
| UN Sustainable Development Goals | 2024 THE Impact Rankings |
|---|---|
| Overall ranking | 75= |
| SDG1 – No Poverty | 56 |
| SDG2 – Zero Hunger | 13 |
| SDG3 – Good Health and Wellbeing | 101-200 |
| SDG4 – Quality Education | 301-400 |
| SDG5 – Gender Equality | 40= |
| SDG6 – Clean Water and Sanitation | 54 |
| SDG7 – Affordable and Clean Energy | 85= |
| SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth | 62= |
| SDG9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 101-200 |
| SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities | 301-400 |
| SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities | 5= |
| SDG12 – Responsible Consumption and Production | 77 |
| SDG13 – Climate Action | 35= |
| SDG14 – Life Below Water | 58= |
| SDG15 – Life on Land | 12= |
| SDG16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 101-200 |
| SDG17 – Partnership for the Goals | 101-200 |
Find more about the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
QS Sustainability World University Rankings
QS Sustainability World University Rankings
Massey has a strong commitment to tackling the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges and is ranked 129th equal in the QS Sustainability World University Rankings.
| Category | 2025 QS Sustainability University Rankings | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Impact | Overall | 157= |
| Equality | 64 | |
| Impact of Education | 82= | |
| Health and Wellbeing | 195 | |
| Knowledge Exchange | 249= | |
| Employability and Outcomes | 456= | |
| Environmental Impact | Overall | 136= |
| Environmental Education | 109= | |
| Environmental Research | 180= | |
| Environmental Sustainability | 279= | |
| Governance | Overall | 103 |
Find out more about Sustainable Development Goals at Massey
Design rankings
Red Dot Design Ranking 2nd in Asia Pacific in 2024
Massey's Toi Rauwhārangi – College of Creative Arts do exceedingly well in the Red Dot Design Rankings. This year’s results places Massey in the top three universities in Asia Pacific for the 10th year in a row.
Find more about the Red Dot Design Ranking
Business rankings
QS Top MBA Rankings
Global MBA
Ranked 6th globally for Diversity.
Executive MBA
Ranked 28th globally for Diversity.
Master in Finance
Ranked in the top 30 worldwide for Diversity.
Master in Business Analytics
Ranked 27th globally for Diversity.
Massey Business School really shone in the Diversity indicator for these rankings, where were ranked 6th globally for Diversity in our MBA, and ranked in the top 30 worldwide for Diversity in our Master in Finance (15= globally), Master in Business Analytics (27th globally) and Executive MBA (28th globally).
Massey also scored very highly in our Research Impact subindicators for the global MBA (93.7%), Master in Finance (97.0%) and Master in Business Analytics (85.9%), reflecting our high quality research in these areas at Massey; note that this subindicator was not assessed in the Executive MBA.
Find out more about the QS Global MBA Rankings, QS Executive MBA Rankings and QS Business Masters Rankings.
CEO magazine global MBA rankings
Tier One Global MBA ranking
The only NZ university with a Tier One Global MBA ranking for 2023 and again Tier One ranked in 2024.
11th for Global EMBA
In 2024 we were ranked 11th in the world for our Executive Master of Business Administration.
12th for online MBA
We were ranked 12th globally for our online Master of Business Administration in 2024.
Find out more about the CEO magazine
Find out more about the CEO magazine global mba rankings
Other rankings
US News Best Global
Massey was ranked in a total of 12 subjects this year, three more than the nine ranked subjects in 2023. This is the third highest number of ranked subjects of all NZ universities, after the University of Auckland and Otago University.
Our results include top 100 rankings globally in Agricultural Sciences (78th globally and 2nd in NZ), and Food Science and Technology (83rd globally and 2nd in NZ).
Our other two top subjects were Economic and Business (171st equal globally and 3rd in NZ), and Plant and Animal Science (206th equal globally and 1st in NZ). Overall, Massey ranked #645= globally and 6th in New Zealand.