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 University is ranked 230th equal in the world by QS. This is the third consecutive year Massey has been ranked in the global top 250, and the seventh consecutive year bring ranked in the top 300 for both overall performance and academic reputation. Massey is also ranked the third-highest university in New Zealand.
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.
Massey is ranked 71st in the world for our high ratio of international students and 120th globally for our international faculty ratio.
For the first time, the QS rankings have introduced an unweighted indicator on International Student Diversity, recognising not just the size but also the diversity of an institution’s international student body. In this category, Massey has performed exceptionally, ranking 62nd globally and third nationally.
A total of 19.8 million publications, 200 million citations, 1.5 million academic nominations and 520,000 employer nominations were assessed for the rankings.
Find out more about the 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 2025 Global Rankings of Academic Subjects (GRAS), also known as the Shanghai Rankings, Massey is ranked in 12 subjects.
Food Science and Technology is Massey’s top ranked subject, ranked 43rd globally.
Communication and Veterinary Sciences are both ranked in the top 100 globally.
Agricultural Sciences and Business Administration are ranked in the global top 150, and Finance is ranked in the top 200 globally.
Massey is ranked first in New Zealand in 6 subjects: Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology Communication, Economics, Finance and Veterinary Science.
1 subject ranked in the top 50 globally
Food Science and Technology.
3 subjects ranked in the top 100 globally
Food Science and Technology, Communication and Veterinary Science.
6 subjects ranked 1st in New Zealand
Sciences, Biotechnology Communication, Economics, Finance and Veterinary Science.
| Subject | 2025 Shanghai ranking |
|---|---|
| Food Science & Technology | 43 |
| Communication | 76-100 |
| Veterinary Sciences | 76-100 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 101-150 |
| Business Administration | 101-150 |
| Finance | 151-200 |
| Biotechnology | 201-300 |
| Nursing | 201-300 |
| Psychology | 201-300 |
| Economics | 301-400 |
| Education | 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 84th equal in the world in the 2025 THE Impact Rankings.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings measure global universities’ successes in delivering on the United Nations’ SDGs. In achieving its global 84th equal rank, Massey now has 1 SDG ranked in the top 10 globally, 3 SDGs in the top 50 and further 3 SDGs in the top 100.
Massey is ranked 10th equal for SDG2: Zero Hunger, up from 13th last year. Ranked in the top 50 are SDG13: Climate Action (33rd equal), SDG5: Gender Equality (42nd equal) and SDG 15: Life on Land (49th equal).
Rounding out Massey’s top 100 rankings are SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (54th equal), SDG14: Life Below Water (73rd equal) and SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy (80th equal).
| UN Sustainable Development Goals | 2025 THE Impact Rankings |
|---|---|
| Overall ranking | 84= |
| SDG1 – No Poverty | 101-200 |
| SDG2 – Zero Hunger | 10 |
| SDG3 – Good Health and Wellbeing | 101-200 |
| SDG4 – Quality Education | 301-400 |
| SDG5 – Gender Equality | 42= |
| SDG6 – Clean Water and Sanitation | 101-200 |
| SDG7 – Affordable and Clean Energy | 80= |
| SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth | 101-200 |
| SDG9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 101-200 |
| SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities | 301-400 |
| SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities | 54= |
| SDG12 – Responsible Consumption and Production | 101-200 |
| SDG13 – Climate Action | 33= |
| SDG14 – Life Below Water | 73= |
| SDG15 – Life on Land | 49= |
| SDG16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 101-200 |
| SDG17 – Partnership for the Goals | 201-300 |
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 131st out of 2001 participating institutions in the QS Sustainability World University Rankings.
Massey is ranked 19th in Oceania, out of 47 institutions.
Massey University is ranked in the top 100 globally for Impact of Education (86th) and Equality (89th equal) within the Social Impact category.
| Category | 2026 QS Sustainability University Rankings | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Impact | Overall | 136= |
| Impact of Education | 86 | |
| Equality | 89= | |
| Health & Wellbeing | 218= | |
| Knowledge Exchange | 220= | |
| Employability & Outcomes | 430= | |
| Environmental Impact | Overall | 142= |
| Environmental Education | 103= | |
| Environmental Research | 177= | |
| Environmental Sustainability | 292= | |
| Governance | Overall | 104= |
Design rankings
Ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific for the Red Dot Design ranking
Massey is ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific in 2025 in the international Red Dot Design Ranking for the third consecutive year, the only design school to be ranked in New Zealand and Australia. This year’s results places Massey in the top 3 universities in Asia Pacific for the 11th year in a row.
Find more about the Red Dot Design Ranking
Business rankings
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Top MBA and Business Masters Rankings
Executive MBA
Ranked top 20 in the Asia-Pacific region.
Executive MBA
Ranked 1st in New Zealand.
Global MBA
Ranked 10th in Oceania. Ranked 9th globally for Diversity and in the top 100 worldwide for Alumni outcomes.
Master in Finance
Ranked in the top 200 globally and in the top 30 worldwide for Diversity.
Master in Business Analytics
Ranked in the top 150 globally. Ranked in top 20 globally for Diversity and in the top 90 for Alumni Outcomes.
Massey’s Executive MBA (EMBA) is ranked 1st in New Zealand and ranked in the top 20 in Asia Pacific. Massey is ranked 24th globally for the “Executive Profile” indicator of the EMBA rankings, that assesses the C-Suite, managerial and average work experience of our student cohort.
Massey’s MBA is ranked in the top 10 in Oceania and 1st equal in New Zealand. The programme also moved into the 201-250 band globally. The MBA is ranked 9th globally for Diversity and in the top 100 worldwide for Alumni outcomes. The programme also scored 93.1% for Research Impact, reflecting the world-class quality of Massey’s research.
Massey’s online MBA is ranked for the first time, coming in the top 100 globally and 2nd in New Zealand.
Our Master in Finance is ranked in the top 200 globally and in the top 30 worldwide for Diversity. This programme scored 98.7% for Research Impact, indicative of the world-class quality of Massey’s research.
Our Master in Business Analytics is ranked in the top 150 globally. It is also ranked in the top 20 globally for Diversity and in the top 90 for Alumni Outcomes. This programme scored 86.8% for Research Impact, telling of Massey’s research quality.
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
Tier One Global MBA Ranking for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.
10= for Global Executive MBA
Ranked 10= worldwide for the Global Executive MBA (EMBA) in 2025 and the only ranked university in New Zealand for the EMBA.
18= for online MBA
Ranked 18= globally for our online MBA in 2025 and the only ranked university in New Zealand for the online MBA.
Find out more about the CEO Magazine
Find out more about the CEO Magazine Global MBA Rankings
Other rankings
US News Best Global
In the 2025-2026 US Best Global Rankings, Massey was ranked in the top 100 globally in 2 subjects. These are Food Science and Technology (85th globally and 2nd in NZ), and Agricultural Sciences (90th globally and 2nd in NZ).
Our other 2 top subjects were Economic and Business (134th equal globally and 2nd in NZ), and Plant and Animal Science (241st equal globally and 2nd in NZ).
These rankings are primarily used in the USA and encompassed 2,250 top institutions spread across 105 countries.