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Student facts and figures , Tātai Tauira

Massey's distinctive and diverse student demographic demonstrates our longstanding and unwavering commitment to supporting and enabling lifelong learning that transforms the lives of individuals, their whānau and their communities.

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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 2019 to 2023 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

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC 30,491 30,653 30,132 27,534 26,632
EFTS 18,835 18,568 18,808 16,848 16,246

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 8.5% higher than for male applicants in 2023.

The percentage of female students has slightly increased in recent years and is even higher for Māori and Pacific students.

Increasing proportions of female student

In recent years the number of students self-identifying as another gender has also increased, to 0.8% of all students in 2023.

Students by gender - headcounts

Students by gender - headcounts
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC % HC % HC % HC % HC %
Female 19,449 63.8% 19,676 64.2% 19,500 64.7% 17,824 64.7% 17,250 64.8%
Male 11,042 36.2% 10,964 35.8% 10,562 35.1% 9,543 34.7% 9,169 34.4%
Another gender 0 0.0% 13 0.0% 70 0.2% 167 0.6% 213 0.8%
All 30,491 100% 30,653 100% 30,132 100% 27,534 100% 26,632 100%

Students by gender - EFTS

Students by gender - EFTS
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
EFTS % EFTS % EFTS % EFTS % EFTS %
Female 11,927 63.3% 11,850 63.8% 12,053 64.1% 10,856 64.4% 10,375 63.9%
Male 6,908 36.7% 6,709 36.1% 6,704 35.6% 5,868 34.8% 5,714 35.2%
Another gender 0 0.0% 9 0.0% 51 0.3% 123 0.7% 157 1.0%
All 18,835 100% 18,568 100% 18,808 100% 16,848 100% 16,246 100%

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 2023. This is the highest proportion of all NZ universities.

26% of all students who studied on-campus also chose to study 1 or more courses by distance (online). They made up nearly one-fifth (19%) of the distance students, with the remaining four-fifths of distance students studying by distance (online) only.

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS
Ako mai
tawhiti/
Distance 		18,146 6,626 19,230 7,255 20,102 8,474 18,359 7,821 17,407 7,380
Manawatū/
Palmerston
North 		6,452 4,553 6,102 4,304 5,528 3,919 4,934 3,390 4,335 3,119
Ōtehā/
Auckland 		7,541 4,972 6,972 4,385 5,951 3,752 4,809 2,939 4,646 2,891
Pukeahu/
Wellington 		3,355 2,526 3,029 2,418 2,980 2,467 2,812 2,340 2,677 2,251
Other 489 158 575 206 576 196 866 357 1,157 605
All 30,491 18,835 30,653 18,568 30,132 18,808 27,534 16,848 26,632 16,246

Notes:
1. Some students study on more than 1 campus (for example, on 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 2023, Massey had the 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

Students by ethnic group - headcounts
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC % HC % HC % HC % HC %
European 18,975 62.2% 19,506 63.6% 19,606 65.1% 17,866 64.9% 16,734 62.8%
Asian 7,389 24.2% 7,188 23.4% 6,895 22.9% 6,614 24.0% 7,015 26.3%
Māori 3,367 11.0% 3,651 11.9% 3,786 12.6% 3,428 12.5% 3,277 12.3%
Pacific Peoples 1,548 5.1% 1,672 5.5% 1,740 5.8% 1,574 5.7% 1,496 5.6%
Middle Eastern/
Latin American/
African 		910 3.0% 971 3.2% 995 3.3% 958 3.5% 1,001 3.8%
Other/
Unknown 		1,038 3.4% 913 3.0% 820 2.7% 605 2.2% 595 2.2%
All 30,491 30,653 30,132 27,534 26,632

Note: Some students 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

Students by ethnic group - EFTS
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
EFTS % EFTS % EFTS % EFTS % EFTS %
European 11,301 60.0% 11,443 61.6% 12,105 64.4% 10,925 64.8% 10,117 62.3%
Asian 5,104 27.1% 4,808 25.9% 4,592 24.4% 4,219 25.0% 4,524 27.8%
Māori 1,937 10.3% 2,102 11.3% 2,275 12.1% 2,029 12.0% 1,955 12.0%
Pacific Peoples 863 4.6% 967 5.2% 1,054 5.6% 943 5.6% 887 5.5%
Middle Eastern/
Latin American/
African 		577 3.1% 625 3.4% 634 3.4% 617 3.7% 629 3.9%
Other/
Unknown 		591 3.1% 503 2.7% 464 2.5% 350 2.1% 328 2.0%
All 18,835 18,568 18,808 16,848 16,246

Note: Some students 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.

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS
Under 25 13,781 10,584 13,088 9,981 12,322 9,748 11,322 8,785 11,023 8,463
25 and over 16,710 8,251 17,565 8,587 17,810 9,060 16,212 8,062 15,609 7,783
All 30,491 18,835 30,653 18,568 30,132 18,808 27,534 16,848 26,632 16,246

Note: Age is as at 31 December each year.

Domestic and international students

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS
Domestic 25,168 14,869 25,850 15,094 25,946 15,824 23,697 14,233 22,362 13,265
International 5,323 3,966 4,803 3,474 4,186 2,985 3,837 2,615 4,270 2,980
All 30,491 18,835 30,653 18,568 30,132 18,808 27,534 16,848 26,632 16,246

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

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS
TEC-
funded 		25,622 15,287 26,157 15,420 26,271 16,083 23,856 14,449 22,502 13,459
International
fee-paying 		4,518 3,306 4,092 2,885 3,567 2,493 3,316 2,207 3,709 2,573
All 30,491 18,835 30,653 18,568 30,132 18,808 27,534 16,848 26,632 16,246

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 2023, bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience with them to enhance the learning experiences of all students.

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS HC EFTS
New
Zealand 		21,779 12,971 22,365 13,145 22,351 13,743 20,266 12,301 18,898 11,365
China,
People's
Republic
of 		3,839 2,826 3,447 2,392 3,282 2,311 3,246 2,144 3,388 2,268
United
Kingdom 		715 409 666 358 665 386 585 340 560 307
India 455 296 554 386 455 247 348 193 477 285
South
Africa 		290 169 315 187 341 206 342 205 344 201
Australia 350 186 376 206 372 211 336 200 323 185
United
States
of
America 		349 200 262 168 201 141 190 122 293 172
Philippines 159 95 172 105 164 105 178 97 206 123
Sri Lanka 117 77 125 89 118 76 102 65 165 108
Viet Nam 180 113 179 126 154 93 142 87 154 94
Singapore 131 83 135 78 124 73 125 67 123 79
Korea,
Republic of 		140 98 143 94 145 101 127 88 120 83
Malaysia 247 198 212 137 162 110 127 81 113 74
Fiji 111 67 104 61 96 51 76 43 106 53
Other 1629 1,048 1,598 1,035 1,502 953 1,344 814 1,362 848
All students 30,491 18,835 30,653 18,568 30,132 18,808 27,534 16,848 26,632 16,246

Note: Counts are based on the United Nations Statistics Division M49 standard country or area codes for statistical use.

Alumni

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total 153,907 158,725 164,628 170,225 175,567
Actively
engaged 		48,527 51,257 58,021 59,616 65,493
Actively
engaged
% 		31.5 32.3 35.2 35.0 37.3

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.