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World rankings , Taumata ā-Ao

Find out where Massey is ranked in the world rankings for universities, subjects and sustainability.

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.

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QS 5+ star rating logo

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 all assessed categories: employability, environmental impact, facilities, inclusiveness, innovation, internationalisation, research, subject ranking and teaching.

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World-class subjects

QS subject rankings

2 subjects ranked in the top 30 globally

Veterinary Science and Development Studies are ranked in the top 30. Veterinary Science is ranked 1st in Australasia and Asia.

4 subjects ranked in the top 100 globally

Veterinary Science, Development Studies, Agriculture and Forestry, and Communication and Media Studies.

5 subjects ranked 1st in New Zealand

Veterinary Science, Development Studies, Agriculture and Forestry, Communication and Media Studies, and Art and Design.

QS subject ranking
Subject 2024 QS ranking
Veterinary Science 21
Development Studies 30=
Agriculture and Forestry 61=
Communication and Media Studies 51-100
Architecture/Built Environment 101-150
Art and Design 101-150
Nursing 101-150
Accounting and Finance 151-200
Geography 151-200
Education 201-250
Psychology 251-300
Economics and Econometrics 301-350
Environmental Sciences 301-350
Sociology 301-350
Business and Management Studies 351-400
Biological Sciences 401-450
Chemistry 451-500
Medicine 501-550
Physics and Astronomy 601-640
Computer Science and Information Systems 601-650

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, and Communication.

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 17 subjects, including the special focus of Sports Science.

Shanghai subject rankings
Subject 2023 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
Sports Sciences 201-300*
Earth Sciences 301-400
Ecology 301-400
Economics 301-400
Psychology 401-500
Public Health 401-500

*Massey is ranked 201-300 in the 2023 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
Find out more about GRSSD

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.

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.

QS Sustainability University World Rankings

QS Sustainability World University Ranking top 100 logo

QS Sustainability University World Rankings

Massey has a strong commitment to tackling the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges and is ranked 81st equal in the QS Sustainability World University Rankings.

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2024 QS Sustainability University World Rankings
Category 2024 QS Sustainability University Rankings
Social Impact Overall 140=
Equality 58=
Knowledge Exchange 169=
Impact of Education 332=
Employability and Opportunities 359=
Health and Wellbeing 151=
Environmental Impact Overall 63=
Environmental Sustainability 145=
Environmental Education 40=
Environmental Research 156=
Governance Overall 89=

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings logo

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

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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.

Times Higher Education Impact rankings - Sustainable Development Goals (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

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.

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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.

Find out more about this ranking, US News Best Global