New Zealand has more than 20 places to train as a registered nurse, from research universities to regional institutes and a wānanga. This guide ranks the country’s nursing programmes and reviews the top five.
Imagine choosing between a university degree in Auckland, a regional institute close to home or a Māori or Pacific nursing programme. They all lead to the same registration with the Nursing Council, but the experience is very different.
How we ranked these schools
New Zealand has no single official ranking of nursing schools, so we combined two things. First, schools in New Zealand that appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for nursing are placed at the top, in QS order. Second, we ranked the other programmes accredited by the Nursing Council of New Zealand on the range of entry routes they offer, the strength of the wider institution and the clinical training they can provide. Every programme on this list leads to registration as a nurse.
New Zealand nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | Location | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Auckland | Auckland | Bachelor of Nursing (3 years); graduate-entry Master of Nursing Science | 51–100 |
| 2 | University of Otago | Christchurch | Graduate-entry Master of Nursing Science (no bachelor’s degree) | 101–150 |
| 3 | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | Auckland | Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing); Master of Nursing Science | 151–225 |
| 4 | Massey University | Several campuses | Bachelor of Nursing | 151–225 |
| 5 | University of Waikato | Hamilton | Bachelor of Nursing; Master of Nursing Practice | Not ranked |
| 6 | Victoria University of Wellington | Wellington | Graduate-entry Master of Nursing Practice | Not ranked |
| 7 | University of Canterbury | Christchurch | Graduate-entry Master of Health Sciences (Nursing) | Not ranked |
Top New Zealand nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s highest-ranked university for nursing, in the world’s top 100. Its three-year Bachelor of Nursing is taught at the Grafton health campus, next to Auckland City Hospital.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing (3 years); graduate-entry Master of Nursing Science
- World ranking: 51–100 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want New Zealand’s top-ranked nursing school
2. University of Otago
Otago is ranked in the world’s top 150 for nursing. It doesn’t offer a bachelor’s in nursing: graduates of other degrees can become registered nurses through its Master of Nursing Science in Christchurch.
- Degree options: Graduate-entry Master of Nursing Science (no bachelor’s degree)
- World ranking: 101–150 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: graduates of another degree who want a world-ranked route into nursing
3. Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
AUT is in the world’s top 225 for nursing and is one of New Zealand’s largest nursing educators, known for practical, career-focused teaching.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing); Master of Nursing Science
- World ranking: 151–225 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students in Auckland who want a large, practical programme
4. Massey University
Massey is also in the QS world rankings for nursing and teaches its degree on more than one campus, giving students outside Auckland a university option.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: 151–225 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want a university degree outside Auckland
5. University of Waikato
Waikato is one of New Zealand’s newer university nursing schools, training nurses for the Waikato region and beyond.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing; Master of Nursing Practice
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students in the Waikato region
Polytechnic and institute nursing degrees: many New Zealand nurses train at regional institutes, which offer accredited Bachelor of Nursing degrees close to home. They include Ara (Christchurch), EIT (Hawke’s Bay), Manukau Institute of Technology, NMIT (Nelson), NorthTec (Whangārei), Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin), SIT (Invercargill), Toi Ohomai (Bay of Plenty), Unitec (Auckland), UCOL (Palmerston North), Wintec (Hamilton), WITT (New Plymouth) and Whitireia (Wellington). Several offer Māori or Pacific nursing degrees, as does Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
What does nursing school cost in New Zealand?
Fees vary by provider. As an example, the University of Auckland lists indicative 2027 fees for its Bachelor of Nursing of about NZ$9,312 a year for domestic students and NZ$44,959 for international students. Eligible domestic students can get up to NZ$12,000 of fees-free study in their final year, and student loans are available.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- Accreditation: make sure the programme is accredited by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, so you can register when you graduate.
- State Final Examination: graduates sit the Nursing Council’s State Final Examination before registering. Ask each provider how its graduates perform.
- Clinical placements: where students train, and how far you may need to travel.
- Māori and Pacific pathways: some providers offer kaupapa Māori or Pacific nursing degrees and extra support.
- Admission and deadlines: places are limited, so apply early and to more than one provider.
Your next step: Shortlist the schools that suit you, then check each one’s entry requirements, campus options and application deadlines on its website.
Related: Work as a nurse in Australia and New Zealand · Nurse salaries by country
Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), Nursing Council of New Zealand, Study with New Zealand (New Zealand Government), university and institute websites. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the provider.
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