University of Waikato
#=293
QS Rank
31%
Intl. students
$23,000
Tuition/yr
13,000
Enrollment
20.7:1
Student:Faculty
About University of Waikato
University of Waikato is a public research university in Hamilton, New Zealand, founded in 1964 and ranked =293 in QS World 2026.
The University of Waikato is a public research university founded in 1964 in Hamilton, New Zealand. It enrols more than 13,000 students annually and is classified among the top 1.5% of universities globally by QS, ranked equal 293rd in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Waikato has particular academic depth in computer science, home of the globally-adopted WEKA machine learning toolkit, downloaded over 10 million times, and the Waikato Management School, which holds the rare Triple Crown accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, placing it in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. The university also ranks strongly in environmental and sustainability sciences, placing 116th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 and first in New Zealand for environmental sustainability.
The main campus is in Hamilton, the fourth-largest city in New Zealand, with a second campus in Tauranga. Approximately 31% of its student body is international, and the university reported record international enrolments in 2025, with growth driven by students from India, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
World University Rankings
For Nepali students
- New Zealand's Post-Study Work Visa allows graduates of three-year degrees to work for up to three years after completing their studies, giving Nepali students a meaningful pathway to gain overseas work experience and potentially qualify for residency.
- Waikato's International Excellence Scholarship offers up to NZD 10,000 to first-time international students from eligible countries including Nepal, awarded on academic merit, a meaningful offset against annual undergraduate tuition of roughly NZD 32,000–48,000 depending on the programme.
- The university's internationally accredited business school and highly-ranked computer science department are strong fits for Nepali students pursuing management, IT, or data science careers, with Waikato's WEKA toolkit well known in global tech and research circles.
- With 31% of students being international and Hamilton offering a lower cost of living than Auckland or Wellington, Waikato represents a more affordable entry point into a New Zealand degree without sacrificing ranking quality or post-study work rights.
Programs(4)
MSc Computer Science
Computer Science & ITBSc Computer Science
Computer Science & ITBE Engineering
EngineeringData last verified from official sources · Disclaimer
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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