The University of Otago, in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island, opened in 1869 and is the country’s oldest university. It ranks #198 globally in QS World University Rankings 2027, with sports-related subjects placed 22nd worldwide in QS 2026.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #198 globally, NZ #2
- Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #190 globally, NZ #2
- Times Higher Education 2026: 351-400 band, NZ #2
- QS Subject 2026: #22 globally in Sports-related Subjects, NZ #1
Reading the rank pattern: Otago does better on rankings that focus on reputation (QS) than on rankings that focus on research output (THE). Its QS 2027 finish at #198 sits ahead of IISc Bangalore at #221 in the same edition. For Indian applicants, an Otago degree carries a slightly stronger QS signal than IISc Bangalore.
Table of Contents
- University of Otago Overall Rankings 2026-2027
- University of Otago Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
- University of Otago QS World University Rankings 2027
- Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of University of Otago
- University of Otago Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
- University of Otago ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings
- University of Otago U.S. News Best Global University Rankings
- University of Otago Subject Rankings
- University of Otago Sustainability and Regional Rankings
- University of Otago Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- University of Otago Ranking FAQs
Read More: University of Otago Admissions 2026: Deadlines, Eligibility & Acceptance Rate for Indian Students
University of Otago Overall Rankings 2026-2027
Otago appears in five major global ranking systems, with results clustered between the top 200 (QS, CD) and the 350-500 band (THE, ARWU). The reputation-led tables consistently place it higher than the research-volume tables.
| Ranking Body | University of Otago Rank |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | #190 globally, NZ #2 |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #198 globally, NZ #2 |
| U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 | #296 globally, NZ #2 |
| Times Higher Education World 2026 | 351-400 band, NZ #2 |
| ARWU (Shanghai) 2025 | 401-500 band, NZ #2 |
The roughly 200-place gap between QS (#198) and ARWU (401-500) signals that employer reputation and graduate outcomes are valued more than raw research citation volume for Otago. All five bodies place Otago second in New Zealand behind the University of Auckland at QS #67.
University of Otago Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
For Indian applicants, the rank that matters most depends on the program. QS and CD signal employer recognition and brand value; ARWU and THE signal research depth.
| Indian Applicant Signal | Otago Rank | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS World 2027 (overall brand) | #198 | Higher than IISc Bangalore at #221 in the same edition, so the degree carries a competitive global signal. |
| QS Subject 2026 (strongest subject) | #22 in Sports-related Subjects | Among the global top 25 for Indian sports-medicine and exercise applicants. |
| QS Dentistry 2026 | #50 | The only New Zealand dental school in the global top 50 for Indian dental applicants. |
| CD Medicine 2026 | #124 | Sits in CD’s global top 150 for medicine, useful for Indian Health Sciences pathway research. |
| THE World 2026 | 351-400 | The lower THE band reflects research volume, not employer perception of an Otago degree. |
Key insight for Indian applicants
- Subject-vs-overall gap: Sports-related Subjects #22 versus overall #198 is a 176-place positive gap, the clearest signal of where Otago’s brand is sharpest.
- India peer comparison: Otago’s #198 QS 2027 sits 23 places above IISc Bangalore (#221) and 64 places below IIT Bombay (#=134).
- Cross-body gap: QS #198 versus ARWU 401-500 means employer-facing degree value reads much stronger than the research-volume metric suggests.
University of Otago QS World University Rankings 2027
Otago’s 19-place QS climb between 2025 and 2027 is the sharpest five-year recovery for any New Zealand university in this window. QS rewards academic reputation, employer reputation and employment outcomes, where Otago has improved most.
| Year | University of Otago QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #198 |
| 2026 | #=197 |
| 2025 | #214 |
| 2024 | #206 |
| 2023 | #=217 |
Five-year average sits near #206. The 2025 to 2027 jump came from improved scores on academic reputation, employer reputation, international networks and employment outcomes. Otago’s raw QS score moved from 55.8 to 56.3 between the 2026 and 2027 editions.
Key insight: Otago has stayed inside the QS top 220 every year of this five-year window. Its strongest indicator, employer reputation, outperforms its overall rank, a useful signal for Indian applicants weighing post-graduation employability.
Read More: University of Otago Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students
Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of University of Otago
Otago is ranked #190 of 824 globally in Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings 2026 with a CD Score of 5.3 of 10. The strongest CD categories are Law and Medicine, where Otago sits inside the global top 125.
| Category | Collegedunia Rank |
|---|---|
| Overall | #190 of 824, NZ #2 |
| Law | #107 of 243, NZ #3 |
| Medicine | #124 of 356, NZ #2 |
| Health Care | #124 of 356, NZ #2 |
| Arts | #140 of 385, NZ #3 |
| Humanities | #140 of 385, NZ #3 |
| Social Studies | #146 of 442, NZ #2 |
| Computer Science | #223 of 392, NZ #3 |
Law’s #107 CD rank places Otago in the top 44 per cent of 243 law schools tracked, while Medicine’s #124 places it in the top 35 per cent of 356 medical schools. The Computer Science rank of #223 is the weakest category, a useful filter for Indian CS applicants who may want to compare it with higher-ranked Auckland or Sydney options.
India-relevance: CD’s #190 sits 8 places ahead of QS #198. That is the closest agreement between any two bodies tracking Otago, which gives Indian applicants a consistent global benchmark.
University of Otago Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
Otago slipped from the THE top 250 in 2022 to the 351-400 band by 2026, a four-band drop across the window. THE weights research citations and industry income heavily, where Otago’s smaller research output reads weaker than its teaching reputation.
| Year | University of Otago THE World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 351-400 |
| 2025 | 351-400 |
| 2024 | 301-350 |
| 2023 | 301-350 |
| 2022 | 201-250 |
The 150-place drop since 2022 reflects how THE counts research citations per faculty, an area where smaller-budget universities lose ground to larger US and UK research universities. Otago’s THE Psychology rank of 151-175 is its strongest THE subject placement, well above its overall band.
What it signals: An Indian applicant focused on research-led PhD pathways will see Otago weaker on THE than on QS. For taught Masters and professional degrees, QS at #198 is the more relevant signal.
University of Otago ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings
ARWU has placed Otago in the 401-500 band for three years in a row, slipping from the 301-400 band it occupied in 2021 and 2022. ARWU rewards Nobel laureates, Fields medals and Nature/Science papers, which favours much larger research universities.
| Year | University of Otago ARWU Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 401-500 |
| 2024 | 401-500 |
| 2023 | 401-500 |
| 2022 | 301-400 |
| 2021 | 301-400 |
ARWU GRAS 2025 places Otago’s Dentistry & Oral Sciences program at #21 globally. That sits more than 380 places above Otago’s overall ARWU band, the widest subject-vs-overall gap for Otago in any ranking body.
Trend signal: Three years of 401-500 stability after the 2023 one-band drop means the rank has settled. Indian applicants reading ARWU should treat the current band as the steady-state result, not the start of a deeper slide.
University of Otago U.S. News Best Global University Rankings
U.S. News has tracked a 66-place slide for Otago across three editions, from #230 in 2023-2024 to #296 in 2025-2026. U.S. News weights research reputation and publication impact, both areas where Otago’s smaller research output reads softer than peer universities of similar age.
| Edition | University of Otago U.S. News Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | #296 |
| 2024-2025 | #247 |
| 2023-2024 | #230 |
An average annual slide of around 33 positions matches the THE pattern over the same window. For Indian applicants, U.S. News is the body that US graduate schools and US-headquartered employers reference most, so #296 matters most if the long-term plan is a US move.
India-relevance: A 66-place three-year slide in U.S. News matches the THE pattern. Both bodies weigh research citations heavily, which is where Otago’s smaller research budget reads weaker than peer universities of similar age.
University of Otago Subject Rankings
Otago’s subject rankings are stronger than its overall rank in every health-adjacent and sports-related discipline. Four QS subjects sit in the global top 50, all ranked first in New Zealand.
Subject ranking highlights
- Sports-related Subjects: QS 2026 #22 globally, a 176-place positive gap versus overall QS.
- Dentistry: QS 2026 #50 and ARWU 2025 #21, the only New Zealand dental program in the global top 25.
- Anatomy & Physiology: QS 2026 #36, ranked first in New Zealand.
- Hospitality & Leisure Management: QS 2026 #50, plus ARWU 2025 51-75.
- Psychology: THE 2026 151-175, Otago’s strongest THE subject.
University of Otago QS Subject Rankings 2026
Four QS subjects appear in the global top 50, all ranked first in New Zealand. Each represents a clinical or applied-health discipline rather than engineering or computing.
| Subject | QS 2026 Rank | NZ Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Sports-related Subjects | #22 | #1 |
| Anatomy & Physiology | #36 | #1 |
| Dentistry | #50 | #1 |
| Hospitality & Leisure Management | #50 | #1 |
For Indian applicants in sports science, dental medicine, anatomy or hospitality, Otago’s QS subject ranks land among the global top 50. For applicants in engineering or computing, the same QS list does not place Otago in the top 200.
University of Otago ARWU GRAS Subject Rankings 2025
ARWU’s GRAS table tracks research output and citations at the subject level. Otago’s Dentistry & Oral Sciences placement of #21 globally is a research-quality verdict, with eight Otago subjects in the GRAS top 200.
| Subject | ARWU GRAS 2025 Rank |
|---|---|
| Dentistry & Oral Sciences | #21 |
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | 51-75 |
| Earth Sciences | 101-150 |
| Food Science & Technology | 101-150 |
| Public Health | 101-150 |
| Geography | 151-200 |
| Oceanography | 151-200 |
| Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 151-200 |
Dentistry & Oral Sciences at #21 sits 380+ places above Otago’s overall ARWU band, the widest positive subject gap in any ranking. Earth Sciences and Oceanography reflect Otago’s coastal-research location on New Zealand’s South Island.
University of Otago THE Subject Rankings 2026
THE subject results push Otago higher than its overall THE band in five of ten subjects. Psychology at 151-175 is the strongest THE subject placement.
| Subject | THE 2026 Rank |
|---|---|
| Psychology | 151-175 |
| Education Studies | 201-250 |
| Law | 201-250 |
| Medical and Health | 201-250 |
| Social Sciences | 201-250 |
| Arts and Humanities | 251-300 |
| Business and Economics | 251-300 |
| Life Sciences | 251-300 |
| Computer Science | 501-600 |
| Physical Sciences | 501-600 |
Psychology, Medical and Health, Law and Education all sit at least 100 places above the overall 351-400 THE position. That signals where Otago’s research and teaching are concentrated. Computer Science and Physical Sciences at 501-600 mark Otago as weaker in pure-science and engineering disciplines.
University of Otago Sustainability and Regional Rankings
Otago does not feature in QS Asia or THE Asia tables because New Zealand sits outside the Asia rankings region. The two impact tables it appears in measure sustainability and SDG-aligned outcomes.
University of Otago QS World Sustainability Ranking 2026
QS Sustainability ranks universities on environmental impact, social impact and governance. Otago places #110 globally and third in New Zealand in the 2026 edition.
University of Otago THE Impact Rankings 2024
THE Impact maps performance against the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Otago’s overall #94 position is its highest finish in any global table tracked here.
| THE Impact 2024 Category | University of Otago Rank |
|---|---|
| Overall | #94 |
| SDG 13 Climate Action | #14 |
| SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing | #19 |
| SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities | #55 |
Climate Action at #14 and Good Health at #19 are Otago’s two top-20 placements in any global table. For Indian applicants weighing sustainability or public-health research pathways, these impact ranks signal stronger SDG-aligned positioning than the overall THE band suggests.
University of Otago Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
For Indian applicants, Otago’s QS and CD ranks are the most decision-relevant data points. The university recorded 120 Indian students in 2024, up from 99 in 2023, a 21 per cent year-on-year rise.
University of Otago Popular Programs for Indian Students
Indian applicants most often apply to programs that line up with Otago’s strongest subject ranks. Five disciplines stand out across recent intake patterns.
- MBA at Otago Business School: the Business and Economics THE 2026 rank of 251-300 places the program in the upper-middle band globally.
- Bachelor and Master of Computer Science: CD Computer Science rank #223 is the weakest of Otago’s CD categories, but program demand from Indian students stays high on post-study work-visa grounds.
- Health Sciences pathway (Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy): backed by QS Anatomy & Physiology #36 and CD Medicine #124.
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Clinical Dentistry: QS Dentistry #50 and ARWU Dentistry #21, the only New Zealand dental program inside the global top 50.
- Sports Science and Exercise Programs: QS Sports-related Subjects #22, the university’s strongest single subject placement.
University of Otago Key Ranking Signals for Indian Applicants
| Indian Applicant Lens | Signal |
|---|---|
| Brand recognition vs. IISc Bangalore | 23 places above IISc (QS 2027 #198 vs #221) |
| Brand recognition vs. IIT Bombay | 64 places below IIT Bombay (QS 2027 #198 vs #=134) |
| Strongest subject for Indian applicants | QS Sports-related #22 |
| Weakest subject for Indian applicants | THE Computer Science 501-600 |
| India-cohort growth | 120 Indian students in 2024, up 21% year-on-year |
India-relevance summary
- QS-vs-CD agreement: CD #190 and QS #198 sit only 8 places apart, the two reputation-weighted bodies agree closely on Otago’s standing.
- Subject-vs-overall gap: Sports-related Subjects #22 versus overall #198 is the widest positive gap (176 places), signalling where the brand is strongest for Indian sports-medicine applicants.
- Cross-body divergence: QS at #198 versus ARWU at 401-500 means employer-facing degree value is much stronger than the raw research metric suggests.
- SDG positioning: THE Impact #94 overall and #14 Climate Action add a sustainability angle most rankings miss.
Otago’s near-200 QS placement and a 176-place positive subject gap (Sports-related #22 versus overall #198) are the cleanest signals for Indian applicants. Where an applicant’s program lines up with sports science, anatomy, dentistry or hospitality, Otago’s subject rank is competitive with the global top 25. Where it does not, an Auckland or Australian Group of Eight option will read stronger on the applicant’s CV.
University of Otago Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is the QS ranking of University of Otago in 2027?
Ans. The University of Otago is ranked #198 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and second in New Zealand. It climbed one place from QS 2026’s #=197 and sits ahead of IISc Bangalore at #221 in the same edition.
Ques. What is the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of University of Otago?
Ans. Otago is ranked #190 globally and #2 in New Zealand in Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings 2026 with a CD Score of 5.3 of 10. Its strongest CD category is Law at #107 of 243 law schools tracked.
Ques. Is University of Otago a top 200 university?
Ans. Yes, Otago sits inside the global top 200 on QS World University Rankings 2027 at #198 and on Collegedunia Study Abroad at #190. On THE 2026 and ARWU 2025 it occupies the 351-400 and 401-500 bands respectively, because those bodies weight research citation volume more heavily.
Ques. What is University of Otago famous for in world rankings?
Ans. Otago is best known for Sports-related Subjects at QS #22 and Dentistry at QS #50 with ARWU #21. Anatomy & Physiology sits at QS #36 and Hospitality & Leisure Management at QS #50, all ranked first in New Zealand.
Ques. How does University of Otago rank against IIT Bombay or IISc Bangalore for Indian students?
Ans. In QS World University Rankings 2027, Otago at #198 ranks 23 places above IISc Bangalore (#221) and 64 places below IIT Bombay (#=134). For Indian applicants weighing global brand value, the gap with IISc is small. The choice usually comes down to program fit rather than overall rank.
Ques. Why is University of Otago ranked lower in Times Higher Education than in QS?
Ans. QS weights academic reputation, employer reputation and employment outcomes heavily, where Otago performs well. THE weights research citations per faculty and industry income, where Otago’s smaller research budget reads weaker. That is why its THE 2026 band is 351-400 against QS 2027 #198.
Ques. What is the THE Impact ranking of University of Otago?
Ans. Otago ranks #94 globally on THE Impact Rankings 2024 overall. It also ranks #14 on SDG 13 Climate Action and #19 on SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, both top-20 placements in any global table.
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