Photo: Wikimedia Commons
About the university
Also known as Te Herenga Waka, Victoria's Kelburn campus sits on a hillside above the capital, connected to the CBD by its own cable car stop. It's the natural home for law, public policy and the humanities, a few minutes from Parliament itself.
Country
🇳🇿 New Zealand
City
Wellington
Founded
1897
Study levels
Foundation, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate
Intakes
February, July
Approx. tuition
NZD 28k–42k/yr
Popular courses
What people actually study here.
Entry requirements & approximate costs
What it takes to get in, and to fund it.
Academic entry
Completed GCE A/Levels (or equivalent), meeting NZQA's University Entrance standard or the university's own equivalent assessment.
English proficiency
IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is typical for undergraduate entry, with higher requirements for some postgraduate and professional courses.
Approximate tuition
Roughly NZD 28,000–42,000 a year for most undergraduate and master's programmes. Figures vary by course and change over time, confirm current fees on the university's site.
These figures apply broadly across New Zealand's higher-education system, not just Victoria University of Wellington, always confirm your specific course's exact requirements and fees on the university's own site.
Scholarships
Ways to lower the cost.
Victoria International Excellence Scholarships are available for high-achieving overseas applicants.
The vibe
What it actually feels like.
- A hillside campus with harbour views — and its own cable car stop linking it to the CBD.
- Wellington's compact size means politics, government and student life overlap constantly.
- A strong creative-industries culture, thanks to Wellington's film and design scene (Weta Workshop included).
For Sri Lankan applicants
Why Sri Lankan students consider it.
Sri Lankan students interested in law, public policy or the humanities benefit from Victoria's location a few minutes from Parliament, with policy internships genuinely within walking distance.
Fun things to do
Life outside the lecture hall.
Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car between campus and the CBD.
Visit Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum, free and a short walk from the city campus.
Catch a gig on Cuba Street, Wellington's best-known strip for live music and cafés.
Opportunities for international students
What's on offer if you're coming from abroad.
Application guidance
From application to visa-ready file.
- 1
Choose your course and confirm entry requirements
- 2
Apply directly to the university with certified transcripts and English test results
- 3
Receive your Offer of Place and confirm tuition arrangements
- 4
Begin your student visa financial documentation
Once you have an offer, the documentation process covers exactly what identification, academic and financial evidence your visa file will need next.
Related guides
Documentation, explained.
Student Visa Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Students
The short version. For the full explanation of each item, see our complete documentation process guide.
Student Visa Proof of Funds Explained
The single most common reason a student visa file stalls, explained in plain English.
Common Student Visa Documentation Mistakes
Most refused or delayed files aren't refused for one big reason. They're delayed by three or four small, avoidable ones.
Also in New Zealand
Other top New Zealand universities.
References & sources
Where this page comes from.
- Victoria University of Wellington · official websiteVisit ↗
- International admissions pageVisit ↗
- Hero photograph · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- View from the Hugh Mackenzie Building · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- Rutherford House, home to the business school · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
Course lists, scholarships and admissions details summarised here are illustrative. Always confirm the current, exact terms on the university's own official website before applying. Photography is freely licensed via Wikimedia Commons, not sourced from the university's own site.
Aiming for Victoria University of Wellington? Let's make the money story match.
Campus photography & crest via Wikimedia Commons contributors. Course, admissions and scholarship details change. Always confirm current terms on the official site above before applying.