Campuses

The University now has five campuses with eight faculties representing each of its main disciplines: Arts; Business and Economics; Creative Arts and Industries; Education; Engineering; Law; Medical and Health Sciences; and Science. In addition, Theology is offered through a School of Theology which became part of the Faculty of Arts in 2010. There is a growing number of teaching departments, ranging from Accounting and Finance to Surgery. Some departments are associated with more than one faculty.

Many courses and research activities reflect Auckland’s and New Zealand’s place in the world. Pacific archaeology, ethnology and languages, for example, are stressed in the Anthropology Department. Geographers carry out fieldwork in the Pacific Islands while University scientists make frequent study trips to the Antarctic. Asian languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, are taught and Pacific Island languages were introduced in 1991. A wide range of issues relevant to New Zealand society are addressed in subjects as diverse as Sociology, Education, Social Work, Medicine, Engineering and Architecture. The Geothermal Institute is one of four international centres which provide training in Geothermal Technology. Amalgamation with the Auckland College of Education in September 2004 established The University of Auckland as a leading provider of teacher and social services education.

The University of Auckland recognises research and research-led teaching as a primary responsibility of its academic staff. As the leading research University in New Zealand, The University of Auckland is committed to the quality and excellence of its degree courses including its postgraduate and doctoral programmes. Approximately 8,000 students are enrolled in postgraduate studies, 1700 of these in doctoral programmes. The University’s research has very practical applications. The Yacht Research Institute’s contribution towards New Zealand’s campaigns for the America’s Cup is one notable example. The research laboratory at Leigh, east of Warkworth, carries out marine fieldwork. Various research centres cross disciplinary boundaries. The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is one of the largest single research institutions in New Zealand.

The City Campus, established in 1883, is in the heart of Auckland City, separated from the tower blocks of the central business district by historic Albert Park on its western flank. To the southeast lie the trees and open spaces of the Auckland Domain. Its proximity to the cultural and commercial amenities of the country’s largest city, attractive green setting and harbour views bestows advantages enjoyed by few inner city campuses anywhere.

The City Campus has undergone major development during its existence with many refurbished and new building works. Among the major building projects completed in the last year were the University Hall Student Accommodation and the refurbishment of Arts 1 Building 206. Completion of the Maths and Physics Building 303 will occur in July 2012.

Planning is continuing for major extensions to the Engineering and Science buildings.

The University of Auckland Tāmaki Innovation Campus is located on a 32-hectare site in St Johns, 9 kilometres from the City Campus. Tāmaki is primarily a campus specialising in postgraduate and research activity, which is interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial.

The vision is that the campus will continue to evolve as a unique national centre with facilities and programmes designed to contribute to New Zealand’s development as a knowledge society and economy. The Tāmaki Innovation Campus is an integral part of the University and supports the University’s strategic plan, acting as a portal to The University of Auckland for research, teaching, innovation and community engagement.

The vision includes the development of Tāmaki as an integrated campus enabling research institutions and businesses to partner with the University. This concept recognises the significant opportunities that partnership delivers for creating wealth from knowledge. For students, this development provides practical examples of problem solving in a commercial environment, work opportunities, and an insight into the business ethos of our innovation partners.

The Tāmaki Innovation Campus is developed along two major themes:

• Health Innovation (Faculties of Medical and Health Sciences, Science, and Education)
• Materials Innovation (Faculties of Engineering and Science)

The Health Innovation theme focuses on population and community health in Auckland and New Zealand, and with its strong international connections leads the world in many areas. Groups included in this theme are Clinical Trials Research Centre, Counsellor Education, Psychology, National Institute of Health Innovation, School of Population Health, Sport and Exercise Science, and The University of Auckland Clinics. Many postgraduate programmes are offered within this theme in addition to the undergraduate Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, and Certificate in Health Sciences.

The Materials Innovation theme focuses on research and postgraduate teaching, with particular emphasis on collaborations with industry and commercialisation resulting in leading-edge technologies in manufacturing. The theme includes the Centre for Advanced Composite Materials, Hybrid Polymers, Materials Accelerator, and Plastics Centre of Excellence.

In addition to the two major themes, other important Faculty of Science programmes are located at Tāmaki and contribute significantly to research, teaching and innovation on campus: Biodiversity, Biosecurity and Conservation (School of Biological Sciences); Computer Science; and Wine Science.

The campus has high quality teaching and learning facilities, as well as open spaces, playing fields and opportunities for social networking and relaxing in its well appointed cafés. The Tāmaki Library and Information Commons provides access to excellent online collections and core print resources supporting the subjects taught on the campus. Access to the University’s full collection is through the Library’s home page and the intercampus Library delivery service. Tāmaki is home to The University of Auckland Clinics providing services in audiology, brain recovery, optometry, psychology, speech language therapy, and health and performance to staff, students and the community.

Located opposite Auckland City Hospital and the entrance to the Domain, the Grafton Campus covers a 2.2 hectare site on Park Road, Grafton. Originally established for the School of Medicine in 1968, the site was recognised as a separate Medical and Health Sciences Campus in 1995 and in 2008 was formally designated as the Grafton Campus.

The Campus is home to the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and accommodates student and staff facilities including an information commons, café, common room, study space, and the specialist medical library, the Philson. The Campus also houses a number of significant research facilities, including the Centre for Brain Research, a state-of-the-art Biomedical Imaging Research Unit, the Centre for Advanced MRI, the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank, a GLP Laboratory (AnQual Laboratories), sophisticated data acquisition and analysis facilities, a DNA sequencing facility and the Auckland Medical Research Foundation Medical Sciences Learning Centre which provides teaching in anatomy, radiology, pathology, and clinical skills in a modern purpose built facility.

In addition, an extensive programme of work is underway to transform and redevelop the Campus into a modern biomedical and health education and training facility. It includes the 2011 opening of a new building to accommodate the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy, Faculty Administration and the Liggins Institute who are moving from off-campus sites, the development of modern laboratories and research accommodation, a new Clinical Skills Centre, redeveloped multi-disciplinary laboratories, a new Pharmacy teaching suite, a major upgrade of the central plant and infrastructure and the construction of new space to provide extended student facilities. This work is expected to be completed in 2012.

Clinical staff from the Faculty’s School of Medicine occupy the Auckland Hospital Academic Centre in the Auckland City Hospital Support Building, as well as having a presence at Middlemore, North Shore, Whangarei, Rotorua, Waikato and Waitakere Hospitals, and at the Advanced Clinical Skills Centre at the nearby Mercy Ascot Hospital, and the Simulation Centre for Patient Safety at the Tāmaki Innovation Campus.

The Epsom Campus was established in 1926 as the site of the Auckland College of Education, formerly known as the Auckland Teachers’ College and the Auckland Teachers’ Training College (established 1881). Upon the amalgamation of the Auckland College of Education and The University of Auckland in 2004, the Epsom Campus became the primary site for the new Faculty of Education. The 11.5 hectare campus on Epsom Avenue is approximately four kilometres from the City campus and three kilometres from the Grafton Campus. It is flanked by the Mt Eden Village to the west, Maungawhau (Mt Eden) Domain to the north, and directly adjoins Auckland Normal Intermediate and Kohia Schools and Melville Park to the south and south-east. The campus is well sited for major transport routes. Established trees and gardens complement diverse facilities including pool, gymnasia, café, marae, tennis courts, health and counselling centre and early childhood centres to make this an attractive study location.

The Epsom Campus also houses Team Solutions, the Kohia Education Centre and retail outlet, The University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership, the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, the Starpath project and the Sylvia Ashton-Warner Library. These facilities are a drawcard for practising professionals.

The Tai Tokerau campus in Whangarei was established by the Auckland College of Education in 1992. Centrally located in Alexander St, opposite Forum North, the campus offers lecture rooms, student centre, library, an Education Centre and a base for a range of Faculty of Education programmes and staff. The Tai Tokerau campus also provides a base for a wider presence of The University of Auckland in the North.