The University and its campuses

The University has seven campuses with eight faculties representing each of its main disciplines: Arts; Business and Economics; Creative Arts and Industries; Education and Social Work; Engineering; Law; Medical and Health Sciences; and Science. It also has two large-scale research institutes: the Auckland Bioengineering Institute and the Liggins Institute.

Many courses and research activities reflect Auckland’s and New Zealand’s place in the world. This perspective has long been a feature of our programmes. For example, Pacific archaeology, ethnology and languages are emphasised in the discipline of Anthropology. Asian languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, are taught, and Pacific Island languages were introduced in 1991.

Geographers carry out fieldwork in the Pacific Islands, while University scientists make frequent study trips to the Antarctic. The Leigh Marine Laboratory, about 100km north of Auckland and part of the Faculty of Science, brings together a wide range of expertise and facilities to work towards our understanding of the marine environment

The University continues to build on these foundations with the introduction of the Bachelor of Global Studies in 2018 and the Bachelor of Design in 2020. Additionally, a suite of exclusively-online taught masters programmes was introduced in 2020 as part of the Auckland Online initiative, and these offerings will be further expanded over time.

The University of Auckland recognises research and research-led teaching as a primary responsibility of its academic staff. High-quality research on a large scale and across the full range of disciplines, represented by faculties and Large-Scale Research Institutes, is essential to ensure the place of the University of Auckland among the leading international research universities. University researchers contribute to the growth of new knowledge by conducting fundamental research across a wide range of fields in the natural, human and social sciences, the humanities and creative arts. Its expertise across a number of research disciplines was called upon by the Government in 2020 to assist in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The University fosters the commercialisation of its research to assist in the pursuit of the country’s economic objectives and applies it to enhance social values and advance the wellbeing of all New Zealanders. Research also underpins the University’s obligation to act as a critic and conscience of society. 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.

In 2020, the University of Auckland was ranked first for the second consecutive year in the University Impact Rankings by Times Higher Education (THE), reflecting its strong teaching, research, policy and operational performance against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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, the campus covers over 20 hectares. 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. Planning is underway to rebuild and refurbish the City Campus buildings for the Faculty of Engineering to meet current and future teaching and research needs.

A new 32,000m² building for the Faculty of Engineering is complete and work has begun on the construction of a new Recreation and Wellness Centre building. Temporary sports and recreation facilities have been made available at 70 Stanley Street and in Wynyard Street.

Located opposite Auckland City Hospital and the entrance to the Domain, the Grafton Campus covers a 2.75 hectare site on Park Road, Grafton. Originally established for the School of Medicine in 1968, the site was recognised as a separate campus in 1995 and in 2008 was formally designated as the Grafton Campus.

Home to the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) and the University’s first Large Scale Research Institute, the Liggins Institute, the campus is a modern biomedical, health education, research and training facility, complemented by a specialist medical library, the Philson.

In addition to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students across six different schools, the campus also facilitates significant research. As well as the Liggins Institute, the campus notably hosts four of the University’s seven transdisciplinary research centres, being the Centre for Brain Research, Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupuku | Centre for Cancer Research, Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research, and Centre for Pacific and Global Health.  The campus also hosts Pūtahi Manawa | Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand through the Manaaki Mānawa | Centre for Heart Research, one of four Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) hosted by the University.

To facilitate our student learning, the campus also hosts publicly accessible teaching clinics including Optometry, Audiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Speech Language Therapy, in addition to our Clinical Research Centre which enables invited members of the public to participate in some of our world leading clinical research programmes.

Satellite clinical campuses of FMHS operate at Waitematā (North Shore and Waitākere Hospitals), South Auckland (Middlemore Hospital), Waikato Hospital and Tauranga Hospital, with further clinical sites at Northland (Whangārei Hospital), Rotorua, Whakatāne, Taranaki and Hāwera.

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 and Social Work.

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 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 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 Kohia Centre and retail outlet and the Sylvia Ashton-Warner Library.

The Tai Tokerau Campus in Whangārei was established by the Auckland College of Education in 1992 and is now known as Te Papa Ako o te Tai Tokerau. Centrally located, the campus offers lecture rooms, library and a base for Faculty of Education and Social Work programmes and staff. The campus also currently hosts the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and provides a wider presence for the University of Auckland in the North.
 

The Leigh Marine Laboratory, situated at Leigh, north of Auckland, houses the University's Marine Science Research Facility.