About Victoria University of Wellington
Capital City Campus
Victoria has a student population of around 20,000 and welcomes over 4000 new students every year. International students make up about 15% of the student community and come from over 80 different countries.
Teaching and research are central to a tradition of academic excellence that reaches back over a hundred years. Over 20% of Victoria’s students are engaged in postgraduate study.
Three strategically located sites in the heart of Wellington and a number of unique relationships within the government, business and arts communities, ensure Victoria University is an integral part of New Zealand’s capital city.
Location
Sitting in the ‘dress circle’ of Wellington, New Zealand’s scenic harbour capital, Victoria’s main Kelburn campus enjoys an idyllic setting. Its elevated position commands stunning views, and has the dual benefit of removing the University’s main campus from the hustle and bustle of a thriving inner city, whilst remaining just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. Faculties on the Kelburn campus include Science, Humanities and Education. Facilities include the main library, several cafes, a bar, theatre, creche, bank, book centre, computer shop, travel agent, student job search, recreational and cultural facilities, health service and marae.
The Law School enjoys a situation ideally suited to the study of law. Occupying the superbly renovated historic Government Buildings on Lambton Quay, it lies at the centre of the city’s legal, commercial and political district, next to the Court of Appeal and Parliament. Close by is Rutherford House, a 13-storey modern tower block which is the downtown home of the Faculty of Commerce and Administration.
The Faculty of Architecture and Design is in an award-winning, remodelled building near the Vivian and Cuba Street intersection in the midst of the cafes, galleries and old bookstores of the central city.
History
Wellington’s Victoria University was created through an Act of Parliament inspired by Premier Richard Seddon in 1897. His desire was to establish a “College in Wellington in commemoration of the sixtieth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria”.
The University’s four pioneering Professors – Brown, Mackenzie, Easterfield and Maclaurin – arrived in the capital two years later to take up their duties.
For the first few years, lectures took place in rented accommodation in the city while a debate raged over where the new institution’s home should be built. The College Council finally chose the present site on the corner of Salamanca Road in Kelburn, and in 1904 the first stage of what is today known as the Hunter Building was opened by the Governor General, Lord Plunket.
Today
Wellington’s wealth of research institutions in such a concentrated area makes the city and Victoria uniquely attractive for students. The University has established a highly interactive relationship with these institutions, partnerships that provide an invaluable source of research funding and resources.
Modern day academic strengths include: Law, Music, Government Studies, Commerce, IT, Architecture and Design, Earth Sciences, Liberal Arts, Linguistics and International Relations.
Victoria has grown up side by side with the city of Wellington and is the premier educational institution to serve the city and region of Wellington to date. Now, as the world becomes a smaller place, Victoria is focused on enhancing the lives of students from all around the world.