University of Auckland

University Information, Campus and History
(Auckland, New Zealand)

The University of Auckland is an international research university in New Zealand. It is the largest university in New Zealand, with over 40,000 students and six campuses. It also has a reputation for excellence in research and publication, leading all other tertiary institutions in the country in research output and excellence. It recently topped rigid tests by the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) in New Zealand for research quality in 2003.

Founded in 1883, the University was formerly a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Its first specialisations were in arts and law, taught by four professors to about 95 students. A School of Engineering was added in 1923, and the first professor of Architecture was appointed the following year. Soon the college began acquiring units, starting with the Elam School of Fine Arts, and before long it was large enough to structure into faculties. The most recent additions are the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries and the Faculty of Education formed via the merger with the Auckland College of Education, both added in 2004.

Facilities

The University Library is the largest library system in New Zealand, consisting of a General Library and thirteen constituent libraries. Each library is dedicated to a specific field of study, including separate libraries for architecture, media, engineering, medicine, arts, and law. Together, these libraries offer 1,600 study seats, many of which have electronic workstations for accessing the University's central information commons.


The University's information portal, Library Electronic Academic Resources Network (LEARN), is accessible 24 hours a day and offers a large collection of electronic resources, such as e-books, e-journals, theses and dissertations, and even exam papers.

The University also owns the Auckland UniServices Limited, which manages the technology and new knowledge developed by the university's staff. It protects the intellectual property and patents of new discoveries, from cancer treatments to computer security software. It has earned over $65 million since its establishment in 1989, and has long provided more than half of the university's external income.

Famous Students

Many of the University's students have gone on to make a name for themselves in their respective fields. There are notably more University of Auckland alumni in politics and government than in other areas, but there are also prominent graduates in the arts, mathematics, and social sciences.

Perhaps the best known University of Auckland alumnus today is Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Clark studied politics at the university and earned a master's degree in 1974. She also served as lecturer at the university from 1973 to 1975 before leaving to do lectures abroad.

Other prominent politicians educated at the University include New Zealand Chief Justice Sian Elias, environmentalist Jeanette Fitzsimons, and Chief high Court Judge Justice Anthony Randerson.

Renowned Canadian anthropologist Harry Hawthorn studied at the University back when it was still Auckland College, and classicist Sir Ronald Syme earned one of his undergraduate degrees from the University (he has another BA degree from Victoria University). Vaughan Jones, who discovered what is now known as the Jones polynomial in mathematics, earned his undergraduate degree from the University as well.

The university website contains very useful and detailed information for prospective students, both from within and outside New Zealand. The Prospective Students section offers admission guides for New Zealand school leavers and Australian, Maori, Pacific, and other international students.

A 2007 undergraduate prospectus in portable document format (PDF) is available for free download at the website. For those who want to know more about the university before applying, a University Profile is also available. There are also specific prospectuses for international postgraduate students and a general guide to studying in Auckland.

General enquiries on admission and application can be sent to the Student Information Centre at +0800 61 62 63, via fax at +0800 61 62 64, or via email at studentinfo@auckland.ac.nz. For international students, questions can be sent to Auckland International at int-questions@auckland.ac.nz. You can also call them at +64 9 373 7513 or send a fax to +64 9 373 7405.

Contact University of Auckland:
Address: Student Information Centre, Room 112, Level 1 (Ground Floor), Clocktower Building, 22 Princes Street, City Campus, Auckland, New Zealand
Tel: +64 9 373 7999 / 0800 61 62 63 Fax: 0800 61 62 64 Email: studentinfo@auckland.ac.nz / int-questions@auckland.ac.nz Website: http://www.auckland.ac.nz