Victoria University Research

Victoria University of Wellington-Where exceptional scholarship and original thought connect.

Victoria is known for its internationally significant research. The University is New Zealand’s leading research and development centre in many key international growth areas including bioscience, Earth processes, materials science, built environments, business, law, creative research, and policy, governance and society. 

There are over 40 research institutes and centres at Victoria, each undertaking challenges of international and national concern. Victoria hosts a government-funded Centre of Research Excellence and is partner to three others. 

This research plays a vital role in the teaching programmes at Victoria, where students learn from the knowledge and experience of highly motivated scholars and are invited to share in a tradition of discovery and excellence. 

In 1899, Victoria University was pioneered by four professors, led by the popular scholar Richard Maclaurin. Following study at Cambridge University, Maclaurin made major contributions to science while studying for his PhD at Wurzburg, Germany, working alongside the brilliant scientist Emil Fischer. Maclaurin’s passion for research, his commitment to university development and his academic expertise are defining features of Victoria today.