Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association

Victoria College was founded through an Act of Parliament in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and named in her honour.

In 1961, the University of New Zealand system was dissolved, and from 1962 Victoria College became Victoria University, an independent university.

For more than a century, the University has developed a tradition of strong international links in teaching and research and programmes of national significance and international quality.

Victoria is committed to providing students with opportunities to acquire, understand and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, as well as related skills and attitudes, and to enhance their personal development.

Situated in the capital city across four campuses, Victoria can take advantage of connections and values its relationships with iwi, business, government, the judiciary, public and private research organisations, cultural organisations and resources, other universities and tertiary providers and the international community through the diplomatic corps.  Wellington has a reputation for being a vibrant city where learning doesn’t stop at the University’s doors.

Currently Victoria consists of four separate campuses including Kelburn, Karori, Te Aro, and Pipitea. Victoria also has an offshore campus, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Kelburn

The Kelburn Campus is the heart of the first year experience at Victoria. Kelburn provides the full range of student support and administration offices, the Central Library, and two of the largest faculties, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science, together with the new Faculty of Engineering.

The Kelburn Campus Office for the Faculties of Commerce & Administration, Education and Law is located in the Easterfield Building. It consists of a reception desk at EA 005 and rooms 125a to 131 on Level 1. This office, open weekdays from 9.00am to 5.00pm, offers the following services:

• Faculty of Commerce & Administration (FCA) and Faculty of Law 100-level course tutors for student contact and advice. Faculty of Education (FoE) Kelburn-based students may also meet tutors at this location
• Student referral service for administrative and academic matters
• Availability of FCA and FoE student administration forms (e.g. application for academic transcripts, requests for degree audit, COP requests)
• Accommodation for FCA, FoE & Law academic and general staff who need Kelburn office space during teaching periods
• Examination Coordinator during examinations.

Karori

Victoria’s College of Education is located on the Karori Campus.  Undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education and professional development programmes, as well as some Education Studies courses are taught at Karori.

Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teacher education programmes largely take place at the Karori campus. Other education studies, and postgraduate education qualifications, are based at the Kelburn Campus.

The Karori Campus is spread over a wide area and incorporates many open spaces. Facilities available include tennis and netball courts, sports fields and a gymnasium. There is a new swimming pool adjacent to the campus. A well-stocked library, student computer facilities, technology spaces and a resource centre for equipment hire are also available for student use.

The Karori Campus is well served by public transport; regular bus routes link the campus to Kelburn and the city. There is ample parking close to the campus, and easy access for shops and services.

Te Aro

The Te Aro Campus is Victoria’s centre of Architecture and Design.  Te Aro Campus is located close to cosmopolitan Cuba Street, with funky shops, cafés, and street life.

The Te Aro Campus has several buildings, with the reception located in the University’s striking red building at 139 Vivian Street. Additional space is leased above the Cotton Store on Vivian Street. A purpose-built space has been leased directly behind 139 Vivian Street, allowing consolidation of the Te Aro campus.

Pipitea

The Pipitea Campus is located in the heart of Wellington’s legal, government and business district.  The Campus includes the Law School, Rutherford House, and the Railway West Wing, and sits adjacent to Wellington’s railway station and the new bus terminus.

The Campus is home to the Victoria Management School and the Schools of Government, Law, Economics & Finance, Marketing & International Business and Accounting & Commercial Law.

These Schools deliver programmes offered by the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Commerce & Administration, and Centre for Continuing Education and Executive Development Te Pūtahi Pukenga, Whakarae.

As the campus is based at Wellington’s commuter transport hub, there is easy access for train and bus users to our facilities. Regular bus services link staff and students to the Kelburn Campus.

The Campus provides facilities for students in their second year and beyond, with approximately 6 thousand students studying law, government and commerce subjects.

The Railway Station West Wing is leased to Victoria University and is used for library space, student learning rooms and the Faculty of Commerce & Administration Student Administration Office.

University snapshot

A snapshot of the University in 2008 shows that 21,380 students were enrolled, equating to 16,609 equivalent full-time students (EFTS). These figures exclude students enrolled with the New Zealand School of Music, a centre of musical excellence established by Victoria and Massey universities.

• 56% of students were women
• 44% of students were men
• 1713 identified as Māori students
• 1024 identified as Pacific students
• 18,615 were domestic students
• 2765 were international students
• 5751 degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded.