There are eight separate state-funded universities in New Zealand. The University of New Zealand was founded in 1870 and consisted of four constituent colleges until 1961 when it ceased to exist and the University of Auckland (founded 1882), Victoria University of Wellington (1897), the University of Otago (1869) in Dunedin, and the University of Canterbury (1873), in Christchurch, became autonomous and independent universities. In 1964 the University of Waikato was established in Hamilton and in the same year Massey University at Palmerston North (previously a  college attached to Victoria University) became an independent degree-conferring university. In 1994 Massey University opened a second campus at Albany in Auckland. Lincoln University, near Christchurch began its existence as a College of Agriculture and Horticulture but since 1990 has been an autonomous university and offers a wide range of programmes. Auckland University of Technology was granted University status in January 2000.

University education in New Zealand is closer to the British than the American system. There is, for example, no educational institution equivalent to the American "Liberal Arts" College.

Each university publishes annually a calendar which provides information (including detailed regulations) about course requirements, dates etc. Most New Zealand university calendars should be available for ) consultation at New Zealand diplomatic posts. Also available from diplomatic posts are promotional materials published by all the universities specifically for international students.

All universities offer courses in the usual faculties of arts (except Lincoln), science and commerce, while law courses are available at Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury, Waikato and Otago. Music is available at Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Victoria and Waikato. Most universities specialise in certain fields. The University of Otago provides courses in health sciences such as medicine, dentistry , pharmacy and physiotherapy as well as in physical education and surveying; Canterbury in forestry , engineering and fine arts; Lincoln in topics related to agriculture and horticulture; Auckland in architecture, planning, engineering, medicine, optometry and fine arts; Victoria in architecture, public administration and social work; Massey in aviation, agriculture, horticulture, technology and veterinary science.

Conjoint programmes leading to the Bachelor of Education degree and a Diploma in Teaching are available at several universities, in some cases in association with the local colleges of education. The University of Waikato has its own School of Education, created by amalgamation with the former Hamilton Teachers' College, and the Massey University College of Education came into being in 1997 when Palmerston North College of Education amalgamated with the university.