| Subject | QS | THE | ARWU | U.S. News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | #50 | — | #21 | — |
| Sports Science | #22 | — | — | — |
| Anatomy & Physiology | #36 | — | — | — |
| Hospitality & Tourism | #50 | — | #51-75 | — |
| Archaeology | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| History | #51-150 | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| Theology & Religious Studies | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| Nursing | #101-150 | — | #201-300 | — |
| Pharmacy & Pharmacology | #101-150 | — | #151-200 | #181 |
| Geography | #101-150 | — | #151-200 | — |
| Anthropology | #101-200 | — | — | — |
| Earth & Geosciences | #201-275 | — | #101-150 | #333 |
| Food Science & Technology | — | — | #101-150 | #159 |
| Public Health | — | — | #101-150 | #184 |
| Psychology | #151-200 | #151-175 | #151-200 | #109 |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | #115 | #251-300 | — | — |
| Biological Sciences | #201-250 | — | #201-300 | #132 |
| Agriculture & Forestry | #151-200 | — | — | #133 |
| English Language & Literature | #151-200 | — | — | — |
| Law | #151-200 | #201-250 | — | — |
| Medicine / Clinical | #157 | — | #201-300 | #185 |
| Arts & Humanities | #191 | #251-300 | — | — |
| Social Sciences & Management | #199 | #201-250 | — | — |
| Accounting & Finance | #201-250 | — | — | — |
| Education | #201-250 | #201-250 | #201-300 | — |
| Sociology | #201-250 | — | #201-300 | — |
| Environmental Science | #351-400 | — | #201-300 | #425 |
| Biotechnology | — | — | #201-300 | — |
| Clinical & Health | — | #201-250 | — | — |
| Economics & Econometrics | #251-300 | — | #401-500 | #212 |
| Political Science & IR | #251-300 | — | — | — |
| Business & Economics | — | #251-300 | — | — |
| Linguistics | #301-350 | — | — | — |
| Business & Management | #301-350 | — | #301-400 | — |
| Natural / Physical Sciences | #326 | #501-600 | — | — |
| Chemistry | #351-400 | — | — | — |
| Physics & Astronomy | #401-450 | — | — | — |
| Engineering & Technology | #451-500 | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | #451-500 | #501-600 | — | — |
University of Otago ranks #197 in QS 2026, #375 in THE 2026, #401-500 in ARWU 2025 and #296 in U.S. News 2026. Its consensus position across the major rankings is #339 globally.
QS weights employer reputation and international metrics more heavily; THE places more weight on research influence and teaching environment. Differences of this size between the two systems are common — see our methodology comparison.