Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University has achieved its best-ever subject ranking of 82nd in the world in the Agriculture and Forestry subject area in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
In the 2026 rankings, the University also achieved world rankings in two other subject areas: in the 151-175 band for Hospitality and Leisure, and in the 351-400 band for Economics and Econometrics.
QS Quacquarelli Symonds provides independent comparative analysis on the performance of more than 18,300 individual university programmes, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world, across 55 academic disciplines.
The QS Rankings by Subject measure a weighted set of indicators to determine the relative rankings in each subject area, including each university’s global performance, employability, published citations, international research reach, and the scholarly output of its researchers.
Lincoln University’s 2026 ranking of 82nd for Agriculture and Forestry is a considerable step up from its ranking within the 101-150 band in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Grant Edwards said the latest QS ranking by subject results were a pleasing achievement, and underscored the University’s global reputation as a specialist land-based university.
“Lincoln University is New Zealand’s only university offering specialist land-based education and research programmes, and our rising world rankings reflect the increasing contributions made by our students, staff, graduates and researchers in land-based sectors in Aotearoa and worldwide,” said Prof Edwards.
“The pressures on global food systems and ecosystems are formidable and intensifying, along with demand for the skills, capabilities and evidence-based innovation needed to address the urgent challenges.
“Within that context, Lincoln University stands apart. Operating at the intersection of agriculture and the environment, we are uniquely placed to respond to these pressures and help shape the future of land-based systems.
“Agrifood systems are focused on feeding a global population of more than 8 million while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint. Lincoln University’s expertise, research and graduates are playing an increasingly important role in supporting the shift towards more sustainable, resilient and productive systems.”
View the full 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject here.
