Facts and Figures
The numbers behind the University of Papua New Guinea — how many students it teaches, how many people it employs, how much land it holds and how many graduates it has sent into national life. Every figure on this page names its source.
The University at a Glance
The headline numbers, each traceable to a published source. The student, staff and graduate figures are the University's 2021 returns as published in the Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
Students
The student population in 2021, split by level of study and by whether students live on campus.
| Undergraduate students 4,989 residential and 5,325 non-residential | 10,314 |
|---|---|
| Residential undergraduates | 4,989 |
| Non-residential undergraduates Including students taught through the Open College | 5,325 |
| Postgraduate students Honours and Masters candidates | 277 |
| Total student population | 10,591 |
Source: UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, 'A Snapshot of the University' (2021)
Staff
Everyone the University employed in 2021, academic and non-academic.
| Academic staff | 465 |
|---|---|
| Non-academic staff | 439 |
| Total employees | 904 |
Source: UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, 'A Snapshot of the University' (2021)
Campuses and Land
Where the University is, and how much of Port Moresby it occupies.
| Total land holding The largest land title holder in the National Capital District | 1,500 ha |
|---|---|
| Waigani Campus In the heart of Port Moresby; four of the five Schools and the Open College | Main campus |
| Taurama Campus Adjacent to Port Moresby General Hospital; School of Medicine and Health Sciences | 7 km away |
| Motupore Island Research Centre Multidisciplinary marine research centre, Bootless Bay | 20 km away |
Source: UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, 'A Snapshot of the University'
Academic Structure
The Schools, the research themes and the size of the teaching catalogue.
| Schools Plus the Open College at the Waigani Campus | 5 |
|---|---|
| Thematic areas of research Biodiversity; governance and development; environment; human health; people and culture | 5 |
| Programmes in the online catalogue Counted from this website's programme catalogue | 103 |
| Courses in the online catalogue Counted from this website's course catalogue | 853 |
Source: UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, 'A Snapshot of the University'; programme and course counts from this website
Graduates
What the University has contributed to national life, measured in people.
| Graduates, 2012-2021 | 11,821 |
|---|---|
| Annual average, 2012-2021 | 1,182 |
Source: UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, 'A Snapshot of the University'
Standing and Recognition
UPNG does not appear in the global ranking tables that other universities quote. These are the claims the University can evidence from its own record.
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Papua New Guinea's first university
Established when the House of Assembly approved The University of Papua New Guinea Ordinance in March 1965, five years before the first graduating class.
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Constituted under the University Act 1983
The Act replaced the founding Ordinance, restructured the University Council and remains the University's governing statute.
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The oldest and largest university in Papua New Guinea
As stated in the University's own Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
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The largest land title holder in the National Capital District
Some 1,500 hectares across the Waigani and Taurama campuses and Motupore Island.
All figures on this page are current as at 31 December 2021.
Unless stated otherwise, figures are reproduced from the UPNG Strategic Plan 2022-2025, which reports a 2021 snapshot of the University. Where a figure is derived from this website's own published catalogue, it is labelled as such.