University of Canterbury

Immersed in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch – the second largest city in Aotearoa, New Zealand – Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha / University of Canterbury (UC) provides a learning experience unlike any other university. Nestled between the majestic Southern Alps and the abundant Pacific Ocean, UC offers students endless opportunities for education, exploration and recreation, with all the conveniences of a modern city.

The core values at UC are: whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and tiakitanga. These values are rooted in trust, care and reciprocity, and have been embedded over generations of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu presence in the region. People come first at UC and the university is proud to open its doors to students and staff from around the world, welcoming everyone to learn from one another and contribute to a diverse and welcoming community.

UC's students are smart, innovative and caring, and the university is proud to support them as they grow as individuals and members of its vibrant community. The university offers endless opportunities outside traditional learning, providing its students with the chance to find themselves, connect with others, and contribute to positive world change. When students graduate from UC, they join an alumni whānau of more than 140,000 empowered graduates affecting innovative change across the globe.

UC honours those who have gone before us and fosters a spirit of curiosity which is indebted to its cultural past. In its dedication to cultivating the spirit of curiosity for future generations, the university is inspired by the Ngāi Tahu whakataukī (proverb): mō tātou, ā, mō ngā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us. UC works hard to empower its students and helps them to create a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future for people all over the world.

Ranked as one of the top 300 universities in the world (QS World Universities Rankings, 2025), UC is a place for everyone – nau mai, tauti mai – welcome, come join us.

UC is committed to training its students to be ready for work when they graduate. 95 per cent of UC graduates in 2023 were either employed or involved in further study.

In addition to its graduate profile, which highlights the interpersonal skills students need to be ready for the workplace, UC offers a dedicated careers team.

UC is made up of seven faculties, each housing a number of schools, departments and research centres. The seven faculties are:

Arts

The Faculty of Arts comprises the School of Humanities, School of Language, Social and Political Science, Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies, and the School of Creative and Digital Arts. Students can earn degrees in more than forty disciplines. 

UC Business School

UC Business School offers students a wide range of qualifications that prepare them for life in the dynamic and fast-paced business world.

Education

The Faculty of Education strives to equip students to make a positive impact on the lives of children, adults, and their communities.

Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering offers a mix of traditional disciplines and new subjects like product design. An engineering degree from UC is recognised all over the globe, thereby opening up attractive employment prospects. The faculty's postgraduate specialist qualifications are designed to meet the demands of industry.

Health

The Faculty of Health is committed to improving the health of and effecting meaningful change in people's lives – locally, nationally, and internationally.

Law

The Faculty of Law is one of New Zealand's leading law schools and offers students a nice blend of academic rigour alongside the development of essential legal skills.

Science

The Faculty of Science offers numerous qualifications in a wide range of sciences at all levels of study.

International students applying to study at the University of Canterbury must meet the university's entry criteria.

Undergraduate certificates and diplomas require international students to have gained qualifications equivalent to the New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) University Entrance to gain admission to UC. Some undergraduate certificates and diplomas may have additional requirements.

Admission to graduate certificates and diplomas requires students to have completed a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification. Some graduate certificates and diplomas may have additional requirements.

English proficiency

International students must also be able to demonstrate their proficiency in written and spoken English to study at UC. Students must provide proof that they have completed an academic qualification substantially taught in English in a country where English is the predominant language, or cleared an approved English language test with the required scores. Some of the approved tests include the IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English.

In case international students do not meet the entry criteria, UC's partners – such as Christchurch College of English language and University of Canterbury International College – provide preparatory programmes to help them meet these requirements.

UC offers international first-year undergraduate scholarships to top-achieving international students. The website contains the details of various scholarships available.

UC International Mobility Inbound Study Abroad Award

This award is for students who are already undertaking a course of study at an overseas university and seek to study at UC as a non-degree student for one or two semesters on the university's study abroad programme.

UC Doctoral Scholarships
UC offers a diverse range of scholarships to support international students for study towards their research doctoral degree. The UC Doctoral Scholarship is offered up to NZD 28,000 per 120 points of thesis enrolment and tuition fees for thesis enrolment only, at the domestic tuition fee rate.

Students can visit the university's website for a full list of scholarships, including those for master's and doctoral study.

There is always something exciting happening at UC. From improving soil with forestry to archaeological discoveries in the subantarctic islands, students and visitors can read the latest UC News to find out how the university's research is changing lives.

UC study finds airborne microplastics directly impact climate change
New Zealand scientists have discovered that microplastics in rivers, oceans, and on land are also present in the air that people breathe. Local scientists believe that airborne microplastic pollution is likely to have a direct bearing on climate change. 

UC celebrates exclusive with Wallace and Gromit creators
In a move which carries the potential to redefine the animation landscape in New Zealand, UC have concluded a multi-year agreement with the training arm of Academy Award-winning Aardman Animations. 

Building knowledge to reduce deaths from respiratory illnesses
UC Engineering PhD students have created a tool, known as BOB, to help prevent the third leading cause of death in New Zealand.