The University of Canterbury has it all: superb programmes, a brilliant location deep in the South Pacific, competitive fees and a moderate cost of living. The University is in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island, which lies on the coast of the Canterbury Plains close to both the sea and the mountains.

Established in 1873 by scholars from Oxford and Cambridge, UC is one of New Zealand’s top research universities and has an international reputation for academic excellence. It offers first degrees in the arts (humanities and social sciences), science, commerce, education, engineering, fine art, forestry, law, music, speech and language therapy, social work and sport coaching. Postgraduate courses include Masters degrees with fascinating specialities, and PhD programmes are available in every discipline.

While studying at UC, you will be taught by academic staff who are at the forefront of knowledge in their subject. As part of their job, all lecturers are expected to be active in research and publishing and the University’s teaching strength flows out of this. Our staff are passionate about their subjects and love to share their knowledge with students.

The University has links of many kinds with prestigious universities internationally, including semester- or year-long student exchange programmes that you can choose to participate in if you wish. We also have a special endowment that makes it possible for staff from top universities overseas to visit and teach at UC. Around 70 such academic visitors each year enrich our teaching, and among the visitors in the last few years have been two Nobel Prize winners.

Canterbury’s spacious grounds are a self-contained study centre with world-class resources and facilities. The University campus boasts six libraries, 24-hour computer suites, and well-equipped laboratories. There is easy access to the centre of Christchurch and its cultural and recreational facilities. The Students’ Association hosts over 100 clubs and societies so there is always something happening on campus, whether it’s a band playing during lunch or a play being performed in the on-campus theatre. There’s also a recreation centre with a weights room, squash courts, climbing wall and a wide array of classes on offer.

If, however, you prefer to spend time outdoors, then Canterbury’s location is perfect for you. Known as the ‘Garden City’, Christchurch has beaches, parks, reserves and golf courses, all close to campus. There are also several ski-fields within an hour and a half’s drive from the city. It is easy to travel to lakes and mountains, as well as to tourist centres such as Mount Cook and Queenstown. Our low fees and Christchurch’s relatively low cost of living will enable you to participate in activities you would usually not be able to afford as a student studying elsewhere.

There are several fully catered halls of residence within five minutes walk of the University. In-house academic tutoring is provided and a variety of social, cultural and sporting activities are organised. The halls are a great place to make friends, so are an excellent choice for first-years. For returning students UC’s modern, self-catering Ilam Village is a popular option; others choose to rent a house close to campus and share with friends. Accommodation Office staff will help you find accommodation before you arrive and will arrange transport to pick you up from the airport to take you there.

The University of Canterbury has been host to thousands of international students over a period of more than 40 years. There are currently over 2,000 international students from over 70 countries enrolled in a wide variety of programmes. This makes for a lively, interesting and cosmopolitan university community.

A dedicated International Student Support staff provide orientation, advice and emergency support if required. The International Office staff aim to make your experience at the University of Canterbury a fun and rewarding one: we look forward to welcoming you to our campus!

 

UNDERGRADUATE OPTIONS AT CANTERBURY

In the first year of a Canterbury Bachelor’s degree you have the opportunity to include not only papers in your chosen majoring subject but also a range of other supporting subjects of your choice. The strength of this approach is to give you a broad based foundation for further study. It also gives you the chance to explore subjects that are different to those you have studied at school, and even to change your major to a different subject in the second year.

Bachelor of Arts

Students can study what they love, and learn skills of clear thinking, research, creativity and persuasion that will prepare them for a wide range of job opportunities. Majors include anthropology, philosophy, history, English, classics, modern languages, linguistics, psychology, sociology and political science, among many others.

Bachelor of Commerce

Students can graduate in one of 13 specialisations, including human resource development, strategic management, accounting and taxation, computer systems and networks, marketing, and international business.

Bachelor of Engineering

This four-year professional degree is designed to produce engineers who can handle the challenges of today, but who also have the skills to design the products and tackle the problems of the future. Specialisations include earthquake engineering and nanotechnology.

Bachelor of Teaching & Learning

Students can train to become an early childhood or primary teacher at one of New Zealand’s top teacher training institutions. Combining theoretical knowledge and practical experience, the degree is recognised around the world.

Bachelor of Sport Coaching

Students are able to turn their passion for sport into a career with an internationally recognised degree in sport coaching. The qualification is a unique blend of practical application and theory that immerses the student into the sociology, science and pedagogy of sport and sport coaching.

Other options include: Bachelor of Fine Arts, which offers majors in film, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. Bachelor of Music, which can be taken in composition; digital music; music education; music history; musicianship; and performance. Bachelor of Social Work, a four year professional degree involving two years of specialised social work courses and practical fieldwork. Specialist Bachelors degrees in Forestry Science and Speech and Language Therapy are also offered.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

The South Island of New Zealand is a brilliant place to do a science degree. Its unique landscapes and distinctive biology, clear night skies and close proximity to both the sea and the mountains make it a natural laboratory for field sciences. As well as well-equipped on-campus labs, UC has five field stations in the South Island, one in Antarctica and one in Nigeria. It also just installed the largest university-based supercomputer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Biological Sciences

Specialise in animal or plant science, microbiology, cell biology and genetics, ecology, or evolution. The School of Biological Sciences has a marine biology field station at Kaikoura, and makes extensive use of other field stations on the west coast and in the high country.

Chemistry

Research areas in this department include areas as diverse as trace elements in the environment, nanotechnology, the chemistry of the upper atmosphere, and the pharmaceutical potential of synthetic compounds.

Geography

As a country New Zealand is an ideal laboratory for physical geography but you can also explore specialities such as coastal processes, geography and health, hazard protection and more. If you’d like to know more, the Department has put together a CD about geography at UC – email info@studyoptions.com to request your free copy.

Geological Sciences

The South Island is a natural laboratory for geologists, with diverse rock types, an active Alpine Fault, glacier-carved fiords, petroleum exploration, and even Antarctica not too far away. Hazard and disaster management is a postgraduate speciality in this department.

Physics and Astronomy

Optics, quantum physics, fluid dynamics, superconductivity, electronics: you can study them all at UC and more! With its own observatory in the South Island high country Canterbury is also the only New Zealand university to offer astronomy as an undergraduate degree.

Psychology

The science of human behaviour is endlessly fascinating, as well as highly relevant for many career pathways. The psychology department at Canterbury is one of the best in New Zealand, with top teachers and laboratories equipped with virtual reality and other experimental tools for examining animal behaviour and neuroscience research.

Health Sciences

There are a number of health related courses available for undergraduates at UC, and a strong suite of postgraduate programmes designed to prepare students for careers within the health sector, social services or local or central government.

Communication Disorders

The Department has four on-campus laboratories with state-of-the-art electronic and assessment equipment. Entry to first year is open, and grades in that year determine the pathway on to professional courses in the second and subsequent years.