University of Canterbury Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

The University of Canterbury, formerly known as Canterbury College, and now, denoted as UC, is the second oldest university of New Zealand. The research university emerged as the first college to become an essential part of the University of New Zealand.

With its innovative researchers and multidisciplinary professors, the university has been contributing to various industries. One such example would be UC’s Business School lecturer, Dr Pan Zheng, who has a background of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. Working on the novel way to assist drug repurposing through Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, he is on his way to bring laurels to the university.

With such glorious discoveries happening each year, the university has become a centre of attraction to many students from across the world. The university boasts 142,000 alumni from over 100 countries and 1,909 staff members with 50% international staff.

Courses Offered

 

What all courses are available to international students?

 

UC’s five colleges offer more than 2000 courses to international students. With over 120 degree programmes, the university allows aspirants to specialise in the following five most popular disciplines:

Research

The university has over 35 research centres, groups, and institutes, where students and faculty members collaborate to conduct award-winning studies. With its world-class research facilities and assets worth NZD 1.5 billion, UC is known to extensively support the following laboratories:

• Astronomy and Physics facilities
• Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interactions
• Chemistry facilities
• Civil and Natural Resources Engineering facilities
• Electrical and Computer Engineering labs
• Field stations
• Forestry and Wood Science labs
• Geology and Geography labs
• Language, Brain, and Behaviour lab
• Mechanical Engineering labs
• Human-Computer Interaction labs
• Drone (UAV) lab

The global partnerships of UC allow the researchers to work with leading companies such as:

• Astrolab
• KiwiNet
• WNT Ventures
• Sparkbox
• Powerhouse Ventures
• Return on Science
• ChristchurchNZ

UC recognises its team of researchers with awards such as Research Medal, Innovation Medal, Kiwinet Awards, and Early and Emerging Career Researcher Award.

 

Eligibility & Documents Required

 

What are the eligibility requirements?

 

The minimum programme-wise eligibility criteria that international applicants need to meet before applying to the University of Canterbury are given below:

Undergraduate Eligibility

Basic Education (either of):

• Grade 12 in relevant discipline with an overall 75% aggregate with a minimum of 60% in English in the All India Senior School Certificate or India School Certificate (ISC)
• Grade 12 in relevant discipline with an overall 80% aggregate with a minimum of 65% in English from Indian State Board of Higher Education

English Proficiency:

International students from non-English-speaking countries need to provide either of the following scores to prove their suitability to study in an undergraduate programme at UC:

Tests	Minimum Requirements
IELTS Academic	Overall 6.0 bands with a minimum band of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
TOEFL iBT	Minimum overall 80 with at least 19 in Reading, Writing, and Listening (TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted by UC)
TOEFL PBT	Minimum 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5
CCEL EAP	Level 2 with a minimum of C+ grade
CAE or CPE	Overall 169 with a minimum of 162 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
PTE Academic	Overall 50 with no Communicative skills score below 42
NZCEL	Level 4 – Academic endorsement
FluentIQ	Overall 8/10 with no less than 7 in every category
LanguageCert	B2 Communicator High Pass, with no individual score below Pass
NZAPA	English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 2 (with no skill lower than Level 1)

Graduate Eligibility

Basic Education (programme-based):

• Taught programme: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area (qualification equivalent to a New Zealand university bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade comparable to a B grade (70% aggregate) at UC and in a relevant subject area
• Research programme: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area (qualification equivalent to a New Zealand university bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade comparable to a B+ grade (75% aggregate)

English Proficiency (either of):

Tests	Minimum Requirements
IELTS Academic	Overall 6.5 bands with a minimum band of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
TOEFL iBT	Minimum overall 90 with at least 19 in Reading, Writing, and Listening (TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted by UC)
TOEFL PBT	Minimum 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5
CCEL EAP	Level 2 with a minimum of B+ grade
CAE or CPE	Overall 176 with a minimum of 169 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
PTE Academic	Overall 58 with no Communicative skills score below 50
NZCEL	Level 5
FluentIQ	Overall 8/10 with no less than 7 in every category
LanguageCert	C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with High Pass and no less than Pass in each skill or C2 Mastery IESOL (LRWS) with Pass and no less than Pass in each skill
NZAPA	English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)

MBA Eligibility

Mandatory Qualification (a combination of):

• Basic education: A bachelor's degree or Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration with good scores
• Work experience: A minimum of five years

English Proficiency (either of):

Tests	Minimum Requirements
IELTS Academic	Overall score of 7.0 bands with a minimum band of 6.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
TOEFL iBT	Minimum overall 100, with at least 23 in Reading, Writing, and Listening (TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted by UC)
TOEFL PBT	Minimum 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5
CCEL EAP	Level 2 with a minimum of A grade
CAE or CPE	Overall 176 with a minimum of 169 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
PTE Academic	Overall 65 with no Communicative skills score below 58

PhD Eligibility

Basic Education (a combination of):

• A qualification equivalent to a New Zealand university
• Bachelors and master’s programme in the same discipline
• Awarded in First or Second Class (division one) Honours
• Strong research focus in the form of a thesis

English Proficiency (either of):

Tests	Minimum Requirements
IELTS Academic	Overall 6.5 bands with a minimum band of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
TOEFL iBT	Minimum overall 90 with at least 19 in Reading, Writing, and Listening (TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted by UC)
TOEFL PBT	Minimum 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5
CCEL EAP	Level 2 with a minimum of B+ grade
CAE or CPE	Overall 176 with a minimum of 169 in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
PTE Academic	Overall 58 with no Communicative skills score below 50
NZCEL	Level 5
NZAPA	English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)

Note: It is recommended to visit the intended course’s page on the official website to check specific entry requirements.

 

What documents are needed for the application?

 

International students need to provide the following set of documents at the time of application at UC:

Undergraduate Aspirants:

• Official academic transcripts (original and officially-translated in English)
• Statement of purpose/personal statement
• References: Academic LOR (only if asked for)
• Evidence of English proficiency (English proficiency test score)
• Scanned copy of the biographical page of applicant’s passport
• Scanned passport-size photograph

Graduate Aspirants:

• Official university transcripts (original and officially-translated in English)
• Detailed student CV/academic resume
• Statement of purpose/personal statement
• References: Professional LOR (only if asked for)
• Scanned copy of the biographical page of applicant’s passport
• Scanned passport-size photograph
• Evidence of English proficiency (English proficiency test score)

PhD Aspirants:

• Completed online application form
• Official university transcripts (original and officially-translated in English)
  • Master’s proof: Degree certificate/graduation certificate/transcript
  • Bachelor’s proof: Degree certificate/graduation certificate/transcript
• Scanned copy of the biographical page of applicant’s passport
• Scanned passport-size photograph
• References: Professional LOR (with supervisor’s contact information for email communication)
• Detailed CV: Including academic history, work history, and relevant research experience
• Evidence of English proficiency (English proficiency test score)
• Thesis:
  • If the original thesis was in English, complete/full thesis needs to be submitted
  • If the original thesis was in a language other than English, only thesis abstract needs to be submitted (not complete/full thesis)
  • If the original thesis was incomplete, then applicants need to supply evidence of relevant research experience

How to Send Documents?

All the documents and applications should be sent electronically:

• Upload the documents on university’s application portal ‘myUC’
• No documents should be shared via cloud storage
• Documents must not be shared in compressed or archive formats such as rar or zip

File Format:

• Accepted formats are PDFs, Doc, Docx, JPG, and PNG files (PDF preferred)
• Scanned colour copies
• At least 300dpi in resolution
• File size should be less than 10MB
• Multipage documents must be combined into one file

Note: These are general requirements for applying to the University of Canterbury and may vary with different courses. It is recommended to check the exact requirements from the course page of the official website.

 

Application & Tuition Fees

 

Is there any application fees?

 

There is no application fee chargeable to international students while applying to the University Canterbury, which means that aspirants can apply to UB free of cost. However, there is a refundable deposit* of NZD 500 that is required at the time of enrolment. This deposit can be refunded in case a student is unable to join the university after being enrolled. International students must provide a valid reason behind the same and request for the refund.

*Fee varies depending on specialisation and progressive years. We encourage you to check the school/department’s website for the exact fee.

 

What is the fee structure of courses offered by the university?

 

The programme-wise tuition fee chargeable to international students at UC for session 2021–2022 is as follows:

Course Type	Tuition Fee* (in NZD)	Chargeable for (Duration)
Undergraduate diplomas	21,500 – 28,000	Total programme fee
Undergraduate certificates	13,600 – 17,750	Total programme fee
Bachelor degrees	28,000 – 44,000	Annual tuition fee
Honours degrees	29,875 – 36,563	Total programme fee
Graduate diplomas	27,000 – 35,500	Total programme fee
Graduate certificates	14,000	Total programme fee
Master degrees	36,500 – 79,000	Total programme fee
Postgraduate diplomas	26,000 – 86,900	Total programme fee
Postgraduate certificates	13,000 – 24,472	Total programme fee
MBA	51,750	Total programme fee
PhD	36,500	Total programme fee

Source: University of Canterbury

*Fee varies depending on specialisation and progressive years. We encourage you to check the school/department’s website for the exact fee.

 

Scholarships & Financial Aid

 

Is there any scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

 

At the University of Canterbury, international students may apply to an array of scholarships. All students intending to pursue an undergraduate or postgraduate degree are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Eligibility

UC offers scholarships to international students, who fall under either of the following categories:

Types of Scholarships

Scholarships are distributed to international students based on the following criteria:

• Subject or course specialisation
• Programme level
• Citizenship
• Age
• Gender
• School/college of study
• Region

The benefits of scholarships vary with these categories and may require supporting documentation from applicants.

How to Apply?

Step 1: Read the requirements and eligibility carefully.

Step 2: Apply online.

Selection Process

Scholarships are granted based on the following factors:

• Written application: Learn how to write an impressive scholarship essay
• Referee reports: References from previous school or college
• Interviews (in some cases): Students are notified by the Scholarship Office

Application Deadline

Though the idea time to apply for scholarship consideration is eight weeks before the closing deadline approximately, students may refer to the tentative application deadlines:

Scholarship Programme	Deadline*
Undergraduate	March-end
Masters	Mid-May and mid-October
Doctoral	At the time of course application
Abroad programmes	August, October, and November

*Deadlines vary depending on the course and can change frequently. We encourage you to check the school/department’s website for exact deadlines.

Scholarship Decision

Each scholarship has a different assessment committee. Though the ideal time required for the scholarship selection process is six-to-eight weeks, in some cases the decision time may be extended. Awards are announced through written notification to all the scholarship winners.

 

Admission Process

 

When do the admissions start?

 

UC follows a semester-based calendar for all its programmes. International students may apply in either of the two intakes:

Refer to the tentative application deadlines:

Admissions Intake	Application Time*	Classes Begin*
Undergraduate Admission Cycle
Spring Intake	October-end	February
Fall Intake	April-end	July
Graduate Admission Cycle
Spring Intake	Early September	February
Fall Intake	Early February	July

*Deadlines vary depending on the course and can change frequently. We encourage you to check the school/department’s website for exact deadlines.

Note: Applicants aspiring for thesis programmes are recommended to start applying six months in advance. Also, the necessary documents must be received by the university at the time of complete application submission (by the deadlines). Late submission of documents leads to lengthy delays in the decision.

 

What are the steps to the application process?

 

The application process for all programmes offered at UC is the same. It is divided into three sections. Applicants cannot skip the opened section or jump to the next section unless the previous section is complete. International aspirants may refer to the application steps given below:

Step 1: Sign up to the university’s application portal at myuc.canterbury.ac.nz/login.

Step 2: Verify the email address via email sent by the university and click ‘Continue’.

Step 3: Sign in to the university website.

Step 4: Click on ‘Start New Application’.

Step 5: Choose ‘New Student’.

Step 6: Select the year of enrolment.

Step 7: Start the application by providing identification details.

Step 8: Input academic details.

Step 9: Select qualification as ‘Undergraduate and graduate’ or ‘Postgraduate’.

Step 10: Read the ‘Student Declaration’ carefully.

Step 11: Complete all the steps in Section 1 and move to Sections 2 and 3 to upload supporting documents.

Step 12: Submit the application.

Note: The application is lengthy. Hence, the university allows all its students a time of four working days to complete the entire application along with all the submissions. The application cannot be filled thereafter.

 

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

 

Once submitted, an application goes through the following stages at the University of Canterbury:

Steps of Application Decision	Estimated Time*
Application received through myUC	1-4 working days
Preliminary assessment	3-10 working days
Assessment by the admissions officer	NA
Sent to department/college for further assessment	1-3 weeks
Sent to Dean of Postgraduate Research for final decision	NA
Admissions notified of the final decision and UCSMS updated	NA
Notification of decision sent to student or agent	1-2 working days

*Deadlines vary depending on the course and can change frequently. We encourage you to check the school/department’s website for exact deadlines.

Hence, the overall time required by UC for admission decision ranges between 10 to 30 working days. All the admission-related notifications are shared via email.

 

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

 

How difficult is it to get an admission? What is the acceptance rate of the university for international students?

 

The 2018 data shared by the university depicts the numbers of total and international students studying at UC. Refer to the table below to get an idea of students enrolled in 2018:

UC at a Glance	2018 Statistics
Total students	17,299
Total international students	2,336
%age of international students	13%
Countries represented by international students	100+

Source: University of Canterbury

The statistics show that about 13% of students studying at UC are international from more than 100 countries. Hence, it can be gauged that the acceptance rate and process for international applicants are quite rigid.

 

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

 

Students from more than 100 countries enrol at UC each year, out of which over 70 countries are represented within UC’s MBA Class.

UC Students Equity and Diversity

Below is the segregation of total students from different ethnicities is as follows:

Source: University of Canterbury

*MELAA refers to Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African

As the chart shows, the highest number of students enrolled at UC were from European countries, while Asia remained in the second position.

UC Male-Female Parity 2019

From the same data, UC shows the following gender division in the student body:

Source: University of Canterbury

As per this chart, with a total of 9,176 female students studying at UC, the share of females becomes 51%.

 

Part Time Work While Studying

 

Can I work while studying here?

 

UC encourages its students, both national and international, to enhance their profiles and strengthen their candidatures by working while studying. This is offered by the universities in two forms:

• Internships and employment
• Careers Fairs on campus

Career Services

The university offers a variety of seminars to provide its students with a wealth of information on creating and updating CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. It also exposes students to career fairs that offer them the following opportunities:

• Meeting various employers
• Visiting local workplaces
• Learning about the country’s workplace culture
• Attending individual careers consultant appointments

Top 10 Tips to Find Work in NZ

Aspiring students may refer to the following information instrumental in granting work opportunities in and outside the university campus:

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

UC also offers its students with courses that allow them to gain work experience while learning through its Work Integrated Learning (WIL) wing. This includes:

• Internships
• Projects
• Fieldworks
• Clinical placements

This training is a mandatory part of the course curriculum for all the programmes at UC. Thus, UC ensures that students who fail to find on-campus or off-campus jobs apart from their studies would still gain some work exposure.

Note: International students need to identify the clause of working on a study visa before applying to a job. Working hours and country’s regulations need to be clarified upfront by every applicant.

 

Campuses & Accommodation

 

How many colleges and campuses does the university have?

 

The University of Canterbury has only one campus in the suburb of Ilam at Christchurch in New Zealand. It is situated at a distance of nearly five kilometres west of the city centre of Christchurch, which is the largest city in the South Island of NZ. Such a remarkable location of the university campus provides its students with a perfect blend of beautiful landscapes and city life enjoyment.

Spread across76 hectares at Ilam, the campus contains five colleges and four libraries for better learning. It also has a sports and fitness centre along with a Muslim prayer centre and Christian chaplaincy to make students feel at home.

The facilitating campus allows all students to utilise the following services:

Campus Highlights

• 100+ clubs and societies: To support artistic, cultural, intellectual, recreational, and social pursuits
• Cafes, restaurants, and bars: To allow students to connect with local public and experience the country
• The University of Canterbury Students' Association (UCSA): Dedicated to better networking and success

Such associations and facilities, available to students any programme on the campus, are the centre of attraction for international students.

 

Is on-campus housing available? How much does it cost?

 

The University of Canterbury houses over 2,200 students in 10 of its residential halls. Ilam Apartments being the largest and University Halls being the second-largest house more than 800 and 500 residents, respectively.

On-Campus Accommodation

The university offers on-campus accommodation in the form of self-catered residential halls and campus villages at Ilam Apartments to all the students. The available options are:

• Manuka Apartment: 6-bedroom
• Hinau Apartment: 2-bedroom
• Hinau Apartment: 3, 4 or 5-bedroom
• Kowhai Apartment: 6-bedroom

On-Campus Accommodation Cost 2021:

Refer to the table below to understand the kind of budget that international students need to prepare according to the preferred accommodation:

On-Campus Accommodation Options and Cost 2021
Limited Duration Stay Options
Residence Hall	Manuka Apartment	Hinau Apartment
Residence Type	6 Bedrooms	2 Bedrooms
Rooms Available	Single self-catered Manuka room	Single self-catered Hinau room
Contract Duration	48 weeks only	48 weeks only
Rent* (in NZD)	10,016	15,056
Residential Fee	9,216	14,256
Limited Plus Extended Stay Options
Residence Hall	Hinau Apartment	Kowhai Apartment
Residence Type	3, 4, or 5 Bedrooms	6 Bedrooms
Rooms Available	Single self-catered Hinau room	Single self-catered Kowhai room
Contract Duration	41 weeks only	41 weeks only
Rent* (in NZD)	11,214	11,788
Residential Fee	10,414	10,988
Contract Duration	48 weeks only	48 weeks only
Rent* (in NZD)	11,408	11,984
Residential Fee	10,608	11,184

Facilities Offered:

• Single bed
• Bookshelf
• Wardrobe
• Desk
• Thermometer
• Cutlery: Shared kitchen with essentials
• Sofa: Living room and dining furniture
• Bathtub
• Laundry: Communal washing machines and dryers
• Internet: Wi-fi throughout
• Bicycle: Secure bike storage
• Internet: 100GB provided per month (can be topped up for NZD 2 per GB)

Other Considerable Charges 2021:

While planning the living expenses budget, students must also consider the following related costs apart from the basic rental charges applicable in on-campus accommodation:

Living Costs 2021	Cost* (in NZD)
Related Fees	Mandatory
Administration fee (non-refundable)	300
Resident’s association fee	200
Contingency fee (refundable)	300
Car parking (optional)	232
Meal Plans at University Hall	Optional
Breakfast	9
Lunch	12
Dinner	15
Daily meal-plan	27
Weekly dinner-plan	88
Weekly meal-plan	155
Bed-linen pack	139
Cutlery/crockery pack	25

Source: University of Canterbury

*Cost is subject to change with progressive years. We recommend students to check the latest cost on the university website.

Students are suggested to choose from the variety of accommodations wisely and prepare the budget accordingly.

 

What are the alternate options to on-campus housing?

 

There are some alternate options to on-campus housing that students can use to either live for long-term or until they find a permanent long-stay accommodation.

Off-Campus Accommodation

Students who do not wish to stay on-campus may opt for off-campus housing facilities: The available options are:

•          Private Rental Accommodation
•          Temporary Accommodation

Private Rental Accommodation:

Many students prefer to live in rental accommodations in suburban areas that are 15-minute-bike-ride away from the university campus. Such popular suburbs are:

•          Riccarton
•          Upper Riccarton
•          Avonhead
•          Bryndwr
•          Burnside
•          Fendalton
•          Ilam

Private Rental Accommodation Charges 2020–2021:

Refer to the cost of rent and facilities in a private rental accommodation below:

4-Bedroom Flat	Annual Cost* (in NZD)	Weekly Cost* (in NZD)
Rent	8,281	159.25
Electricity	2,258	43.42
Telephone/Internet	300	5.76

Note: Cost shared in this table splits equally between four students sharing a flat.

Temporary Accommodation:

This type of accommodation helps in staying at Christchurch close to the university while students are searching for a permanent residence. The options shared below are suitable for singles, couples, and families:

•          Hotels and motels
•          Hostels and backpackers
•          Bed and breakfast
•          Privately rented rooms
•          Houses and apartments

Temporary Accommodation Charges 2020–2021:

Check out the list and rates of motels nearby university campus:

Motels	Room Type	Cost* Per Week (in NZD)
Apollo Motel
288 Riccarton Road	Studio	300
(8 mins' walk to campus)	1-bedroom unit	350
Two weeks' rent required in advance	2-bedroom unit	400
Christchurch Student Accommodation
252 Riccarton Road	Twin/double studio	265
(10 mins' walk to campus)	2-bedroom unit	430

There is another option to stay temporarily in the Graduate House, located at 23 Creyke Road, at NZD 180 per week. More options for temporary accommodations near the university campus include the following:

Walking Distance from UC	Cost* Per Night (in NZD)
Aroha Bed and Breakfast	78
Comfort Inn Riccarton	138
Apollo Motel	110
Asure 306 On Riccarton Motel	145
298 Westside Motor Lodge	115
Christchurch Motel	121
Kahu Apartments	185
Thistle Guest House	60
Anne and Tony Fogarty Homestay	70
Coachman Motel	96
162 Kings of Riccarton Motel	116
Alumni House – Bed and Breakfast	145
Ashleigh Court Motel	120
Bush Inn Court Motel	126
Close to Christchurch International Airport
Juicy Snooze Christchurch	30
Airport Lodge Motel	124
Airport Gateway Motor Lodge	129
Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport	186

Source: University of Canterbury

*Cost is subject to change with progressive years. We recommend students to check the latest cost on the university website.

These costs can be referred to by international students to prepare their budget accordingly.

 

University Contact Information

 

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

 

International students may reach the office at:

Address: Private Bag 4800. Christchurch 8140. New Zealand

Website: www.canterbury.ac.nz/international

Telephone: +64 3 364 3443

Email: sandeep.sharma@canterbury.ac.nz