University of Canterbury

What is special about UC?

The University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha will give you an excellent educational foundation that you will be able to turn into an amazing career.

Enrol in innovative programmes

With internships, start up incubator programmes, and global study opportunities, there is something for everyone.

Get real-world experience

At UC you have the opportunity to turn theory into practice. Apply and build your skills in research, analysis, writing, and presentation in real-world contexts with an internship or placement. Internships and placements are offered in many subjects including Arts, Education, Engineering, and Commerce. 

Find out more about internship opportunities at UC by contacting UC Careers | Te Rōpū Rapuara.

On campus start-up culture

UC actively nurtures innovators and entrepreneurs. As a UC student you will test your knowledge through practical application in our state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and around the world.

Outside of your academic studies, UC Centre for Entrepreneurship | Te Pokapū Rakahinonga provides you with a range of opportunities to fast-track your entrepreneurial ideas.

Global study opportunities

UC gives you the chance to develop a global perspective through a number of short-term international study opportunities. These short study tours actively encourage students to make international connections.

Additionally, the UC Exchange Programme has more than 60 exchange agreements with universities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, where you can actively engage with other cultures while continuing your study for one or two semesters.

Check out the full list of our International exchange partnerships. We can also help you fund your exchange, with details listed on the Study Abroad and Exchange page.

UC – a world recognised university

The University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha is a prestigious destination, ranked 258th in the QS World Universities rankings, 2022. It has also been awarded a 5-Star QS ranking for internationally renowned research and teaching.

Research led teaching

Academic staff at UC are always pushing the boundaries by asking “What if?”. They put inquiry and discovery at the centre of the educational process as all UC teaching programmes are research-based.

UC’s academic staff includes business, government, and community leaders who are at the forefront of knowledge in their fields. They are actively involved in research and publishing in their areas of expertise. 

Come see UC’s academics in action by attending the free UC Connect | Tauhere public lecture series, either in person or via YouTube.

Outstanding international academics

UC has a number of field leading academics on staff and this is enhanced by a number of outstanding international professors, lecturers, and researchers who visit each year on our staff exchange programmes. You may be taught by academic staff from the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge as well as other top universities.

UC’s Erskine Fellows | Ngā Manuhiri o Erskine programme attracts up to 70 distinguished, international academic visitors each year to give lectures in their specialist areas. Previous Erskine Fellows having included two Nobel Prize winners – Emeritus Professor Clive Granger and Professor Bob Grubbs.

Personal engagement

UC academics are committed to giving students the individual attention that nurtures their ideas and pushes them to excel.

As a UC student you will do more than just wrestle with big ideas – you will bring them to life by embracing a practical approach to education. 

UC – Top 1% of universities worldwide

UC was the first university in Aotearoa New Zealand to receive a five-star rating from QS. (QS World University Rankings)

For a full list of current rankings visit our University Ranking page.

“A typical five stars university is generally world class in a broad range of areas, enjoys a high reputation and has cutting edge facilities and internationally renowned research and teaching faculty.”
(Source: QS Stars Ratings Explained)

Cutting edge research facilities

UC has a raft of cutting-edge research facilities, including:

• Biomolecular Interaction Centre
• Gateway Antarctica: Centre for Antarctic Studies and Research
• Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HITLabNZ)
• MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
• New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour
• NZi3
• Social Science Research Centre
• Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management

The University operates field stations in Cass, Kawatiri Westport, Harihari, the sub-Antarctic Snares Islands, and Antarctica; and Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier astronomical research facility at Ōtehīwai Mount John, Takapō Tekapo, famous for its clear southern skies. 

These facilities mean that UC offers research opportunities in the field that no other Aotearoa New Zealand university can match.

A history of academic excellence

The University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha was established in 1873 and is Aotearoa New Zealand’s second oldest university. Since its establishment, UC has produced graduates who have gone on to become world leaders in their fields. UC is committed to continuing this tradition of excellence and to developing tomorrow’s leaders.

You will find our graduates in top jobs and graduate schools the world over. Hear direct from our students about how UC helped them on their path to excellence with our Student profiles. 

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