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EduAtlasHub·University Brochure
Est. 1873
Public

University of Canterbury

"Ergo Tua Rura Manebunt (Therefore the Lands Shall Remain Yours)"
🇳🇿 New Zealand ◯ Christchurch ⬡ Oceania
Last updated: September 15, 2026
Official Site → Apply Now
QS World 2026
#261
Global Ranking
Acceptance
Not Available
Students
27121
Tuition/yr
NZ$2,397,549,900/yr
Employed
Not Available
Faculty Ratio
Not Available
Quick Summary

The University of Canterbury (UC) was founded in 1873 as Canterbury College, making it New Zealand's second-oldest university, and it became independent in 1961 before relocating to its current 76-hectare Ilam campus in Christchurch by 1975. It enrolled about 27,121 students in 2025 across seven divisions including Engineering, Science, Law, and Business, plus regional centres in Nelson, Tauranga, and Timaru. UC is best known for Engineering, Computer Science, and Antarctic-related research, and counts Nobel laureate Ernest Rutherford, honoured on New Zealand's $100 note, among its alumni. The university placed 261st in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

01
Institutional Profile
Who they are

The University of Canterbury was founded in 1873 as Canterbury College, the first constituent college of the University of New Zealand, making it the country's second-oldest university, and it became fully independent in 1961. Its most prominent alumnus, Ernest Rutherford, went on to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and is commemorated on New Zealand's $100 note, giving the university a direct link to one of the most consequential physicists of the 20th century. UC operates its own astronomical research site, Mount John University Observatory, along with four field stations spread across New Zealand, giving science students access to dedicated outdoor and observational research infrastructure beyond the Ilam campus. The university relocated from central Christchurch to its current 76-hectare Ilam campus in stages between 1961 and 1975, and it climbed to a QS World University Rankings 2026 position of 261, its strongest QS position in several years.

Founded1873
TypePublic
Total Students27121
Intl StudentsNot Available
Faculty RatioNot Available
CampusSuburban, main Ilam campus about 5km from Christchurch city centre, plus additional Christchurch sites and regional centres in Nelson, Tauranga, and Timaru
Campus Size76 hectares (190 acres), main Ilam campus
Affiliated HospitalsNot Available
AccreditationNew Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
02
Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#261
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#501
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
Not Available
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across seven divisions: Arts, Engineering, Science, Law, Business, Education, and Health, spanning 147 undergraduate majors and 61 graduate degrees
Programs
Yes, the University of Canterbury offers doctoral programs across its seven academic divisions.
PhD Programs
Not Available
Online Programs
Mount John University Observatory; four field research stations across New Zealand
Research Centers
Not Available
Research Output
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
Accreditation
04
Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTS6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for undergraduate admission; 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for postgraduate admission
TOEFLNot Available
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates

Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.

Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency either through an approved test such as IELTS, a New Zealand University Entrance qualification, or prior study substantially taught in English in an English-predominant country, and the required band varies by study level, with postgraduate applicants needing a higher score than undergraduates. Applicants interested in Engineering or Antarctic-related programs should note that UC's research infrastructure, including Mount John University Observatory and its four field stations, supports specific specializations that are worth referencing in a personal statement. Because UC also operates regional centres in Nelson, Tauranga, and Timaru in addition to its main Christchurch campus, applicants should confirm which campus offers their intended programme. IELTS results and related documentation should be sent directly to the university's admissions email rather than uploaded only through a third-party portal.

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05
Cost Ledger
Amounts in New Zealand Dollar
UG Tuition
NZ$2,397,549,900/yr
per year · NZD
PG Tuition
NZ$2,060,088,000/yr
per year · NZD
Scholarships AvailableNot Available
Financial AidNot Available
Work-StudyNot Available
Calculate My Cost →
06
Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across seven divisions: Arts, Engineering, Science, Law, Business, Education, and Health, spanning 147 undergraduate majors and 61 graduate degrees programs total
ProgramLevelDuration
EngineeringBACHELOR3-4 YRS
Computer ScienceMASTER1-2 YRS
LawPHD3-5 YRS
BusinessMBA12-24 MO
Antarctic StudiesBACHELOR3-4 YRS
View All Programs →
07
Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Notable Alumni
Ernest Rutherford (Nobel Prize-winning physicist known as the father of nuclear physics, and the only University of Canterbury alumnus to appear on a New Zealand banknote, the $100 note)
08
Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, UC operates on-campus and nearby halls of residence for students, including dedicated first-year accommodation.
Sports Facilities
Not Available
Student Clubs
Not Available
Library Resources
Not Available
Exchange Programs
Not Available
Summer Programs
Not Available
✦
What sets it apart
UC's regional footprint extends beyond Christchurch to dedicated centres in Nelson, Tauranga, and Timaru, a distributed structure uncommon among New Zealand's other universities, which are typically single-city institutions. The university's Mount John University Observatory, located in the Mackenzie Basin, gives its astronomy and physics programs access to one of the Southern Hemisphere's recognized dark-sky research sites. UC's move from its original central-Christchurch site to the present Ilam campus took place gradually over more than a decade, from 1961 to 1975, a prolonged relocation that shaped the layout of the current 76-hectare campus. As New Zealand's second-oldest university, founded in 1873 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand before gaining independence in 1961, UC carries an institutional history distinct from New Zealand's newer universities.
09
Funding
Scholarships matched to New Zealand

Below is a curated index of international funding opportunities and external scholarship programs that eligible students may apply for when attending this institution.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Fully Funded Full coverage of all academic and living costs; stipend of approximately NZD $562 per week Deadline: Typically late February for most countries (e.g., February 28th) → Google PhD Fellowship Fully Funded Up to $50,000 USD per year (varies by region: e.g., $50,000 in US/Canada, €40,000 in Europe, ₹50,000 monthly in India) Deadline: Varies by region (typically March to May; North America/Europe usually in April) → ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) Fully Funded Full coverage of all academic and living expenses Deadline: Varies by host institution (typically between February and July) → Tokelau Education Grant (Tokelau Scholarship Scheme) Fully Funded Full coverage of costs associated with study Deadline: October 31st annually → Lincoln University International Excellence Scholarship NZ$10,000 Deadline: October 1st (for Semester 1 intake); February 1st (for Semester 2 intake) → Wellington Doctoral Scholarship (Victoria University of Wellington) Fully Funded NZD $30,000 annual stipend plus tuition fees Deadline: 1 March, 1 July, and 1 November (Annually) → View all New Zealand scholarships →
10
Questions
Answered
What is the acceptance rate?+
Not available. Check the official website.
What English score do I need?+
Requirements: IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for undergraduate admission; 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for postgraduate admission .
How much does it cost per year?+
Estimated total cost is not available per year including tuition and living.
Are scholarships available?+
Not available. Check the official website.
What is the application deadline?+
Not available. Check the official website.
Can I work while studying?+
International students can typically work part-time (20 hrs/week) during term.
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