University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury (UC), officially Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, is a public university in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest universities and presents itself as a research-led institution with a strong focus on employability, innovation, and student support. The university has more than 26,000 students and students from over 100 countries.

Public university

• Establishment Date: 1873

• Research-led university education across a broad range of disciplines.
• Strong emphasis on employability, industry engagement, and future-focused learning.
• Strengths in areas such as Geography, Civil and Structural Engineering, Linguistics, and Hospitality and Leisure Management.

• It is ranked 261st in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
• It is #2 in New Zealand for employability outcomes in the 2026 QS rankings.
• Top 100 best student city in the 2026 QS rankings.
• Geography is in the global top 50, while Civil and Structural Engineering, Linguistics, and Hospitality and Leisure Management are in the global top 100.
• It is in the 601–800 band globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

• It has over 3,000 employer connections and over 60 partner universities worldwide.
• The 2024 Annual Report states total student headcount increased to 26,433 in 2024.
• The same report states course completion rates improved to 89.1% and first-year retention rose to 80.5% in 2024.
• UC is developing Takurua, a major new student recreation and wellbeing facility.