Study Abroad in NZ: University of Canterbury

Name: Study Abroad in NZ: University of Canterbury
Brand: University of Canterbury
SKU: 42653
Rating: 5 (21 reviews)

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Location

New Zealand
- Christchurch

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring

Subject Areas

Accounting Anthropology Arts Biology Business Chemistry Communications Computer Science Creative Writing Criminal Justice Cultural Studies Ecology Economics Education Engineering English Finance Geography Health Sciences History Humanities International Business International Relations Journalism Law Linguistics Literature Marketing Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Sociology +25

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Program Details

Program Type

Direct Enrollment

Degree Level

Bachelors

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

In 2020, the undergraduate Study Abroad tuition fee will be NZ$12,575per semester.

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2019

Last Reviewed: Oct 05, 2018

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35 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The University of Canterbury was established in 1873 and is New Zealand’s second oldest university. Their globally recognized programs aim to foster critical thinking and professional excellence across many disciplines and UC graduates can be found in top jobs and graduate schools all over the world. UC also offers you the chance to take your learning beyond the classroom and gain real world experience, through service learning, internship courses and New Zealand’s most extensive network of field stations for field science.

Centrally located on the east coast of the spectacular South Island, Christchurch is on the doorstep of a huge outdoor "playground" where you can surf at the city's beautiful sandy beaches and ski and snowboard in the Southern Alps in the same day. The city is a gateway to some of NZ's most breathtaking scenery and recreational opportunities such as: hiking, climbing, white water rafting, whale watching, kayaking, alpine resorts and surfing!

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 21 reviews

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4 rating 0%
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2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.25
Support 4.7
Fun 4.6
Housing 4.4
Safety 4.95

Showing 17 - 21 of 21 reviews

The University of Canterbury has a beautiful campus filled with wonderful people. Adjusting to life at uni was made simple by the welcoming staff. I am incredibly lucky to have been taught by lecturers who are also conducting research similar to my interests. I have learned a lot of valuable insight into career opportunities, and I have made lifelong friends.

Being in a large city in the South Island meant easy travel. I was able to access the whole of the South Island from Christchurch. The weather was perfect in my opinion -- mild compared to what I am used to at home.

I originally chose UC for the location, but if I had to choose again, I would choose UC for the incredible school that I have come to call home.

Studying at Canterbury was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! It was a great opportunity to make tons of new friends (both Kiwis and other international students), and have tons of adventures. While in my personal experience the academics were very challenging, that was by my choice (I only enrolled in three classes and they were all 100 level), and left me with plenty of time to take advantage of what New Zealand has to offer.

As a pretty outdoorsy person, studying on the South Island was perfect. From the smaller port hills which offer an outdoor playground for trail running, mountain biking, climbing and more, while being a short bus ride from campus; to the Southern Alps and Fiordland, there are sooo many opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are also a number of very active clubs on campus catering to this, including the tramping (what Kiwis call hiking) club and climbing club (both of which I was active in), as well as a kayaking club, multiple ski clubs and more! If I was not going out on an adventure independently with friends, on any given weekend there were almost always plenty of club outings to go on!

Living in, and traveling around New Zealand was an amazing experience, and studying at UC not only made it possible, but greatly added to the experience!

UC was a very welcoming place to study abroad. The staff were all super friendly and helpful if you had questions. Christchurch isn't the biggest city, but it has many fun temporary attractions (gap fillers) and art pieces while it rebuilds, such as the Dance-O-Mat, which is a laundry machine you can plug your phone into to play music through speakers. UC itself has a pretty good social scene, and there are many clubs you can join to get more integrated into the school. Christchurch is also a great place to be based for day or weekend trips on the South Island for beautiful hiking, kayaking, and climbing. The workload varies depending on the classes you take, but the classes geared towards international students tend to be easier. Overall, I had a very enjoyable time at UC and exploring New Zealand, meeting Kiwis though my classes, clubs, and my flatmates.

What would you improve about this program?

There could have been more check-ins and social gatherings for the international students throughout the semester, as well as helping us more to meet Kiwis.

I really enjoyed my stay at University of Canterbury. What made it so great wasn't really the challenge of the academics, but the access to the outdoors. My grades transfer to my home university as pass/fail so my biggest aim in going abroad was experiencing an exciting and cool location rather than challenging academics. At UC the opportunities to get outside and hike and tramp were outstanding and everything was close enough by that it was easily accessible through clubs or the bus system, or even by purchasing a car. If you love the outdoors than studying in Christchurch is definitely for you.

What would you improve about this program?

The academics weren't really all that challenging, and the orientation for abroad students wasn't all that great. I didn't end up meeting that many kiwis because it became much easier to meet other students studying abroad. This program could definitely be improved by more interaction between full time UC students and students studying abroad.

I'm incredibly thankful that I got to experience UC abroad. I met so many amazing people here and had so much fun while traveling every weekend and keeping up with my studies. I wouldn't pick anywhere else to have studied abroad.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I love skiing more than anything, honestly. This was an great opportunity to combine an amazing academic experience and my passion. Twenty months of winter straight sounded fun to me. Not only that but it was a highly rated academic school with a strong presence of exchange students. Seemed like he perfect place for me.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I did most of the stuff on my own. I had a lot of help with questions and such from my academic advisor, Claire, at Montana State, but I personally kept track of deadlines and such for most stuff. It wasn’t difficult by any degree. All the steps were straightforward. Not difficult at all. If you do need help, feel free to ask anyone! Everyone is here to support.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Be outgoing. Go for every opportunity and be enthusiastic. Kiwi’s are like a coconut. They’re of a hard exterior, but once they open up, they can be the kindest people. Going for every opportunity will make the experience worthwhile. Also go out of your way to make friends who are natives. Try not to get stuck only being friends with other exchange students.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Oh gosh. There is no average week. It’s anything from skiing 4 days a week to going whitewater kayaking on a Tuesday. It’s a wild and fun experience with so many adventures. Sure, there we’re some times when school happened, but those are forgettable memories. It’s the times off campus that make this school special.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Honestly, my biggest fear was my ability to make meaningful and deep connections with new people. I quickly got over it when, on the first day of orientation, I met one of my lifelong friends. He made me instantly realize that the experience was going to be a good one. Other than that, I felt well prepared for the whole experience.

What are some of your favorite slang words?

I actually have a list, so here they are:
Heaps
Vessel
Yarn = a funny little chat
Keen
Amongst
Can’t be bothered
Reckon
Papers=classes

Christy Finney

2016 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Anna Foster

Program

Study Abroad in NZ: University of Canterbury

Job Title

Study Abroad Manager

Anna Foster is a born and bred Kiwi from Christchurch. A graduate of the University of Canterbury (UC), she completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in French at UC before heading off to teach in France for a year. Having enjoyed her undergraduate studies at UC so much, the pull to return was strong and she went on to complete a Ph.D at UC, along with some teaching, before joining UC’s International Office. Anna has managed the University of Canterbury’s Study Abroad program for the past 12 years and loves seeing students get out and enjoy the spectacular South Island!

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Anna: I lived abroad for a year after finishing my undergraduate degree, teaching English in a high school in the southeast of France.

It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time – having never traveled further afield than Australia prior to that, I’d managed to choose a destination about as far away from New Zealand as it was possible to get!

I remember arriving in Paris and wondering what I’d let myself in for, having lost my luggage en route, getting myself totally lost and eventually catching a ride into Paris in a huge truck with a driver who spoke no English but loved the All Blacks (the NZ rugby team) – not exactly the most glamorous arrival in Paris!

I was lucky to have the most fantastic French flatmate, who introduced me to her family, to French slang and to some amazing French food. My time abroad truly changed my life, taught me to embrace new experiences and made me passionate about travel and education abroad. For anyone thinking about studying abroad, I can only say it was a defining experience in my life and I absolutely encourage you to go for it!

What does the future hold for University of Canterbury - any exciting new programs to share?

Anna: UC’s experiential learning program is really popular and it’s exciting to see this continuing to grow! We’re very keen for our students to maximize their Study Abroad semester with opportunities to get beyond the classroom, really engage with the New Zealand community and gain some real world experience for their future career while studying abroad.

So in addition to a huge range of subject areas, students can also choose from for-credit courses such as CHCH 101 (a community engagement and service learning course) and PACE 295 (an internship course offering work experience with a New Zealand business or community organization).

UC also has the most extensive network of field stations in New Zealand, and many of our science courses offer the chance to get out and do field work in the South Island, which is truly one of the most spectacular natural environments in the world. There are plenty of opportunities to get hands on!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Anna: One of our Study Abroad students from the US took our service learning and community engagement course, CHCH 101, as one of her courses while studying at Canterbury. On her return home to the US, her home town was struck by an EF4 tornado. She drew on the skills she had learned in her UC class to organize a campaign to mobilize relief supplies and fund raise for her community.

Her efforts were very successful and as a result she was invited back to Christchurch the following year to speak at a community engagement summit. It was fantastic to see her put into practice the skills she had learned while studying abroad and to hear her talking about what a difference the course had made to her life, and how it had empowered her to be proactive in her response.

What does your home-country's culture value that is taught in your program?

Anna: New Zealand has a culture like no other in the world, encompassing the rich indigenous Maori culture, and the many heritages of the peoples who’ve followed them . UC reflects the uniqueness and diversity of New Zealand culture with a huge range of courses with unique New Zealand content, from courses in New Zealand literature, history, politics, art and culture through to the study of Maori culture and language.

Courses in areas such as biology, geology and environmental sciences also study New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna, geology, biodiversity and marine life. There’s something with a New Zealand flavor to suit most interests, and it’s great if students can include some of these courses in their semester abroad, to really get a taste of the unique Kiwi experience!