Halls of residence

General information

Hall tours

Hall tours are available April-September and must be booked in advance - please check dates before booking your travel.  To respect the privacy of residents, you may not be able to view a student room.  Hall tours are available on specific Fridays and during secondary school holidays.  The Accommodation Services team are available to provide information and answer questions before or after your tour. Book a tour.

Alternatively, view 360 panoramas and videos or review options in the 2025 Accommodation Guide. 

Who halls of residence are suitable for

Being part of a supportive hall community is a great way to start your first year of study.  The apartments and townhouses provide a convenient flatting option close to campus for students in their second year of study and beyond.  Halls offer accommodation options for all students at all levels of study.

Location

The UC campus is approximately 10 minutes' drive from Christchurch International Airport.  Options for transport to campus include the Metro Bus, Uber, NZ Look Shuttles, or Taxis and Shuttles. 

The halls of residence are located 2-15 minutes' walk away from campus facilities. 

Meals and catering

Halls of residence offer a range of catering options depending on your age and level of study.  Most dietary requirements are catered for whether they are based on health, religious or ethnic reasons. 

Many first year students will opt for a fully-catered hall, however Kirkwood Avenue Hall is a popular option for first year students who prefer to self-cater.  Ilam Student Accommodation also offers self-catering as well as a 14 week or 19 week meal plan for first year students. 

Students who are studying beyond the first year will be required to self-cater.  Apartments and townhouses are equipped with basic cooking essentials with food outlets a few minutes' walk away.  Alternatively, there are organisations that offer food boxes with recipies to make cooking easy for an individual student or a flat group.

Activities on your doorstep

Living in a hall of residence there is always something to do with events and activities scheduled weekly.  The Ilam Sports Fields are surrounded by halls of residence where a range of sporting activites are undertaken. Throughout the year, there are many other events in the halls like formal dinners, ski trips, quiz nights and balls.

Accommodation scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available to first and second year students in halls of residence.  Check out the following links:

• Arcady Hall Scholarships
  
• College House Scholarships
• Rochester and Rutherford Hall Scholarships

You can also use the following UC scholarships towards accommodation costs:

• Go Waitaha Canterbury Scholarships
• Helen Macmillan Brown Bursaries

For a full list of UC Scholarships, see the Scholarships website.

Applying for a hall of residence

The application process for a hall of residence starts before the enrolment process, so most students will apply for a hall of residence even before being accepted into the university. 

Applications for the Academic Year or Semester 1 (February) open on 1 August in the year prior to study.

Applications for Semester 2 (July) are due 1 May in the year of study. Late applications will be accepted if places are available. 

Find out more about accommodation for international students or apply for a hall now.

Temporary accommodation on campus is offered at Sonoda and can be booked directly with the hall.