The option of a General Waitlist will be offered if a student's application has been unsuccessful. Please note: this does not mean the student has been declined by their first and second preference, or that they have not submitted a strong application. In some cases halls are not able to consider second preferences as they have already made their selections from first preference applications. It is, therefore, important to choose preferences carefully.
The benefit of a General Waitlist is:
- The application will be offered for consideration to both preferred halls before being given the option of a General Waitlist or an alternative hall with available rooms.
- The application will be accessible to all halls, rather than held by one individual hall.
- Accommodation Services will communicate weekly to waitlisted students advising on availability.
- The General Waitlist is not ranked and any student can be offered a room at any time. However, halls will take into consideration Māori or Pasifika students, equity, scholarship recipients, students of younger age, students studying degrees unique to UC, and any specific circumstances.
It is important to note that any of the halls listed in the student's application are able to offer a room at any time. It is the student's decision to accept or decline the offer. If the offer is declined and the student wishes to remain on the General Waitlist, they must inform Accommodation Services of their decision.
If a hall wishes to offer a room to a student who has not listed them as a preference, Accommodation Services will contact the student to advise if they are happy to be offered a room at that hall.
A student cannot be offered a room and stay on the General Waitlist at the same time.
The University of Canterbury has agreements with Arcady Hall, College House, Rochester and Rutherford Hall, and UniLodge (Campus Houses, Hayashi, Ilam Student Accommodation, Kirkwood Avenue Hall, Sonoda, Tupuānuku, University Hall) as specialist accommodation providers. A residential contract is, therefore, a legal binding document between the individual hall of residence and the student - please read the terms and conditions carefully, particularly in regard to penalties to withdraw from a contract, once signed.
