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Among the 1% of business schools worldwide that hold ‘triple-crown’ accreditation.
Student Support
We take pride in our personalised support tailored specifically for international students.
Life in Christchurch
Ranked the most affordable English-speaking city on the QS Best Student Cities 2024 list.
Your future career
UC is ranked in the top 100 for employment outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2024.
If you don’t hold a bachelor’s degree, the Diploma in Advancing University Studies is a pre-master’s university qualification which provides a direct pathway into the Master of Business, Master of Business Information Systems, and Master of Professional Accounting.
Structure
The Diploma in Advancing University Studies is a 120-point programme, which includes 90-points at 300-level, including 60 points in one subject area.
Intakes and duration
February (9-month duration from February to November)
July (11-month duration from July to June)
Entry requirements
To enrol in the Diploma in Advancing University Studies, you will need to:
have previously completed a university-level certificate or diploma programme (or equivalent) of at least 2 years full-time study.
achieve an average IELTS score of 6.0, with no individual score below 5.5, or otherwise meet UC’s undergraduate English language requirements.
What is an eligible certificate or diploma in China?
Certificate or diploma involving 3 years full-time study at a Chinese college (三年全日制大专)
Certificate or diploma involving 4-5 years full-time study at a Chinese junior college (4-5年全日制职高)
To determine whether your prior studies are at junior college level (职高) or college level (大专), you will need to submit your high school completion certificate as a supporting document.
Requirements to enter your chosen master’s programme
To enter UC’s Business Taught Masters programmes, you must follow the study plan approved for you and complete the Diploma in Advancing University Studies with a B average in your 300-level courses.
Tuition fees
International fee: $32,400 (2025)
If you narrowly miss the academic entry requirement (for example, you have the equivalent of a C+ or B- average in the final two years of your qualifying degree rather than a B average), the Postgraduate Certificate in Business provides a potential pathway into the Master of Business, Master of Business Information Systems, and Master of Professional Accounting.
If you are accepted into this pathway:
you can transition to your chosen master’s degree after one successful semester of study – there is no GPA requirement to do so, you just need to have passed 60 points of eligible courses.
the courses you do are credited to your master’s programme, meaning the total time required to complete your studies doesn’t need to be any longer than if you had entered it directly.
you will still meet the 30-week requirement of study towards a qualification in New Zealand to be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa.
you can apply for a pathway visa to cover the entirety of your studies.
If this pathway applies to you, all you need to do is submit an application for your chosen master’s programme and you will automatically be considered for this pathway. To find out more or discuss a specific case, please feel free to email postgradbusiness@canterbury.ac.nz.
If you don’t meet the postgraduate English language requirement, the CCEL EAP 2 programme provides an alternative pathway to postgraduate study.
Students who achieve a minimum grade of B+ in this 12-week qualification are deemed to meet the postgraduate entry requirement.
It can also be done online from your home country.
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