UC’s Student Support teams provide free and confidential pastoral care for all UC students, including domestic, international, local and distance students studying at the Faculty of Education.
UC's Student Support team can help with a range of challenges and queries, including:
- Strategies for academic and social success
- Adjustment to university and/or New Zealand life
- Personal issues affecting study
- Communication and comprehension skills
- Basic time management and study skills
- Motivation and direction
- Social and cultural concerns
- Course enrolment and withdrawal enquiries
- Extension and Special Consideration queries
- Financial and hardship concerns
- International student visas and insurance
- Participation in the UC Mentoring Programme
- Referral to other services
- Students with temporary or permanent disabilities that affect their ability to study can register with the Disability Resource Service at any stage of the academic year. This applies whether studying at the Christchurch campus, at regional campuses/centres (Nelson and Rotorua) or by distance within New Zealand.
- Students provide a detailed report of their disability/medical condition and its possible impacts from an appropriate professional, so a support plan can be developed with the student.
- Students must be registered with the Equity and Disability Service and have a current learning support plan in order to use the services provided.
UC Māori offers support, advice and guidance for all ākonga Māori studying at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC). Lead by the whānau at Te Waka Pākākāno | Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori, Pacific and Equity their initiatives focus on supporting ākonga Māori to succeed academically, while encouraging personal growth and connection to Māori community and culture.
- Kaiurungi | Māori student advisors are available throughout the year to support ākonga Māori and help them resolve any problems affecting their studies.
UC features one of the most innovative support systems for Pacific Students. There is a team of people available to help students develop through their study, from undergraduate to post-graduate.
The Pacific Development Team provides specialist support for Pacific Education Students. They provide pastoral care of distance and regional Pacific students studying Teacher Education including:
- Advice and advocacy
- Enrolment enquiries
- Resources and facilities for Pacific Education students
- Information on UC Pacific events, programmes and services
- Personal issues affecting study and all other related concerns
- Mentoring for Pacific Education students
- Information on the PASS programme
- Extension requests
- Hardship concerns
- Special Consideration applications
- Cultural support groups
- The Academic Skills Centre offers one-to-one consultations for distance students by phone and Zoom. Appointments can be made by contacting the ASC, by email academicskills@canterbury.ac.nz or by phone, call us on Toll Free 0800 827 748, and ask for the Academic Skills Centre.
- If you need assistance with an assignment or essay, you can book an appointment and email your work, questions and concerns to an assigned learning advisor (at least two days before the appointment). The advisor will read the assignment and phone you to work through any issues with the assignment. You are welcome to make an appointment as often as every two weeks for up to eight appointments per year.
Contacting other distance students for support
- You can talk to other students in your courses through the Forums on Learn. Some distance students establish study groups with other students in their area.
- On-site Intensives are an excellent place to meet other students and to form email groups after meeting in class.
