Study Abroad is for students who wish to study at UC for one or more semesters as part of an overseas degree.
Studying at UC allows you to study at an internationally recognised institution in a city that is the gateway to the beautiful South Island in New Zealand. Our lakes, mountains, native forest, open spaces and clean air provide a magical backdrop and an outdoor adventure playground for your Study Abroad experience.
People come from all over the world to experience the South Island of New Zealand, which is known for some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery and dramatic natural beauty, including the Southern Alps mountain range.
Studying in Christchurch puts you right in the very centre of the South Island. As the South Island’s largest city, major hub and central gateway, no other location offers such unparalleled access to all that the South Island has to offer.
Check out this video for a glimpse of UC and the South Island.
Keen to go beyond the classroom as part of your Study Abroad semester? As a UC Student, you’ll have a unique opportunity to undertake an internship or other hands-on study. Find out more…
International students may apply to enrol as a Study Abroad student for one or more semesters. Study Abroad students are required to pay a set tuition fee at UC.
You’re usually able to apply as a Study Abroad student at UC if:
If you are a postgraduate student, you will need to provide evidence of your completed undergraduate degree. Please see postgraduate students for more information.
If English is not your first language, you must also meet UC’s English language requirements.
For students coming from Germany for a one or two semester Study Abroad programme, we will also accept a DAAD English test score which meets UC requirements.
Email us if you’re unsure that you meet the requirements set out above, or for any further details.
Browse courses to explore your study options at UC.
You'll also need to check that the courses you propose to take are acceptable for credit at your home university.
Some UC courses run for the first semester only, some for the second semester, and others which are full year courses. You will need to check when applying that the courses you want to take are available for the semester you want to be here.
A standard workload is 60 points per semester and individual courses are worth either 15 or 30 points.
Study Abroad students can select courses from across UC’s wide study options and are accepted provided the entry requirements for each course are met.
There are some courses which may not be available to Study Abroad students. These include Fine Arts/Studio Art courses (Graphic Design, Film, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture), FORE218, ENME201, ENCN281, PSYC376, PSYC377, 200 level LAWS courses, distance courses, clinical practice courses and some teacher education courses.
Physical Education and Sport Coaching courses may require police checks. Please contact us to check if the Physical Education and Sport Coaching courses you wish to take require police checks.
Please note students who have been accepted into CMDS281 are required to provide a police report.
If you need to know in advance whether you are able to take a particular course, please include a course list in your Study Abroad application.
If you are a postgraduate student you must provide a complete list of courses you want to study.
Students wishing to study Engineering courses should provide a list of intended courses with their application.
As a Study Abroad student, you are required to pay tuition fees to the University of Canterbury.
There are also additional costs to factor into your budget per semester.
Most Study Abroad students stay at Ilam Apartments on campus, which offers an accommodation package for Study Abroad students.
Find out more about our accommodation package for study abroad students.
As a Study Abroad student, you must apply for and receive a student visa prior to arriving in New Zealand, even if your country of citizenship has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand.
Find out more about visas.
As a Study Abroad student it is compulsory to have medical and travel insurance, and your insurance must be valid for the duration of your stay. Please check the insurance requirements.
Applications for admission after these dates will be processed, but please make sure that you allow time for all the necessary travel preparations, including applying for and receiving a student visa before you travel.
There is a separate online application for accommodation.
You must apply for accommodation (housing) by the following deadlines:
The academic year in New Zealand is usually the reverse of the northern hemisphere year. The US or European first semester will normally be the dates of Semester Two at Canterbury, and the US or European second semester will be the dates of Semester One at UC. Our long summer recess runs November to February.
It is also an option to apply through one of the organisations below. UC has been working with the partners listed below for many years and welcomes all students that apply through their programmes.
Whether you apply directly or through one of the following partners, you will still be considered for UC's International Mobility Inbound Study Award.
The College of Global Studies, Arcadia University
Email
Phone toll-free 1 866 927 2234 or (215) 572 2900
Email
Phone within the US 949 680 7850
Phone within New Zealand +64 21 463 146
Email
Phone (312) 944 1750
Phone Toll Free 800 995 2300
Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA)
Email
U.S. Toll Free Telephone 800-858-0229
Local/International Telephone 317-940-9336
Address
6201 Corporate Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46278
United States of America
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN)
Email
Phone toll free (800) 585 9658
Phone outside of the US (312) 239 3710
Email
Phone +49-251-14989350
Fax +49-251-14989360
Postal address
Hammer Str. 39
48153 Muenster
Germany
Stuttgart Office
Email
Phone +49 711 284 8886
Postal address
Jaegerstrase 53
70174 Stuttgart
Germany
Berlin office
Email
Phone +49 30 2787 6970
Postal address
Gormannstrasse 14
10119 Berlin
Germany
Hamburg Office
Email
Phone +49 40 7679 9964
Postal address
Alstertor 1
20095 Hamburg
Germany
Dortmund Office
Email
Phone +49 231 586 2482
Postal address
Sudermannstrasse 41
44137 Dortmund
Germany
Cologne Office
Email
Phone +49 221 975 868 70
Postal address
Office Centre Barbarossaplatz
Salierring 48
50677 Cologne
Email
Phone +49 30 2045 8687
Fax +49 30 2045 8688
Postal address
Marienstraße 19/20
10117 Berlin
Germany
Berlin office
Email
Phone +49 30 2096 29593
Fax +49 30 2096 29591
Postal address
Internationales Handelszentrum
Friedrichstrasse 95
10117 Berlin
Germany
Essen office
Email
Phone +49 201 8943567
Fax +49 201 267553
Postal address
Schnutenhausstrasse 44
45136 Essen
Germany
In 2025, UC is offering a number of UC International Mobility Inbound Study Abroad awards of NZD$2000 to students who are enrolled in a degree programme at a recognised institution outside of New Zealand, and who will study at the University of Canterbury for one or two semesters under UC Study Abroad programme.
