Canterbury

Whether you’re looking for a school with an academic, traditional, sporting or creative focus, you’ll find the right place for you in Canterbury.

The Canterbury region has about 160 primary, intermediate and secondary schools, each with its own unique history and personality developed by the school community. Many schools host short-stay study tours as well as long-term individual students.

Christchurch schools are known for their academic expertise and traditions of excellence, with strong programmes in the arts, sports, culture and languages. 

Specialised sport programmes include an international rugby academy.

Mid and South Canterbury offer safe and close-knit communities. Schools that welcome international students include: Mount Hutt College, where students can take part in a snow programme every week during the snowsports season; Timaru Boys’ High School, where students can gain their pilot’s licence; and Ashburton Borough School, where students enjoy beautiful grounds with an orchard and vegetable gardens.

Students from other countries are welcomed for the diversity they bring to Christchurch, with almost half of the city’s secondary schools accepting international students.

Study in a Christchurch secondary school, gain the right entry requirements and you’ll be guaranteed a place in a degree programme at a Christchurch tertiary institution.

All international students who obtain university entry requirements from NCEA levels 2 and 3 are guaranteed a place at the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University or Ara Institute of Canterbury. They’re also guaranteed an offer of student accommodation, and the use of libraries on all three campuses.

Schools in Canterbury are popular with international students because of their academic results, high-quality homestays, strong support systems and unbeatable lifestyles.

The great Canterbury outdoors are accessible all year round. There are surf beaches along the Canterbury coast, and the Southern Alps - famous for snowsports - are only a hour’s drive from main centres.

With snowy mountains, glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, braided rivers and rolling hills to explore, international students will never forget their time in this region of natural wonders.

Christchurch is a gateway to the breathtaking scenery - as seen in the Lord of the Rings films - and the unforgettable experiences and attractions of the South Island.

Study in Christchurch and you’ll be within an hour of snowsports, mountain bike parks, surf breaks, swimming beaches, rivers and walking tracks.

Within easy reach of the city, you can stroll or mountain bike through a forest or wetlands, or head up to the Port Hills for fantastic views of the Southern Alps.

Canterbury has more ski areas than anywhere else in the southern hemisphere, and is home to the most accessible rock climbing in New Zealand. Study in Canterbury and you’ll be less than three hours away from seeing whales off Kaikoura.

Canterbury is a centre of opportunity for students and graduates as Christchurch transforms itself into one of the world’s most modern and sustainable cities. Graduates have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of the rebuild.

Skilled graduates are especially needed in areas including manufacturing and software development, construction engineering, biotechnology, avionics, forestry, agriculture and tourism.

The region is also a great place for students interested in community service. The Student Volunteer Army has given thousands of students the chance to develop their disaster response skills through volunteering.

Ara Institute of Canterbury, the South Island’s largest technical and vocational training institution, has created a new workplace development unit to meet the need for skilled staff for the Canterbury rebuild.

Skills for Canterbury (SFC) will develop student work placements and other ways of connecting students with local businesses that need staff, particularly in architectural studies, business, engineering, health and safety, and trades.

Earthquake research is being carried out in almost every University of Canterbury department, from engineering to social and political sciences. The university is running 200 earthquake research projects, many of which are directly contributing to Canterbury’s recovery.