The University of Canterbury Accommodation Office provides assistance with and advice on accommodation options for prospective and current students, the application process for the halls of residence, the costs associated with living away from home, flatting, landlord and tenancy issues, and airport pickups for international students.

Accommodation Options

Hall of Residence Options and Contact Details

The University of Canterbury has six halls of residence that offer a supportive environment just a few minutes' walk away from campus facilities. In 2012 all halls will offer fully-catered meal options. Suitable for individual students (not students with families*), all halls offer fully-furnished single rooms, computer facilities with University network and internet access, social and recreation facilities, academic support, and study rooms. All halls accommodate male and female students on mixed floors and are single occupancy rooms.

Homestay/Private Board

Luciana Giacaglia

Living in a homestay means you live with a New Zealand family in their home and are treated as one of the family. Homestays are available throughout Christchurch in a variety of homes, offering a wide range of living situations, from families with children to single people living by themselves. This type of accommodation is suitable for individual students and sometimes couples, not students with families. International students under the age of 18 years are recommended to apply for homestay accommodation through Student Links. The university uses two homestay agencies to arrange this type of accommodation for students.

Private Renting

Harriett Hlavac

Some students choose to live off-campus in privately rented houses or 'flats' in the surrounding suburbs to UC or other areas of Christchurch. A 'flat' may have one bedroom, or may be a house with as many as five or six bedrooms. In a larger flat you will have your own bedroom and share the living, kitchen, bathroom, laundry and outside areas with other flatmates. Larger appliances such as the TV, washing machine, dryer, fridge/freezer etc will also be shared. When you rent a property or a room in a property that you share with other students (as a 'flatmate') you will be responsible for providing your own furniture, paying your rent and your share of the monthly bills (for example electricity, gas, phone, internet), cooking your own meals and doing your own laundry.

Temporary Accommodation Options

Private accommodation providers in Christchurch can include:

Privately run hostels for international and New Zealand students
Christian associations such as the YMCA and YWCA
Backpackers
Motels
Bed and Breakfast accommodation

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 29 January 2012

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