University of Canterbury, New Zealand
EducationWorld March 2019 | Australia Institution Profile
Registered as Canterbury College in 1863, University of Canterbury, New Zealand admitted women students in its very first batch and produced the first woman graduate of the British empire. In 1961 University of Canterbury, New Zealand was granted autonomous university status The University of Canterbury (UC, estb.1873), New Zealand’s second-oldest institution of higher education, is consistently ranked among the Top 1 percent of universities worldwide with an excellent reputation for faculty research. Sited on an expansive 170-acre campus in Christchurch, UC is ranked #231 in the latest QS World University Rankings 2019 and awarded 5-Star QS certification for research and teaching excellence. The Times Higher Education WUR (World University Rankings) 2019 ranks UC in the #300-350 band. Currently, University of Canterbury’s five colleges — arts, business, education, law, science and engineering — offer 70 study programmes to 14,000 students from over 100 countries mentored by 715 full-time faculty and visiting faculty from top-ranked universities including Oxford and Cambridge. A research-intensive institution, University of Canterbury, boasts the most extensive network of research field stations in New Zealand (pop. 4.7 million) including a premier astronomical research facility on Mount John, Tekapo and research establishments in Antarctica and Nigeria. Registered as the Canterbury College in 1863 by several Oxford and Cambridge graduates, University of Canterbury, New Zealand admitted women students in its very first batch and produced the first woman honours graduate of the British empire. In 1961, Canterbury College was granted autonomous university status and transformed into the University of Canterbury. Famous University of Canterbury, New Zealand alumni include prominent NZ politician Sir Apirana Ngata; legendary physicist Ernest Rutherford; children’s author Margaret Mahy; Creig Nevill Manning, engineering director of Google, and internationally respected economist David Teece. Christchurch. Christchurch (pop. 350,000) is the second-largest city of this island nation and is currently undergoing a major makeover to transform into the world’s most modern and sustainable city. Hosting the country’s largest ICT industry cluster, this ‘digital city’ is a hub of innovation, research and technology, and boasts the lowest unemployment in Australasia. Major industries include engineering, biotechnology, avionics, electronics, software engineering, agriculture, education, forestry, nutraceuticals, Antarctic research and tourism. This coastal city offers a wide range of recreational options with surfing-friendly beaches 15-minutes drive from the city centre and alpine skifields within two hours drive. Other attractions include the historic French town of Akaroa, thermal hot springs of Hanmer, snowboarding slopes of the Southern Alps and whale watching waters of Kaikoura. Christchurch is also popular among students for its variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, concerts, sports and cultural events. The city experiences temperate, dry summers with temperatures averaging 22°C in summer. But in winter, temperature often falls to sub-zero. Campus facilities. UC’s 170-acre main campus, overlooking the River Avon, is currently under renovation expected to be completed by year end. Over the past decade, the university management has invested $163 million (Rs.800 crore) in building new state-of-the-art science and engineering labs with over 1.9 million units of research equipment, teaching spaces, 24/7 computer suites,…