UC enrolments look set to rise

Friday, 23 February 2024

Canterbury University is expecting another bumper year after recording record enrolments.

The University of Canterbury (UC) is expecting another year of bumper student numbers after attracting record enrolments last year.

With cheaper rent than several cities and a vibrant student life, many students are opting for the Garden City.

Max McLachlan outside the University College Hall where he is living this year while studying at the University of Canterbury.

Max McLachlan moved into Canterbury’s University Hall over a week ago after deciding to study engineering.

Like any university student in their first week, he was tired, but still enjoying himself. He said he had noticed a significant shift of interest over to UC.

“Two years ago, everyone would talk about going to Otago, no-one would talk about going to Christchurch.

Students are increasingly attracted to Christchurch, as the rebuild brings new facilities and vibrancy.

“It’s really interesting, in the last couple of years, it’s changed.”

Professor Catherine Moran, the University of Canterbury’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic has noticed increased attraction in both the university and the city itself.

“Ōtautahi Christchurch has transformed itself into a modern and sustainable city. It is a special place to live, study and play with affordable housing and easy access to beaches and mountains”.

Stella McGuinness, a fourth-year engineering student, thought the university had many selling points.

University of Cantebury student Max McLachlan, centre, with some of his mates outside the University College Hall where he is living this year.

She said people were drawn to the city, the cheaper rent, and the skiing, with Mount Hutt less than two hours away.

“Christchurch, to a lot of people, seems like a nice balance between the partying and the studying. You can work hard and you can have lots of fun.”

Last year, Universities New Zealand announced that enrolments were down overall by 3% at five of New Zealand’s eight universities. The only three with increases were Canterbury, Lincoln, and Waikato.

McGuinness said when she began university in 2021, it felt like most people were only there to study engineering.

Duncan Webb, Christchurch Central MP and a former professor at Canterbury, said the university had great academic programmes, teachers and campus.

“They’ve got a digital area that’s looking at the whole integration of entertainment, movies, gaming, and the whole digital space. That kind of innovation is what we need to be doing and people are really interested in it.”

Many new degrees have been introduced. Students can now study in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Screen production, Aerospace Engineering, and Hōaka Pounamu (Māori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching and Learning).

Leeann Watson, chief executive of Business Canterbury, said there was also a thriving jobs environment for students.

“There are huge opportunities for employment in Canterbury right now – which people are already responding to across all sectors.”

According to the university, one in two students found work in Canterbury after they graduated.

Watson said the population was growing across the city, whether that be students, entrepreneurs, or first-time home buyers.

“Christchurch has the strongest net migration of any main centre in New Zealand … we’re seeing that both from international migration but also domestic migration.”

She said Canterbury’s economy was also growing strongly.