Cost of living
In addition to paying your fees, you will need to ensure that you have enough money to cover your accommodation and living costs.
Estimated costs
Living costs depend on where and how you choose to live. Your costs will depend on factors like your course selection, personal circumstances and lifestyle.
The costs below should be treated as estimates to help you identify things you need to budget for.
Halls of Residence
| Weekly costs | $437 |
| Hall of residence accommodation Costs vary from hall to hall between $155 to $306 (self-catered) to between $370 to $553 (fully-catered). The example provided is for a Kowhai 6-bedroom self-catered apartment at Ilam Apartments and includes power and laundry facilities on a 48 week contract. |
$240 |
| Internet Unlimited Wifi access for UC students. |
$0 |
| Mobile phone Cost will vary on use and if you are using pre-paid or a plan. |
$5 |
| Food Will vary depending on whether you are living in a fully-catered or self-catered hall. If you are in a self-catered hall you can choose to add dinners only for $91.50 per week or three meals a day for $161.20 per week. |
$162 |
| Contents and Liability Insurance Check out packages offered by insurance companies. |
$10 |
| Other Incidentals such as emergencies, entertainment - costs will depend on what you choose to do. |
$20 |
Halls of Residence
| Additional annual or one-off costs | |
| Administration fee (part of your deposit) This fee is non-refundable and varies between $300 to $500. The example is for the Ilam Apartments. |
$300 |
| Resident/student association fee (part of your deposit) This fee is used to help fund student activities and varies between $200 to $400. The example is for the Ilam Apartments. |
$200 |
| Contingency fee (refundable minus damage or unpaid rent) (part of your deposit) This is a payment made at the start of the year in case of possible loss/damage of accommodation buildings or property and varies between $250 to $500. The example is for the Ilam Apartments. |
$300 |
| Books and stationery Depending on your programme of study this can vary between $500 to $1,000 per year. Check with your lecturer before purchasing should resources be available online or from the UC Library. |
$750 |
| Parking If you have a car and want to park it at the hall you need to pay an annual fee that varies from hall to hall from $120 to $300. The example is for the Ilam Apartments. |
$300 |
| Bed linen pack (for halls that do not provide linen) Optional pack includes 2 bed sheets, 2 pillows, 2 pillow cases, 1 duvet inner, 1 duvet cover, 1 fleece blanket, 1 towel (some halls provide linen). |
$144 |
| Clothing Depending on your budget, clothing can cost between $600 - $900 per year. |
$750 |
Flatting
| Weekly costs | $348 |
| Shared rental accommodation Costs vary depending on the area you live in and the number of people in the flat. This figure is based on an average 4 bedroom house in Ilam shared by 4 people. The median rent in Ilam 1 August 2021 - 31 January 2022 was $600. This does not factor in if the property is furnished or not or the condition of the property - www.tenancy.govt.nz |
$150 |
| Power Will vary depending on your consumption and number of flatmates between $20 to $40. |
$30 |
| Internet Depending on your plan and number of flatmates costs vary from $6 to $10 per week. |
$8 |
| Mobile phone Cost will vary on use and if you are using pre-paid or a plan. |
$5 |
| Food Will vary depending on your diet and how often you eat out. |
$100 |
| Transport This will vary depending on your chosen mode of transport. |
$25 |
| Contents and Liability Insurance Check out packages offered by insurance companies. |
$10 |
| Other Incidentals such as emergencies, entertainment - costs will depend on what you choose to do. |
$20 |
Flatting
| Additional annual or one-off costs | |
| Bond (refundable minus damage or unpaid rent) This is a deposit for your tenancy paid to your landlord before you move in, usually 1 to 4 weeks' rent. |
$600 |
| Rent in advance Most landlords will require you to pay your rent in advance of 1-2 weeks. |
$300 |
| Furnishings Depending on what you need and if you buy new or second hand, costs can vary between $500 to $1,000. |
$750 |
| Books and stationery Depending on your programme of study this can vary between $500 to $1,000 per year. Check with your lecturer before purchasing should resources be available online or from the UC Library. |
$750 |
|
Parking |
$475 |
| Clothing Depending on your budget, clothing can cost between $600 - $900 per year. |
$750 |
Homestay
| Weekly costs | $390 |
| Homestay accommodation Usually includes power, internet and three meals a day (minimum stay is 8 weeks - $2,240 NZD). |
$280 |
| Mobile phone Cost will vary on use and if you are using pre-paid or a plan. |
$5 |
| Food Will vary depending on your diet and how often you eat out. |
$50 |
| Transport This will vary depending on your chosen mode of transport. |
$25 |
| Contents and Liability Insurance Check out packages offered by insurance companies. |
$10 |
| Other Incidentals such as emergencies, entertainment - costs will depend on what you choose to do. |
$20 |
Homestay
| Additional annual or one-off costs | |
| One-off placement fee This covers vetting and selection of the host family as well as other co-ordination costs. |
$350 |
| Books and stationery Depending on your programme of study this can vary between $500 to $1,000 per year. |
$750 |
| Parking If you have a car and want to park on campus you need to pay parking fees - either hourly, daily or annually. Refer to - Apply for permit | Student Parking | University of Canterbury |
$475 |
| Clothing Depending on your budget, clothing can cost between $600 - $900 per year. |
$750 |
More information
Refer to Accommodation Services for further information on halls of residence, renting or homestay accommodation.
There are a number of websites that can be used to calculate your individual costs in detail:
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