Our International Rankings

QS World University Rankings

The international ranking agency QS ranked the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha 284 in the 2023 World University Rankings.

The University of Canterbury has the following subjects ranked in the world’s top 300 (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022): 

5 Star University

In 2011, the University of Canterbury was the first NZ University to receive the 5 Stars rating by QS and has maintained its 5 Stars status since then.

The QS website states “A typical five-star institution is generally world-class in a broad range of areas, enjoys an excellent reputation and has cutting-edge facilities and internationally renowned research and teaching faculty.”

Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF)

The 2018 Tertiary Education Commission Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) results, released in 2019, show UC continues to produce high quality research and has distinguished itself in a wide range of subject areas. The PBRF is conducted every six years in New Zealand.

UC is ranked first in New Zealand for the following subjects:

• Ecology, evolution and behaviour
• Marketing and tourism
• Political science, international relations and public policy
• Public health

UC ranked second in five subject areas:

• Agriculture and other applied biological sciences
• Chemistry
• Engineering and technology
• Foreign languages and linguistics
• Music, literary arts and other arts

UC ranked third in six subject areas:

• Law
• Economics
• Management, human resources, industrial relations and other businesses
• Physics
• Statistics
• Visual arts and crafts

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking

Times Higher Education (THE) ranked the University of Canterbury in the Top 601-800 universities in the world, 2023.

• UC Ranked in the Top 175 universities in the world for Clinical and Health
• UC Ranked in the Top 250 universities in the world for Business & Economics.
• UC Ranked in the Top 250 universities in the world for Social Sciences.

Global Research University Profiles (GRUP)

Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked the University of Canterbury in the Top 401-500 universities in the world for 2021 (results released August 2021).

Accredited qualifications

The University of Canterbury qualifications are accredited by a number of regulatory and professional bodies including:

The University is also subject to regular review by the Academic Quality Agency of Universities NZ to ensure that appropriate academic standards are maintained.