University ranking
The University of Canterbury was the first NZ university to receive 5 Stars rating in 2011 by the international ranking agency 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.”
QS also ranked the University of Canterbury 231= in the 2018/2019 World University Rankings.
The University of Canterbury has 15 subjects ranked in the world’s top 200 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018). UCs subject areas are ranked as follows:
| Subject | Ranking |
| Accounting and Finance | 101-150 |
| Business and Management | 151-200 |
| Computer Science and Information Systems | 151-200 |
| Earth and Marine Sciences | 101-150 |
| Economics and Econometrics | 151-200 |
| Education | 101-150 |
| Electrical Engineering | 151-200 |
| Engineering - Civil and Structural | 51-100 |
| Engineering and Technology | 200 |
| English Language and Literature | 101-150 |
| Environmental Sciences | 151-200 |
| Geography | 51-100 |
| Law | 101-150 |
| Linguistics | 101-150 |
| Psychology | 151-200 |
| Sociology | 151-200 |
Accredited qualifications
The University of Canterbury qualifications are accredited by a number of regulatory and professional bodies including:
| Degree | Accrediting body |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Commerce | The BCom Accounting Major is accredited by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountants), and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). |
| Bachelor of Engineering with Honours | Engineering New Zealand |
| Bachelor of Laws | NZ Law Society |
| Bachelor of Social Work / Masters of Social | Work Social Workers Registration Board |
| Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology (Honours) | New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association |
| PG DipClinPsych / PGDipFamPsych | NZ College of Clinical Psychologists |
| Bachelor of Teaching and Learning | Teach NZ, Ministry of Education |
| Bachelor of Education | Teach NZ, Ministry of Education |
| Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning | Teach NZ, Ministry of Education |
| Master of Audiology | NZ Audiological Society |
| Master of Professional Accounting | Acccredited by CAANZ, CPA Australia, ACCA |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Association of MBAs |
| Master of Science in Medical Physics | The Australasian College of Physical Scientists & Engineers in Medicine |
| Master of Speech and Language Pathology | New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association |
| UC Business School | Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB –International). This accreditation applies to ALL degree programmes offered by the School |
The University is also subject to regular review by the Academic Quality Agency of Universities NZ to enure that appropriate academic standards are maintained.