Our International Rankings
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha is a prestigious destination that is ranked in the world's top 300 Universities (QS World University Rankings, 2021).
Partner Universities
The University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha has over 60 international partner universities. more »
Employer Connections
UC Careers connects University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha students with over 3,000 employers. more »
Visiting Academics
Over 75 international senior academics visit UC each year to lecture through the Erskine Programme. more »
Research Centres
The University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha is home to over 35 research centres, institutes and hubs. more »
Field Stations
UC has access to an extensive network of field stations, from Antarctica to Nigeria. more »
Research Focus
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha is ranked 3rd in New Zealand for the research intensity of its academic staff. more »
QS World University Rankings
The international ranking agency QS ranked the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha 270= in the 2021 World University Rankings.
The University of Canterbury has the following subjects ranked in the world’s top 250 (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020):
| Subject | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Top 150 in the world for Accounting and Finance |
| Applied Immersive Game Design | 240th in the world for Engineering and Technology, and top 250 in the world for Business and Management Studies |
| Astronomy | Top 250 in the world for Physics and Astronomy |
| Biological Sciences | 223rd in the world for Natural Sciences |
| Bioprocess Engineering | Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering |
| Chemical Formulation Design | 240th in the world for Engineering and Technology, and top 250 in the world for Business and Management Studies |
| Chemical and Process Engineering | Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering |
| Civil Engineering | 9th in the world for Civil Engineering (ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2020) |
| Economics | Top 250 in the world for Economics and Econometrics |
| Education | Top 200 in the world for Education and Training |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Top 250 in the world for Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| Energy Processing Technologies | Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering |
| Engineering | 240th in the world for Engineering and Technology |
| English | Top 250 in the world for English Language and Literature |
| English Language | Top 250 in the world for English Language and Literature |
| Environmental Process Engineering | Top 250 in the world for Chemical Engineering |
| Environmental Science | Top 200 in the world for Environmental Sciences |
| Finance | Top 150 in the world for Accounting and Finance |
| Geography | Top 150 in the world for Geography |
| Geology | Top 150 in the world for Earth and Marine Sciences |
| Human Resource Management | 220th in the world for Social Sciences and Management |
| Industrial Product Design | 240th in the world for Engineering and Technology, and top 250 in the world for Business and Management Studies |
| Law | Top 150 in the world for Law and Legal Studies |
| Linguistics | Top 100 in the world for Linguistics |
| Management | Top 250 in the world for Business and Management Studies |
| Philosophy | Top 200 in the world for Philosophy |
| Physics | Top 250 in the world for Physics and Astronomy |
| Political Science and International Relations | Top 200 in the world for Politics and International Studies |
| Power Engineering | Top 250 universities in the world for Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| Product Design | 240th in the world for Engineering and Technology, and top 250 in the world for Business and Management Studies |
| Psychology | Top 250 in the world for Psychology |
| Sociology | Top 200 in the world for Sociology |
| Structural Engineering | 9th in the world for Civil Engineering (ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2020) |
| Taxation and Accounting | Top 150 in the world for Accounting and Finance |
| Teacher Education | Top 200 in the world for Education and Training |
| Water and Environmental Systems Engineering | Top 100 in the world for Civil and Structural Engineering |
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.
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:
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking
Times Higher Education (THE) ranked the University of Canterbury in the Top 301-350 universities in the world, in 2019.
- UC Ranked in the Top 125 universities in the world for Health Sciences.
- UC Ranked in the Top 175 universities in the world for Business & Economics.
- UC Ranked in the Top 200 universities in the world for Psychology.
- UC Ranked in the Top 250 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities.
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 with Honours / Master of Social Work / Master of Social Work (Applied) | Social Workers Registration Board |
| Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology (Honours) | New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association |
| PGDipClinPsyc / PGDipChFamPsyc | NZ College of Clinical Psychologists |
| Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood) | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning Early Childhood | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary) | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Secondary) | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Master of Teaching and Learning | Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology | New Zealand Psychologists Board |
| Master of Counselling | New Zealand Association of Counsellors |
| Master of Audiology | NZ Audiological Society |
| Master of Professional Accounting | Acccredited by CAANZ, CPA Australia, ACCA |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Accredited by Association of MBAs (AMBA) |
| 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 | Te Kura Umanga | Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB –International). This accreditation applies to ALL degree programmes offered by the School. The UC Business School holds ‘Triple Crown’ accreditation through having its degree programmes accredited by AACSB International (Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB –International), EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System), and AMBA accreditation (for the MBA programme). |
The University is also subject to regular review by the Academic Quality Agency of Universities NZ to ensure that appropriate academic standards are maintained.