Step 1. Apply Here  

Which halls can I apply to?  Our handy Which Hall Flow Chart can help guide you to appropriate options depending on your age and level of study.

Please note:  New applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of NZ$100 (including GST).  Manaaki NZ Scholarship students are exempt.  Couples and families will be charged the application fee on receipt of an offer. 

The online application will take about 30-40 minutes to complete. The first part is a registration, in which you will select a username and password.  This will enable you to exit and come back to your application if you need to.  Please note that once you click "Save & Continue" at the end of a page, you are able to go back and edit that page but once you have accepted the "Declaration and Consent" page at the end of your application, any changes will need to be emailed to Accommodation Services/Te Ratonga Nohonga.

Step 2. Provide a reference

You can arrange a reference in support of your application at any time.  See below or view our Step 2 Flow Chart.

Under 18 international students

Under 18 international students must stay in a fully-catered hall of residence to comply with the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. Homestay or with a designated caregiver is preferred.  Students studying through the UC International College (UCIC) must apply for homestay.

First preference - Arcady Hall, College House, Kirkwood Avenue Hall, Rochester and Rutherford Hall, Tupuānuku, or University Hall (first year halls)

These halls are typically for school leavers (17-19 years of age). 

• A Common Confidential Reference Form (CCRF) is required for 2022 or 2023 NZ school leavers.  Start this process by completing your part at NZCCRF Student Registration for Accommodation References form. If you are unable to provide a CCRF, contact Accommodation Services/Te Ratonga Nohonga.
• For students currently not living in New Zealand, a written school reference is acceptable and should be emailed directly to Accommodation Services/Te Ratonga Nohonga.

First preference - Hayashi, Ilam Student Accommodation, or Sonoda Christchurch Campus

Study Abroad Programme, Reciprocal Exchange, and NZ Scholarship students are not required to provide a reference.

All students under 20

• A Common Confidential Reference Form (CCRF) is required for 2022 or 2023 NZ school leavers.  Start this process by completing your part at NZCCRF Student Registration for Accommodation References form. If you are unable to provide a CCRF, contact Accommodation Services/Te Ratonga Nohonga. 
• For students currently not living in New Zealand, a written school reference or character reference is acceptable.  An appropriate referee would be an agent, employer, landlord, lecturer/tutor or minister - someone who knows you well but is not a friend or family member.  

All students 20 and over

• A reference is not required.  Email Accommodation Services/Te Ratonga Nohonga to let us know when you have completed your online application. 

Next steps

Submitting an application does not guarantee you a place in a hall of residence. All halls run a selection process. Halls aim to select students from various backgrounds and abilities to establish a well-rounded student community within the hall.  As in past years, halls will be prioritising applications using a wide range of criteria as well as taking the following into consideration:

• students of younger age
• students studying degrees only offered at UC
• UC scholarship recipients
• home address (to achieve a balance between residents from outside Christchurch and local students)
• any specific personal circumstances.

The selection process will run between 27 September and 9 October.  During this time applications will move between preferences but only one offer will be made.  Students who are not able to be offered a room will have the opportunity to be placed on a general waitlist for all halls, or consider an alternative hall with availability. 

PLEASE NOTE:  READ YOUR OFFER AND CONTRACT CAREFULLY.  Your contract is a legally binding document, make sure you read and understand it before signing.

Accept your offer

Once you have an offer you want to accept you need to confirm your place. You must:

• Complete and return your contract.  If you require a car park, or have room allocation requirements, make this known to the hall on accepting your offer.
• Pay the required deposit as specified in the offer (this amount varies from hall to hall).

If you do not return your contract by the due date, your contract will expire and your place will be offered to another student.

If you are paying for accommodation through a scholarship, please contact your hall to discuss payment options.