Accommodation for international students

Halls of residence 

Ease your transition to New Zealand life by living in the Halls of residence.  UC has agreements with specialist accommodation providers to manage all aspects of your accommodation experience.  Your contract is directly with your hall of residence. 

There are a range of accommodation options for first year through to PhD students:

• Arcady Hall (first year, fully-catered) 
• College House (first year, fully-catered)
• Kirkwood Avenue Hall (first year, self-catered)
• Rochester and Rutherford Hall (first year, fully-catered)
• Tupuānuku (first year, fully-catered)
• University Hall (first year, fully-catered)

• Ilam Student Accommodation (all students, self-catered or optional meal plan)

• Hayashi (second year+, self-catered)
• Sonoda Christchurch Campus (second year+, self-catered)

360 panoramas and videos are available to view.

Key dates

There are key dates to be aware of if you are interested in living on campus.  Applications open on 1 August for accommodation starting in February the following year.  The key dates for 2024 are outlined on our Halls of residence webpage.

Costs

Halls of residence range in costs depending on whether you are self-catered or fully-catered.  

A first year student is a school leaver generally 17-19 years of age. First year students 20+ are recommended to apply for Ilam Student Accommodation.  For contracts dates and rates, please refer to the comparison charts below:

• First Year Halls of Residence Comparison Chart
• Beyond First Year Comparison Chart
• Couples and Families Comparison Chart

Refer to UC IT Services for assistance with internet access.

Accommodation for study abroad or exchange students

If you are on an official Study Abroad or Exchange programme, an offer of place is guaranteed at Ilam Student Accommodation providing your application is received by the due dates.  This is the easiest option as you can arrange your accommodation before you arrive and flat with Kiwi students on campus. Due to demand for 2023 accommodation, students may be offered Sonoda Christchurch Campus.

Accommodation for UC International College (UCIC) students

Ilam Student Accommodation offers independent apartment-style living with the bonus of living on-campus in a supportive community and are ideal for individual students over 18 years of age. You will have your own fully-furnished room and share a kitchen, bathroom, living and laundry facilities.  The apartments are home to students of all ages, at all levels of study, and from all over the world.  Accommodation is offered in a Hīnau 3-5 bedroom apartment. Further information is available on our UCIC webpage.  Due to demand for 2023 accommodation, students may be offered an alternative apartment type at Ilam Student Accommodation, or Sonoda Christchurch Campus. 

Accommodation for postgraduate students

For postgraduate students arriving outside standard semester dates (January-June or July-December), UC offers a Postgraduate Flexi Start that will enable the hall to adjust the start date of your contract to align with your arrival date.  Further information is available on our Postgraduate Students webpage.  Due to demand for 2023 accommodation, rooms are dependent on availability.

Arriving in Christchurch

The UC campus is approximately 10 minutes' drive from Christchurch International Airport.  Options for transport to campus include the Purple Line Bus, Uber, NZ Look Shuttles, or Taxis and Shuttles. A taxi stand is located outside the International Terminal.

The halls of residence are located 2-15 minutes' walk away from campus facilities.  

Check-in

Ensure your accommodation provider is expecting you.  Each hall of residence will have specific check-in times.  Temporary accommodation may be required depending on your flight arrival time.