Photo captions: Prospective students on Ilam Campus for 2026 Open Day.
Rā Tōmene | Open Day gives future students and their whānau the chance to explore study options at UC, experience campus life and find out more about where their studies could take them.
For those visiting from out of town, it’s also an opportunity to experience Christchurch, one of the world’s Top 100 Best Student Cities and the centre of a growing region.
Christchurch and Canterbury are among the few areas of New Zealand where unemployment has fallen over the past year. Canterbury’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.9% to 3.6%, its lowest level since December 2023, according to a recent ChristchurchNZ report.
Canterbury contributed 30% of national unadjusted employment growth in the year to June 2026.
UC is ranked second in New Zealand for Employer Reputation and Employment Outcomes in the 2027 QS rankings, and the University works closely with students and employers through its Centre for Employability & Career Development. Career development begins from the start of a student’s journey at UC, helping students recognise the skills they are building and how these can translate into future careers. A large proportion - 60% - of UC graduates who stay in New Zealand choose to build their careers in Canterbury.
Throughout Open Day, visitors can explore the UC student experience through information sessions, faculty activities, campus and accommodation tours, demonstrations, and opportunities to speak directly with UC staff and students.
This year, UC is also providing tours of its Dovedale Campus, home to its Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours Degree and the Kōawa Studios initiative.
