Along with the many support services, there are lots of ways to access community and mentoring at UC. Keep reading to learn more about them here.
Communities
Ākonga Māori
UC Māori provides support for all ākonga Māori studying at UC. Whether you need academic or financial support, guidance or social connection, they’ve got you covered. And once you’ve enrolled, a Kaiurungi will check in to make sure you're settling in well and have all the information you need. Find out more here.
Pacific students
Pacific support services have been designed to ensure Pacific students get the most out of their studies. The Pacific Development Team (PDT) are part of the Pacific Knowledge & Culture Hub (PAKC) which offers holistic care and support to Pacific students through Pacific advisors and one-to-one peer support with navigators in students’ first year of study. Read more about Pacific support at UC here.
Rainbow student support
UC's Rainbow Leads offer support and advice for Rainbow ākonga and their communities. Their team are well versed in all things rainbow and can provide assistance to help navigate things like community, healthcare, Gender Affirmation, and wellbeing.
Rainbow communities
UC has a number of Rainbow Clubs on campus including QCanterbury and some faculty-specific clubs (e.g. Queer in Law and Rainbow Engineering). UC Rainbow also provide a Rainbow Room for ākonga to use as a study, meeting or social space, and support events like Rainbow Cafe.
Find more about Rainbow communities and supports here.
Adult students
UC defines adult students as those starting university study for the first time and who are aged 20 years of age and over. We offer a range of support to help you get started and manage study alongside your other commitments, as well as opportunities to connect with other adult students. Read more here.
Mentoring
Starting university is exciting but can also bring new challenges that you might not know how to navigate. This could be anything from finding your way around campus to feeling unsure about university life. In times like these, UC’s student mentors make a huge difference.
UC Mentoring Programme
The UC Mentoring Programme matches you with an experienced student who is studying similar subjects or has similar interests to you. Read more about UC mentors here.
Paiheretia te muka tangata
Paiheretia te muka tangata is about uniting and supporting you as a new ākonga Māori at UC. The programme connects first-year ākonga (Tāina) with experienced student leaders (Kaitaki) and academic mentors (Kaiāwhina) to build a strong sense of whānau and guidance throughout your studies. With a focus on peer support, academic success, and community, Paihere helps ākonga Māori navigate university life with confidence. You don’t need to be able to speak Te Reo Māori or be studying Māori to take up this opportunity. Register for a Māori mentor here.
PASS Navigators
The Pacific Academic Solutions and Success (PASS) Navigator programme is designed to ensure all first-year Pacific Students receive the best possible care and support when starting at UC. Find out more here.
PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Sessions)
PALS is a peer-to-peer programme that involves regular study sessions aligned with a course, and are led by a successful, past student of that course. These sessions offer the opportunity to make connections with your classmates and revise through group study. Additionally, they provide an opportunity to learn all the best study tips and tricks from a student who has already aced the course. Read more about PALS.
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