The University of Canterbury was founded on 16 June 1873 in the heart of Christchurch as Canterbury College, making it the first constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It was established with funding from the Canterbury Provincial Council, marking it as New Zealand's second institution to provide tertiary education, after the University of Otago, which was founded in 1869. It was the fourth such institution in Australasia.
The university's founding was inspired by the Oxbridge college system, but it notably differed in that it admitted female students from the outset. The foundation professors, who arrived in 1874, were Charles Cook (Mathematics, University of Melbourne, St John's College, Cambridge), Alexander Bickerton (Chemistry and Physics, School of Mining, London), and John Macmillan Brown (University of Glasgow, Balliol College, Oxford). A year later, the first lectures began, and in 1875, the first graduations took place.
In 1880, Helen Connon became the first woman to graduate from the college. Later, in 1894, Āpirana Ngata became the first Māori-born student to graduate with a degree from the institution. The university's growth continued, and in 1882, it established the School of Art. The faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, and Law were founded in 1921, and the Faculty of Mental, Moral, and Social Sciences followed in 1924.
The Students' Union, now called the University of Canterbury Students' Association (UCSA), was established in 1929, and it operated from the Arts Centre of Christchurch's Old Student Union Building. The first edition of the student magazine, Canta, was published in 1930. In 1933, the institution officially changed its name from Canterbury College to Canterbury University College, reflecting its growing status.
Program offered
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FACULTY / COLLEGE
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PROGRAMS
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Faculty of Arts
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- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of International Relations
- Bachelor of Music
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Communication
- Master of International Relations
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Faculty of Education
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- Bachelor of Education (Teaching)
- Bachelor of Physical Education
- Master of Education (MEd)
- Master of Teaching and Learning (MTchgLn)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
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Faculty of Engineering
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- Civil Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
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Faculty of Health Sciences
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- Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc)
- Master of Health Sciences
- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Speech and Language Pathology
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Faculty of Law
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- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB(Hons))
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of International Law (LLM)
- Postgraduate Diplomas in Law
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Faculty of Science
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Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Physics
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Master of Science in Data Science
- Postgraduate Diplomas in Science
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Faculty of Social Sciences
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- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Criminal Justice
- Master of Applied Psychology
- Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates in Social Sciences
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Faculty of Business and Economics
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- Accounting
- Finance
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing
- International Business
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Commerce (MCom)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- Postgraduate Diplomas in Business and Economics
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Faculty of Forestry
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- Bachelor of Forestry Science (BForSc)
- Master of Forestry Science (MForSc)
- Master of Environmental Science
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Faculty of Fine Arts
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- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
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Faculty of Sports and Recreation
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- Bachelor of Sport Coaching
- Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
- Master of Sport Coaching
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Interdisciplinary Programs
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- Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (BIE)
- Bachelor of Science and Technology
- Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management
- Master of Sustainable Development
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