Apply For a Hall or Village

Check out key application dates, hall locations and comparison charts or refer to the 2021 Accommodation Guide.



Eligibility to apply

You’re eligible to live in UC student accommodation if you are a student or future student of:

  • University of Canterbury
  • Another tertiary institution in Christchurch (as preference is given to students intending to study at UC, your application will be placed on hold until mid-December). 

WiFi networks are available in all halls of residence for UC students or you can connect via wired (Ethernet) connection through 2degrees.

There are two steps to the application process for most students.  Check the reference requirements for the hall you are applying to under “Step 2”.

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).  NZ Scholarship students are exempt.  Couples and families will be charged the application fee on receipt of an offer. 

International students living outside New Zealand and applying for Semester 2 are exempt from the $100 application fee as travel arrangements and Visas may be difficult to organise.

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

After you have completed the online application form, you will also need a referee to provide a reference.  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 – Bishop Julius 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 2019 or 2020 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 Apartments, 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 2019 or 2020 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. Some of the smaller 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.

The selection process will run between 25 September and 1 October.  During this time applications will move between preferences but only one offer will be made to each applicant.  We encourage you to select a larger hall as one of your preferences to have the best chance of securing an offer you will be happy with.  Every applicant will be offered a room.

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

Halls will send out offers and waitlist offers, however, on 23 October, all existing waitlists will be merged to a General Waitlist managed by Accommodation Services. This provides applicants with the best opportunity for a room as their application will be accessible to all halls of residence.

Accept your offer

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

  1. Complete and return your contract (check your offer and contract carefully as some halls will allocate rooms on a first-in, first-served basis whereas others will give you until the due date to respond)
  2. 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.

Returning resident

If you are currently staying in a hall of residence and wish to live on campus in 2021, you are a returning resident and do not need to complete a new online application form or pay an application fee. Here’s what you need to do:

  • For current UCA residents (Hayashi, Ilam Apartments, Kirkwood Avenue Hall, Sonoda Christchurch Campus, University Hall, Waimairi Village), please log into the portal.
  • For current Bishop Julius Hall, College House or Rochester and Rutherford Hall residents wishing to move to Hayashi, Ilam Apartments or Sonoda Christchurch Campus, please self-register here.


If you have questions, please call 0508 864 425 or email [email protected]