Online Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees are the first qualification you can study at university after secondary school. They usually take 3 - 4 years to complete full-time, or 6 years to complete part-time. An undergraduate student is someone who is studying for their first degree, certificate, or diploma after secondary school.

Learn more about starting study with the University of Canterbury.

Yes — the only difference is how you study. You’ll receive the same quality education and resources as on-campus learners, and graduate with the same internationally recognised University of Canterbury degree. Depending on your chosen programme, there may be fewer elective course options available online.

At the moment, these are our only online bachelor’s degrees — but our offerings are always growing! Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay updated on new programmes, scholarships, and other news.

UC also offers a range of distance education options. These programmes aren’t specifically designed for online learning but may still suit your needs. 

To study an online bachelor's degree, you require University Entrance, just like any on-campus student. Some bachelor's degrees also have additional requirements, which are listed in full under 'requirements' on each programme page. 

If you gained your qualification(s) overseas, these will need to be assessed to ensure they are of an equivalent standard. You are also required to meet UC’s English language requirements if English is your additional language.

If you’re unsure, our Enrolment Support Team can check your background and help you understand your options.

You can study either part-time or full-time online with us. This means you can choose the study load that works best for your lifestyle and commitments. Don't worry — if you change your mind along the way, our Learner Support Team are here to help you. 

Many learners combine part-time study with work or whānau responsibilities, while others prefer full-time study to complete their degree more quickly.

For added flexibility, our online bachelor’s degrees are delivered across four terms each year, rather than traditional semesters.

Each term runs for nine weeks (including a one-week study break), followed by a two-week marking and feedback period. You’ll study one course per term if studying part-time, or two per term if studying full-time. This structure means shorter, more focused study periods with regular breaks to balance your whānau, work, and study commitments.

Each online bachelor's degree has its own online application form, where you will fill in details about yourself and upload supporting documents.

As part of our application process, your eligibility will be assessed by the relevant academic team to make sure that your background meets the entry criteria.

Unfortunately our Tuihono UC | UC Online team cannot confirm your eligibility before your application is submitted, beyond referring you to the requirements on each programme webpage. We are happy to help answer any general questions you have about the programme or online learning. You can get in touch with us here. 

We're here to help you every step of the way. Our online Enrolment Support team can answer questions specifically about online learning, while UC’s Future Students team can provide general guidance on starting undergraduate study at university. 

Yes, each year we offer a range of Tuihono UC | UC Online scholarships. We also encourage learners to check out other University of Canterbury scholarships they may be eligible for.

A range of other organisations also fund scholarships nz, which you can explore:

• Scholarships in New Zealand (studyspy.ac.nz)
• Scholarships | Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara (universitiesnz.ac.nz)
• If you’re an international learner, you may find the Study with New Zealand website helpful for advice about international scholarships nz. 

Yes! If you don’t receive a University of Canterbury scholarship for online learning, you can still apply for a course or programme of your choice. 

There are a range of options you can use to finance your study, which you can explore.

There are a range of options you can use to finance your study, which you can learn more about here.

StudyLink student loans

We know that many of our learners plan to use a StudyLink student loan to finance their study. If you're considering StudyLink, it can take up to a month to process your loan application. Learn more about StudyLink student loans here.

Fees Free

Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.

Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.

When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.

For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.

Employer payments

If your employer is financing your study and wants to pay via invoice, credit card or bank transfer, this can be arranged after your application is approved. Please note that your employer will need to provide a written guarantee of payment so you can start learning from your preferred start date. This must be signed by them and specify:

• name and address of the company, employer, or sponsor
• student name and address
• amount to be paid by the company, employer, or sponsor

For further information, please contact Student Finance. You will only be fully enrolled when your fees are paid. Fees cannot be paid by instalment.

No. To provide the best online learning experience, Tuihono UC | UC Online learners use a platform specifically designed for online study. This gives you access to interactive course materials, live video sessions, and the ability to connect with your learning community anywhere, anytime.