Law at the University of Canterbury sits apart from the university's Engineering and Commerce programmes already covered elsewhere, and it is one of UC's longstanding professional degrees, taught at a Christchurch campus known for being compact and walkable.
This article covers admission requirements, cost, English-test requirements, and career outcomes for Law at UC.
Acceptance Rate
UC does not publish an overall undergraduate acceptance rate, and we have not found an official, Law-specific acceptance figure. As with UC's other programmes, admission depends on meeting New Zealand secondary qualification requirements (or an equivalent for international applicants), meeting the English proficiency minimum, and meeting any programme-specific requirements. Law programmes at New Zealand universities commonly include a later, more selective entry point into the professional LLB component after an initial first-year of study; confirm UC's specific structure and any limited-entry stage directly with the university, since this was not independently confirmed in this research.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
A Bachelor of Laws-specific tuition figure for UC was not independently confirmed from the sources reviewed for this article.
| Programme | Year 1 (NZD/year), for reference |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), 120 points | ~$49,540 |
| Bachelor of Commerce, for reference (third-party estimate) | ~$37,920 |
| Bachelor of Laws | Not independently confirmed |
UC's fee estimates also include a Student Services Levy (SSL) charged per point. Living costs: Immigration New Zealand requires student visa applicants to show NZD 20,000 per year for living costs for courses of one year or more, in addition to tuition. Confirm the current Bachelor of Laws tuition figure directly on UC's official fees page. For the full picture, see the University of Canterbury guide.
Admission Requirements
- A recognised secondary school qualification that gives access to university study in your home country, with transcripts and certified translations where needed
- An academic record meeting Law's specific entry requirements (commonly a strong background in English and humanities subjects)
- Evidence of English proficiency that meets UC's undergraduate minimum (see below)
- Completed application through UC's international application process
Confirm directly with UC whether its Bachelor of Laws includes a limited-entry stage after first year, a common structure for law degrees at New Zealand universities, since this affects how competitive the second and later years of the degree are relative to initial admission.
How to Get Into UC's Law Programme
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Check the programme page first, not the general entry page, and specifically ask about any limited-entry stage into the professional LLB component.
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Meet the English minimum early, since Law's reading and writing demands reward a comfortable margin above UC's stated floor.
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Use the international pathway if you are close but not quite there, via UC's Diploma in University Studies (International).
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Apply for the intake you are actually ready for, since February and July intakes are processed separately.
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Budget for both tuition and the NZD 20,000 living-cost requirement.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo Requirements
A Law-specific English threshold was not independently confirmed from the pages reviewed for this article. UC's general undergraduate minimums are:
| Test | UC undergraduate minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Overall 6.0, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking |
| TOEFL iBT (older format) | Total 80, with at least 19 in each section |
| PTE Academic | Overall 50, with no communicative skills score below 42 |
| Duolingo English Test | Not listed for undergraduate degrees on UC's page |
Given Law's heavy reading and writing demands, aim meaningfully above the stated minimum in each band, particularly writing and speaking. For the full picture, see the University of Canterbury guide.
Career Outcomes and Post-Study Work Visa
UC reports that 92% of graduates were employed or pursuing further study within six months of completing their degree, a university-wide figure rather than Law-specific. Law graduates at New Zealand universities commonly pursue admission to the bar (requiring further professional qualification, separate from the degree itself) or move into policy, government, and corporate roles.
Post-Study Work Visa: a graduate who completed a Level 7 (bachelor's) qualification or higher, studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand, and meets health, character, and financial requirements can stay and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years. The application must generally be made within 3 months after your student visa ends. From 16 November 2026, Immigration New Zealand is expanding eligibility further; confirm the final rules with Immigration New Zealand closer to your graduation date.
FAQ
Does UC publish an acceptance rate for Law? No, and a Law-specific figure was not independently confirmed in this research. Some third-party sites quote a university-wide estimate around 50%, but this is unverified.
Does UC's Law degree have a limited-entry stage? Possibly; law degrees at New Zealand universities commonly include a more selective entry point into the professional LLB component after first year. Confirm UC's specific structure directly.
What IELTS score do I need for Law at UC? Not independently confirmed for this specific programme; UC's general undergraduate minimum is 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each band.
How much does Law cost at UC for international students? Not independently confirmed; confirm directly on UC's official fees page.