Information about Ara Institute of Canterbury, New Zealand

Friday - 12/06/2026

1. Website: ara.ac.nz

2. Location – 5 campuses:

2 campuses in central Christchurch (Madras Street – 1 km from the CBD and Ensors Road – 4 km from the CBD): 22–28 minutes by car from Christchurch International Airport.
1 campus in Ashburton: 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Christchurch and 10 minutes by car from Ashburton Airport.
1 campus in Timaru: 2 hours 15 minutes by car from Christchurch and 15 minutes by car from Timaru Airport.
1 campus in Oamaru: 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Dunedin and 15 minutes by car from Oamaru Airport.

3. Institution Type: Public Institute of Technology and Polytechnic

4. Total number of students: >17.000

5. Number of international students: >1.800

6. Strengths:

Ara is the largest Institute of Technology in Canterbury. It was established in 2016 through the merger of two institutions with more than 100 years of history, CPIT and Aoraki Polytechnic. Ara has become a government-funded tertiary institution providing vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for the entire Canterbury and Waitaki regions.
Teaching quality: An advanced teaching model combined with a low student-to-teacher ratio and comprehensive support services enables students to interact more closely with lecturers and receive greater individual attention.
Wide range of programmes: Programmes in areas such as Arts and Design, Hairdressing and Beauty, Business, Health and Education are quality assured by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Students are also equipped with professional workplace skills, allowing them to be work-ready upon graduation.
Modern facilities: Gymnasium, library, health centre, career advisory centre, IELTS test centre, free Wi-Fi, and computer laboratories open 24 hours a day.
Location: Ara’s two largest campuses are located in Christchurch, a rapidly developing, dynamic and modern city. Canterbury is also the education, agriculture, commerce and tourism hub of New Zealand’s South Island. Students studying and living here have the opportunity to enjoy a vibrant culture, excellent recreational activities and beautiful natural scenery.

7. Training-related Information

a. Training programs: View details here

English Language
Foundation Studies
Certificate
Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree
Graduate Certificate
Postgraduate Diploma
Master’s Degree

b. Training courses: View details here

English Language

Intensive English
EAP
IELTS Preparation
Volunteer Work
NZ Certificate in English Language (NZCEL)

Foundation Studies

Study and Career Preparation

Computing & ICT

Computer Networking
ICT (Information and Communication
Technologies)
Information Technology Essentials
Informational Technology Technical Support
Networking
Systems Administration
Web Development and Design

Commerce & Business

Accounting
Applied Business
Applied Management
Business Administration
Business Information Systems
Event Management
First Line Management
Hospitality Management
Human Resource Management
Marketing and Sales
Operations and Production Management
Project Management
Strategic Management
Supply Chain Logistics
Transformation and Change

Cookery

Baking and Patisserie
Professional Cookery

Hospitality

Café Bar Service
Food and Beverage
Hospitality
Hospitality Management

Hair and Beauty

Beauty Skills
Beauty Therapy
Beauty Therapies and Epilation
Hairdressing

Architectural Studies

Architectural Technology
Construction Management
Quantity Surveying

Engineering

Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Travel & Tourism

Travel and Tourism
International Tourism

Outdoor Education

Outdoor and Adventure Education
Sustainability and Outdoor Education
Sustainable Practice

Sports and Fitness

Fitness
Human Nutrition
Physical Activity and Health Promotion
Sport and Exercise Science

Languages and Education

English Language Teaching (CELTA)
Japanese
Māori

Health & Social Services

Exercise
Medical Imaging
Midwifery
Musculoskeletal
Nursing
Social Work

Animal and Laboratory Science

Animal Technology
Animal Management
Laboratory Technology
Veterinary Nursing

Broadcasting

Broadcasting
(Radio, Television and Journalism)

Art and Design

Applied Visual Arts
Creativity
Digital Media and Design
Fashion
Motion Design
Photography
Visual Communication Design

Performing Arts

Music Arts
Performing Arts

8. Entry Requirements: View details here

Foundation Studies: High school graduation; IELTS 5.5.
Bachelor’s Degree: Completion of the first year of university studies in Vietnam and IELTS 6.0; or completion of a foundation programme.
Postgraduate/Master’s Programmes: Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with good academic results, IELTS 6.5, and a detailed research proposal.

9. Intakes

English Language Programmes: February and July.
Foundation Studies: February and July.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes: February and July.

10. Application Documents

Highest qualification certificate.
Academic transcripts from the two most recent years.
English language certificate, if available.
Passport (photo and signature page), if available.
Academic achievements, extracurricular certificates and other accomplishments, if available.
CV and two reference letters (for postgraduate programmes).

11. Tuition Fees: See details here

Foundation Studies: NZD 19,000/year.
Certificate Programmes: NZD 9,815 – 19,630/programme.
Diploma Programmes: NZD 18,400 – 20,860/year.
Bachelor’s Degrees: NZD 18,400 – 22,520/year.
Graduate Certificates: NZD 10,430/programme.
Postgraduate Diplomas: NZD 19,120 – 21,280/year.
Master’s Degrees: NZD 20,760/year.

12. Other Fees

Replacement Student ID Card: NZD 20.
English Programme Application Fee: NZD 250.
Electronic Immigration Application Fee: NZD 220.
Interpretation of academic records and provision of information to overseas professional bodies: NZD 50 (NZD 75/hour), which may be charged depending on the complexity of the request.
Homestay Placement Fee: NZD 300 for individual students (Christchurch), NZD 360 for individual students (Timaru), NZD 250 for group students.

13. Living costs: NZD 10,000 – 15,000/year.

14. Scholarships: NZD 2,500 – NZD 3,000 – NZD 5,000. View details here.

15. Accommodation and Other Services:

Students may choose homestay accommodation, student residence, shared accommodation (for students aged over 18), or living with relatives.
Homestay: Fees range from NZD 266 – 296/week, depending on the number of meals provided each day.

16. Support from DucAnh EduConnect

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Please CONTACT US for free consultation and application.

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