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“Christchurch: explore the opportunity.”

That’s the motto of The Christchurch Story, a city-sponsored campaign in New Zealand that seeks to improve life for people living in Christchurch, and other cities within the Canterbury region.

The campaign sets out 10-year goals that aim to boost the region’s GDP by 24 percent, significantly increase the city’s population by 16 percent, and improve the self-reported quality of life to good or very good for 90 percent of all Christchurch residents.

Significantly, international education, tourism and business opportunities are cornerstones of this plan to attract global citizens to ‘explore the opportunity’.

Nowhere do these opportunities exist more in Christchurch than through the University of Canterbury (UC) Business School, ranked in the top five percent of business schools worldwide.

An internationally-acclaimed school for globetrotters

“A UC qualification in business…can take you anywhere in the world.”

Global awareness is a key theme of the UC Business School experience. The school aims to ensure its graduates are driving future growth both in New Zealand and overseas, developing business skills that are required globally.

Source: UC Business School

The UC Business School maintains close connections with international, New Zealand and Christchurch-based companies to ensure its teachings are relevant, domestically and globally. Courses are designed to develop skills in business resiliency and sustainability, whilst developing students’ innovative and entrepreneurial competencies, allowing them to meet the unique challenges head-on and flourish in the ever-changing and dynamic business world.

UC Business School is renowned for its high-quality education, which is supported by some impressive accolades, notably its AACSB accreditation. Only five percent of business schools worldwide meet the rigorous eligibility standards set by the AACSB – and UC Business School is among them.

UC is also a premier destination for international students thanks to its partnerships with universities all over the globe. Programmes are designed so students can begin their studies in their home country and finish their course, or further their studies, at one of the world’s top business schools.

International students at the UC Business School are presented with an unmatched study and lifestyle opportunity. Those who fall in love with the culture of Christchurch and make the most of chances to connect with local employers may also be eligible for additional opportunities to live and work in New Zealand.

A diverse range of postgraduate business programmes

Source: UC Business School

From general degrees that teach a wide range of skills, to specialist subjects aimed at training students to excel in their niche, UC Business School offers a variety of postgraduate degree programmes to suit students from all backgrounds.

Graduates of all disciplines, including arts and STEM subjects, can enhance their business acumen with a Masters of Business Management, Business Information Systems, Financial Management or Professional Accounting. These degrees offer flexibility, different specialties and features that enable you to choose a programme that fits your career goals.

Professionals with at least five years’ experience in professional roles can avail from UC’s MBA programme, which supports those who want to make the transition into business ownership, consultancy or significant leadership roles. Whilst it further develops general management skills including leadership, innovation and marketing principles, students are also offered more specialist subjects like Sustainable Enterprises. Being AMBA accredited and ranked in the top 2 per cent of MBAs worldwide, students from UC Business School are highly sort after.

Other students who have obtained an intermediate knowledge of economics may choose the Master of Applied Finance and Economics. This programme aims to enhance students’ understanding of finance and economic theory, so they can apply this to solve real life problems in the investment, economics and finance industries.

All graduate Master’s programmes at UC Business School include internships or projects that focus on local industries or relevant business situations, allowing students to use what they learn in the classroom to solve real problems.

Source: UC Business School

These hands-on experiential learning opportunities, in addition to networking events and seminars, help students connect with local industries to boost their employment prospects.

Explore the opportunity

Local businesses throughout Christchurch and around New Zealand actively seek and recruit talented UC graduates using the NZ Uni Career Hub. And, since Christchurch itself boasts the lowest unemployment rate across the Australasia region, employment opportunities within the city are abound for recent graduates.

One such graduate, Ron (Seong Su) Park, landed part-time employment as a personal banker with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, while also building his health food start-up company from the ground up.

Speaking of start-ups, UC Business School supports entrepreneurs with a dedicated Centre for Entrepreneurship, which organises business competitions and seminars that address real-world issues like climate change and problems within the country’s health sector.

The Hatchery, the School’s incubator programme, is part and parcel of UC’s “on-campus start-up culture”. The Hatchery provides private benefits for student entrepreneurs, from mentoring with industry experts to mini-bootcamps that aim to accelerate your business venture. You also get 24/7 exclusive access to the Centre for Entrepreneurship and invite-only industry events.

Source: UC Business School

Prepare to change the world at UC Business School

When it comes to assessing a university’s opportunities, it’s always best to hear from real-life students and learn from their experiences. Browse UC’s list of student profiles and you’ll find a mix of testimonies from satisfied graduates.

One of these students is Palash Khandelwal, a Master of Business Management graduate who plans to start his own business in New Zealand once he graduates.

Khandelwal has reaped some impressive rewards from his time at UC, including a Dean’s Award, an internship with Buzzfeed Media, and first place in MYOB’s Hackday 2018 business competition.

“Being in UC, I evolved from just a student to being part of one of the biggest start-up communities…The journey through UC has created heaps of opportunities for me to work and grow.”

Find out more about how UC Business School strives to “provide a learning and research community that is internationally relevant, yet distinctively Aotearoa New Zealand.”

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