Its foundation professors arrived in 1874, namely, Charles Cook (Mathematics, University of Melbourne, St John's College, Cambridge), Alexander Bickerton (Chemistry and Physics, School of Mining, London), and John Macmillan Brown (University of Glasgow, Balliol College, Oxford).

The number of international students, who pay much higher fees and were a major source of revenue, dropped by 30 per cent.

[28] In March 2016, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said in The Press newspaper: "In 2014, [students] wanted to leave Christchurch and went to Wellington, Otago and into the workforce.

Now we're retaining Christchurch school leavers and we're getting our fair share of provincial students, as well as attracting greater numbers from the Auckland region."

"[29] In January 2017, the University of Canterbury released its campus master plan – 50 building and landscape projects proposed over three stages by 2045, the cost could exceed $2bn.

[30] In a comment to The Press, Rod Carr said that the plans were proof the university was moving away from the falling enrolments post-earthquake.

This growth in enrolment stands in contrast to a decline in domestic student numbers across all five North Island universities during this period.

[38] The building was renamed Puaka-James Hight in 2014, after the brightest star in the cluster Matariki, to reflect the growing strength of UC's relationship with Ngāi Tahu and the mana of Te Ao Māori at the heart of the university's campus.

[43][44] It holds over 100,000 published items including books, audio-visual recordings, and various manuscripts, photographs, works of art, architectural drawings and ephemera.

[46] Some of the halls at UC have storied histories; Tupuānuku is named for the star of the same name that is connected to food grown in the ground in the cluster Matariki in Māori Mythology;[47] Rochester and Rutherford is named for former alumni Ernest Rutherford and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester; while Arcady, previously Bishop Julius Hall, was founded by the first Archbishop of New Zealand, Churchill Julius;[48] additionally, College House is the oldest residential college in New Zealand.

The money was used by the university to install the classics and music school in the Old Chemistry building at the Christchurch Arts Centre.

[67] The James Logie Memorial Collection was established in 1957 as a result of Miss Marion Steven, a Classics faculty member, donating Greek pottery to Canterbury University College.

Steven established the James Logie Memorial Collection to honour her husband, who served as registrar of the college from 1950 until his death in 1956.

On 15 October 2008 the university announced that Rod Carr, a former banker and the CEO of a local software company, would begin a five-year appointment as Vice-Chancellor on 1 February 2009.

[100][101] An explanation of the arms appears on the university website Archived 18 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine, where it is explained that the fleece symbolises the pastoral, and the plough at the base the agricultural background of the province of Canterbury.

The bishop's pall and the cross flory represent Canterbury's ecclesiastical connections, and the open book denotes scholarship.

In most majors, an honors degree requires advanced coursework and a thesis – this usually takes an extra year.

The original UCSA Building was damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and was subsequently torn down, it was rebuilt and completed in 2019, it is located on the Ilam Campus.

The University of Canterbury Drama Society (Dramasoc) achieved fame for its 1942–1969 Shakespeare productions under Dame Ngaio Marsh, but regularly performs as an active student- and alumni-run arts fixture in the small Christchurch theatre-scene.

[149] One major student tradition, the Undie 500, involved an annual car-rally from Christchurch to Dunedin run by ENSOC.

[150] The 2007 event gained international news coverage (including on CNN and BBC World) when it ended in rioting in the student quarter of Dunedin and in North East Valley.

[151] Since it was founded, University of Canterbury alumni have made significant and creative contributions to society, the arts and sciences, business, national New Zealand, and international affairs.

Notable politicians who studied at Canterbury include: Ruth Richardson Minister of Finance for the "mother of all budgets" which formed the catalyst of her economic reforms known in the media as "Ruthanasia".

Former Leaders of the Opposition Judith Collins (though she did not complete her degree) and Don Brash, the latter whom is infamous for his Orewa Speech.

[157][158][159] Other significant figures include Nick Smith, Rodney Hide, Stuart Nash, Peter Dunne, Marian Hobbs, and Catherine Isaac.

Mayors of Christchurch include: Lianne Dalziel, Bob Parker, Vicki Buck and George Manning.

[162] Ivor Richardson, also a former President of the Court of Appeal, is credited with significantly influencing the development of New Zealand tax law and policy.

One of the most notable Canterbury alumni is Ernest Rutherford a physicist described as "the father of nuclear physics", and who features on the New Zealand one hundred-dollar note.

[168] Beatrice Tinsley an astronomer and cosmologist who through her research in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, proved that the universe was infinite and would expand forever.

Economists Rex Bergstrom, Brian Easton, Ken Henry, Graham Scott and John McMillan attended Canterbury.