Subject choices include business, engineering, architecture, nursing, creative arts, hospitality, computing, science, languages, outdoor education, and broadcasting.

Ara is internationally recognised and has one of the best English language training centres in New Zealand.

[2] Ara has six campuses in Canterbury and North Otago (three in Christchurch and one each in Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru), making it the largest tertiary institute in the South Island.

Ara is the Māori word for path or journey[3] representing the learning process, the many pathways to success, as well as the routes and rivers that criss-cross the Canterbury Plains.

This phrase captures the varied aspirations of our learners, and recognises that learning is a lifelong undertaking.