9 Oct 2025
Canterbury students forced out of halls as demand soars
First-year University of Canterbury students are being forced to hunt for flats or live at home as capacity in the halls of residences is stretched to the limit. More than 4000 students have applied for spots across eight halls for next year, when there are only 2700 places available. Christchurch has become a popular city of choice for students, with enrolments booming to around 25,000 an all-time high for a third year running. Anna Sargent reports.