About Christchurch College of English
Christchurch College of English (CCEL) is an English language school established in 1991, located on the University of Canterbury campus in Ilam, Christchurch. It typically enrols between 150 and 200 students per week, drawn from countries around the world.
CCEL is the official English language provider for the University of Canterbury (UC), and offers a direct pathway to both UC and UC International College (UCIC) for students seeking to progress to university study. Its academic English courses EAP 1 and EAP 2 are designed specifically to support that transition.
The college is registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and holds NZQA's highest quality rating. It is an approved TOEIC Public Test centre and a member of English New Zealand, Quality English, and Christchurch Educated.
Students on the University of Canterbury campus have access to university facilities. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (NZ time), and the college provides 24/7 telephone emergency support outside those hours.
Programmes
Christchurch College of English (CCEL) offers the following named programmes:
- General English
- Exam Preparation
- High School Preparation
- English for Academic Purposes 1
- English for Academic Purposes 2
- Group Programmes
Programmes
Christchurch College of English (CCEL) offers the following named programmes:
- General English — Beginner to Advanced (6 levels) — 2 to 50 weeks
- IELTS Exam Preparation — up to 10 weeks
- High School Preparation — Elementary to Advanced (6 levels) — 2 to 24 weeks
- English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP 1) — Intermediate to Advanced — 12 weeks
- English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAP 2) — 12 weeks
- Group Programmes
Subject area: English Language School
The Ministry of Education groups Christchurch College of English under English Language School — the broad field of education and training it's classified under in the official tertiary directory.
English Language SchoolAddress
Where Christchurch College of English is based, taken directly from the Ministry of Education's own address record for this provider.
- StreetUnivesity of Canterbury Campus
- SuburbIlam
- CityChristchurch
- Postcode8444
- Territorial authorityChristchurch City
- RegionCanterbury Region
No coordinates are published for tertiary providers in this dataset, so no map is shown here.
Contact Christchurch College of English
Find the published contact details for Christchurch College of English, including its phone number, website and other available contact information.
- Phone+64 3 343 3790
- Fax03-3433791
- Websitewww.ccel.co.nz
Other English Language School providers
Explore other New Zealand private training establishments listed under the same English Language School subject area as Christchurch College of English, including providers in different locations.
-
ABC College of English Queenstown
-
Bay Learning Academy Limited Bayfair
-
Bridge International College NZ Ltd Auckland CBD
-
CNSST Education Institute Panmure
-
EF International Language Schools Limited Auckland CBD
Entry Requirements
General English courses have no entry requirements. Students are assessed for level placement on their first day.
English for Academic Purposes (EAP 1 and EAP 2) have minimum entry requirements. Applicants can meet these by completing a CCEL EAP entry test or by providing a valid international examination result. Specific score thresholds are not published on the entry requirements page.
Fees
All fees are in New Zealand dollars. The figures below are for 2026 and are subject to change.
Course Fees 2026
| Course | Fee (per week unless stated) |
|---|---|
| General English Full-time Day (2–12 weeks) | $466 |
| General English Full-time Day (13+ weeks) | $444 |
| General English Part-time Day | $360 |
| IELTS Exam Preparation (2–12 weeks) | $466 |
| IELTS Exam Preparation (13+ weeks) | $444 |
| High School Preparation (2–12 weeks) | $466 |
| High School Preparation (13+ weeks) | $444 |
| English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP 1) | $5,592 per 12-week course |
| English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAP 2) | $6,262 per 12-week course |
Sundry Fees 2026
| Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment Fee | Applies to all courses | $265 |
| Materials Fee | Applies to all courses (except teacher training) | $100 |
| TOEIC Test Fee | Test held at CCEL Christchurch; frequent test taker discount may apply | From $230 |
Accommodation Fees 2026
| Accommodation Type | Fee (per week unless stated) |
|---|---|
| Homestay (age 18+) | $385 |
| Homestay (age under 18) | $399 |
| Homestay (Shared Double Room) | $658 |
| Student Residence (Shared) | From $357 |
| Student Resident Placement Fee | $355 |
| Accommodation Placement Fee (18+) | $250 |
| Accommodation Placement Fee (U18) | $310 |
| Airport Transfer | $120 |
| Homestay Change Fee | $120 |
Additional Fees 2026
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Special Dietary Requirement Fee (e.g. sports diet, halal, gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free, vegan) | $108 per week |
| Under 18 Designated Caregiver Inspection Fee | $165 |
| Holidays Supplement (21/12/2026–03/01/2027) | $147 per week ($21 per day) |
| Holiday Retainer (applies when the student is away for more than 7 nights) | $26 per day |
| Winter Supplement (01/05/2026–31/08/2026) | $21 per week |
Full conditions are available on the CCEL fees page.
Student Support Services
Christchurch College of English (CCEL) provides the following student support services:
- Academic and administrative advising: Academic advisors and administration staff are available to assist students with questions about study plans, courses, visas, and insurance.
- Homestay support: Dedicated homestay staff are available to help students with concerns related to their host family arrangements.
- Travel and medical insurance: All CCEL students are required to hold current travel and medical insurance. The school can arrange cover through its preferred provider, OrbitProtect, which offers plans for international students studying in New Zealand.
- Airport transfers: CCEL can arrange airport transfers for students who have booked accommodation through the school.
- Orientation: On the first day, students attend an orientation session covering study and living in Christchurch, and complete a placement test. Students are required to bring their passport and proof of insurance.
- Multilingual support: Staff fluent in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish are available, with additional support offered in Arabic, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian, and other languages.
- Activities programme: An extracurricular activities programme includes cultural excursions, outdoor activities, social events, and sports.
Curated by the KuraData team from Christchurch College of English's own website, reviewed 6 October 2026.
Data source
- SourceTertiary Providers Directory — Ministry of Education
- Ministry data last checked6 September 2026
- AI-assisted content based onChristchurch College of English's official website — reviewed by KuraData 6 October 2026