Turning studying abroad into a successful career in Christchurch

What was student life like at the University of Canterbury?

At the University of Canterbury, Nathaniel was welcomed into a friendly, social community of students and staff. “It was pretty much the fairy‑tale vision of what I imagined,” he says. “Although a little colder.”

He recalls his lecturers as passionate, genuine and approachable. “My lecturers would happily sit down for a coffee just to have a conversation, often not even related to what they taught. It really surprised me.”

Outside of his studies, co‑curricular groups helped him meet new people and learn about not only New Zealand’s culture, but cultures from around the world. Although one group holds a special place in his heart – the Malaysian Student Association is where he met his now fiancé.

How the Christchurch workforce is supportive for new graduates

Transitioning from student life into the workforce can be daunting, but Nathaniel found plenty of support at his firm.

“It is quite the jump in terms of workload and responsibilities. But the one thing I have noticed is there is space for growth and mistakes to happen, which I think contrasts very much with what life is like back home in Singapore for a fresh grad.”

“There is a lot of room for you to put your hand up and acknowledge that you don't know something, and there’s always someone willing to put time aside to guide you on how it's done.”

“I do appreciate the fact there's a lot of responsibility given to me as a grad, which I didn’t expect to happen. There's freedom to ask questions when you need to, but at the same time, there's a lot of freedom to figure it out on your own. And doing that develops your critical thinking, your reasoning skills as well. There's a lot of trust given to you as a fresh grad.”

Why Nathaniel decided to stay in Christchurch after graduation

Nathaniel has spent time exploring New Zealand, through work and holidays, but Christchurch is still where he feels most at home.

“It’s the perfect balance of city life and nature,” he says. “It’s not too crowded, it’s not too busy. If you want to keep busy, there are many opportunities here. But if you want to strike a balance, I think Christchurch is just the ideal place. And it’s affordable as well.”

Its central South Island location also makes it easy for him to explore during breaks, whether that’s the West Coast, Dunedin, or (soon) Invercargill.

For Nathaniel, Christchurch’s size is one of its biggest advantages, “In a smaller city, your relationships are deeper.” For him this proves especially true, from his fellow students at UC, including his soon to be wife, to new colleagues and friends, the community he has built offers plenty of reasons for him to put down roots.

From an unexpected choice to a place that feels like home, Christchurch has given Nathaniel something rare: a globally recognised education, a balanced lifestyle and a career built on trust with time and space to grow.