+1-646 503 18 10
Favorites heart icon
Favorites heart icon
X
All English schools in Christchurch
00:0000:00
 

Christchurch College of EnglishChristchurch, New Zealand

4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

7 students - overall rating
Solway Avenue - 8444 Christchurch - see on map
Pay less than booking at the school
What we like about the school
  • Sports field and tennis courts.
  • Excellent rating of teaching quality
    5.0

    Rating: 5.0/5.0

  • Excellent rating of homestay accommodation
    5.0

    Rating: 5.0/5.0

  • Free assistance in applying to college/university programmes by a qualified consultant.
What we dislike about the school
  • Additional material fee quite expensive.
  • Nationality mix could be more balanced. 40 of students are from Japan
Age of students
  Percentage of students
1-18 years 5.2631578947368%
18-24 years 47.368421052632%
25-34 years 36.842105263158%
35-50 years 10.526315789474%
>50 years 0%

Special Offers


CCEL is located on the campus of the University of Canterbury, which is in the suburb of Christchurch known as Ilam. The school has a number of well-connected bus stops nearby which can get students into the city centre in 40 minutes. 20 minutes on the bus can bring students to Westfield Mall, where students can go shopping, enjoy diverse cuisine and go to the cinema. Hagley Park is a 30 minute bus ride away from the school and students can visit the botanical gardens. Lyttleton is a quaint village just outside Christchurch and reachable in one hour by local transport from CCEL.

CCEL has a number of facilities including cafes, bars, restaurants, tennis courts and sports fields.

English Courses

General Language
Work & Study
Exam PreparationWhy exam preparation courses are excellent for optimum progress

Our prices for Christchurch College of English include

  • INCLUDED Tuition
  • INCLUDED Course material
  • INCLUDED Internet access and use of school computers
  • INCLUDED Wireless LAN zone at school
  • INCLUDED Free certificate of course attendance
  • INCLUDED Free airport pickup for all adult courses
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test at first day of classes
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test before arrival
  • INCLUDED Free consultation about suitable college/university programs by a qualified consultant
  • INCLUDED Free assistance in applying to college/university programs by a qualified consultant

Videos & Photos

  • Balcony
    Balcony 1/29
  • garden
    garden2/29
  • Student and teacher
    Student and teacher3/29
  • Surf
    Surf4/29
  • School entrance
    School entrance 5/29
  • Studying
    Studying 6/29
  • Outdoor table
    Outdoor table7/29
  • Activity
    Activity8/29
  • Christchurch College of English students
    Christchurch College of English students9/29
  • Notice board
    Notice board10/29
  • Studying
    Studying 11/29
  • Learning
    Learning12/29
  • Students in Christchurch
    Students in Christchurch13/29
  • Working together
    Working together14/29
  • Helpful staff
    Helpful staff15/29
  • Christchurch College of English class
    Christchurch College of English class16/29
  • Study group
    Study group17/29
  • Christchurch College of English classroom
    Christchurch College of English classroom18/29
  • Class
    Class19/29
  • Christchurch College of English student lounge
    Christchurch College of English student lounge20/29
  • Christchurch College of English computer facilities
    Christchurch College of English computer facilities21/29
  • Learning in Christchurch
    Learning in Christchurch22/29
  • Chatting between lessons
    Chatting between lessons23/29
  • Christchurch College of English front desk
    Christchurch College of English front desk24/29
  • Walking to class
    Walking to class25/29
  • lesson
    lesson26/29
  • students
    students27/29
  • Flashcards
    Flashcards28/29
  • Break
    Break29/29

Student opinions about Christchurch College of English, Christchurch

4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

Overall school rating of
Christchurch College of English, Christchurch
7 authentic ratings from students who reserved with us
School
Location of the school
4.0 

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Facilities
4.3 

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Social activities
4.0 

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Organisation
4.3 

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Course
Quality of teaching
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Value for money
4.0 

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Accommodation
Homestay
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Shared Flat (apartment)
4.0 

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Overall school rating by student age group
Students < 18 years (1 rating)
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Students 18-30 years (3 ratings)
3.7 

Rating: 3.7/5.0

Students 31-49 years (1 rating)
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Students 50+ years (2 ratings)
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Verified reviews only, uncensored. All student opinions from students who booked a course at the school with LanguageCourse.net.
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Liked
Very professional, good covered, friendly, open-minded teacher.
Insider tip: Working in the public library after school for homework.
Review details
Course: General English Day (full time) - 4 weeks
Review date: 11. Apr. 2023 by Michael Gaedicke
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Liked
Classmates and my teacher, Linda.
Review details
Course: General English Day (part time) - 2 weeks
Review date: 27. Nov. 2018 by Laura Prats Sells
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.

Ratings of Christchurch College of English compared to ratings of all schools in New Zealand

 Christchurch College of English ChristchurchAverage of all other schools in New Zealand
Overall school rating4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Location of the school4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

4.6

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Facilities4.3

Rating: 4.3/5.0

3.8

Rating: 3.8/5.0

Social activities4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Organisation4.3

Rating: 4.3/5.0

4.2

Rating: 4.2/5.0

Quality of teaching5.0

Rating: 5.0/5.0

4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Value for money4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

3.8

Rating: 3.8/5.0

Homestay4.8

Rating: 4.8/5.0

4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Shared flat4.8

Rating: 4.8/5.0

4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Christchurch College of English (CCEL)

Accreditations and Quality seals
Education NZEnglish New ZealandNZQAPreferential Terms in Case of Visa RefusalChristchurch Educated Member
English teacher qualifications
96% hold a university degree
100% hold a recognised language teaching qualification
Languages spoken by school staff (cannot be guaranteed by school)
First day of course
Students should arrive at 9:45
Student gender mix
50% male / 50% female
Offer for returning students
You will be refunded/waived the school's administration fee if you already attended previously a course at Christchurch College of English and you book here.
Payment methods accepted for payments made directly to the school
Visa - logoMastercard - logoBank Transfer - logo
Year of school foundation
1991
Legal name/parent company
CCEL | Tax registration ID: 57-758-384

General school facilities

  • Microwave for student use

  • Fridge for student use

  • Drink vending machine

  • Cafeteria

  • Snack vending machine

  • Computer lab

  • Daily press

  • Free after-class access to language learning software

  • Lounge

  • Garden

  • Printer for student use

  • Free water dispenser

  • Free WIFI

  • Free coffee

  • Non-smoking (all indoor and all outdoor areas of school)

  • Free parking (<500m)

  • Facilities for islamic students

    • Available area to pray at the school

  • Classroom equipment

    • TV in all classrooms

    • Air conditioning in some classrooms

    • Heating in all classrooms

    • Ample natural light in all classrooms

    • Number of classrooms: 22
    • Number of public PC workstations: 1

    Facilities for disabled students

    • Wheelchair access to classroom

    • Accessible Toilet

    • Wheelchair access to reception

    • Wheelchair access to cafeteria

    • Adapted for students with learning difficulty

Student Age / Nationality

Average number of students
In summer: 200
Throughout the year: 250
Minimum age of students
18 years
14 years for specific Junior courses
Average number of levels
Adult courses In summer: 6
Adult courses Throughout the year: 6
Average age of students
In summer: 24 years
Throughout the year: 24 years

Top student nationalities

Student Nationality Percentage of students
Japan 36%
China 21%
Thailand 14%
Korea 7%
Brazil 3%
Chile 3%
Switzerland 1%
Venezuela 1%
Saudi Arabia 1%
Iran 1%
Vietnam 1%
Israel 1%
France 1%
Germany 1%
Other nationalities 8%

Information for all courses offered by Christchurch College of English

Lesson duration
60 minutes
School's administrative fee
250.00 NZD
Course material
Generally course material has to be purchased by the student. The costs of course material will be approximately 90 NZD per course level.
Comments about courses

Students must present full medical and travel insurance on their first day. This is a legal requirement by New Zealand law.

Days without class
In 2024 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2024, 02 Jan 2024, 06 Feb 2024, 29 Mar 2024, 01 Apr 2024, 25 Apr 2024, 03 Jun 2024, 28 Jun 2024, 28 Oct 2024, 15 Nov 2024, 23 Dec 2024 - 31 Dec 2024.
In 2025 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2025, 02 Jan 2025, 06 Feb 2025, 18 Apr 2025, 21 Apr 2025, 25 Apr 2025, 02 Jun 2025, 20 Jun 2025, 27 Jan 2025, 20 Dec 2025 - 31 Dec 2025.
If a bank holiday falls on a weekday there is no refund nor are missed lessons recuperated. This is the case for the majority of language schools.
Level test
A test to assess your exact language level takes place before the start of the course via an online form.
Lessons needed per English language level
Level (CEFR) LESSONS needed per level WEEKS needed
(20 lessons per week)
A1 Beginner A1 to A2 80 4
A2 Elementary A2 to B1 160 8
B1 Intermediate B1 to B2 180 9
B2 Higher Intermediate B2 to C1 200 10
C1 Advanced C1 to C2 220 11
C2 Proficiency
Data above gives some guidance. For more details consult our page How long does it take to learn a language or reach a specific level.

Airport transfer

Best arrival airport is Christchurch.
More details about airports near Christchurch and how to travel independently from the airport to the city on our Christchurch page. For flight comparisons to Christchurch, we recommend using skyscanner.com.

Visa Documents

You can travel and study a language course for a limited number of hours a week just applying for the visa waiver programme online.
Check visa requirements for nationals from other countries.
Nationals from countries that require a visa will receive documents from the school, related to booking confirmation, which is required for the visa application.
Full payment of all fees required before school dispatches documents required for visa application
Yes
Preferential cancellation terms in case of visa refusal
School agreed that students booking online on this site will benefit from preferential cancellation fees in case of visa refusal, and in this case will never exceed EUR 180.

Leisure activities

activity possibledistance from school
Ballet8 km
Baseball5 km
Basketball1 km
Cooking5 km
Cricket1 km
Dancing8 km
Diving-
Field Hockey5 km
Football (soccer)1 km
Golf5 km
Horse riding15 km
Ice Hockey8 km
Mountainbiking8 km
Music8 km
Rugby1 km
Sailing10 km
Skiing120 km
Squash5 km
Swimming5 km
Table Tennis5 km
Tennis1 km
Volleyball1 km
Windsurfing15 km
Yoga5 km

Examples of leisure activities organized by the school

Adults - Free activities

- Weekly conversation Club
- Fortnightly Job Club
- Weekly sporting activities

Adults - Paid activities

Mini golf: approx. NZD 10
Cooking: approx. NZD 5
Dinner and a movie: approx. NZD 20
Long weekend tour to Queenstown: approx. NZD 400 - NZD 500
Weekend tour to Lake Tekapo: approx. NZD 300
Winery Tour: approx. NZD 150

Accommodation

Student Testimonial Videos

Note: The video testimonials of students from Christchurch College of English have been provided by the school and schools do not usually publish negative testimonials. For uncensored reviews read what our students report about their stay at Christchurch College of English.

Map  

Loading map content

Questions and answers about Christchurch College of English

  • You will be given a placement test on the first day of your course and placed in a class with other students at the same level. Assessment is continuous throughout the course and you will have a test every 6 weeks and receive individual progress reports. Each student is different but a general guideline on the time it takes to progress through the levels (based on 25 hours of tuition per week) is:

    Beginner to Elementary (Level 1-2) - 2 months
    Elementary to Pre Intermediate (Level 2-3) - 3 to 4 months
    Pre intermediate to Intermediate (Level 3-4) - 3 to 4 months
    Intermediate to Upper Intermediate (Level 4-5) - 6 months
    Upper Intermediate to Advanced (Level 6) - 6 months
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • At the end of your course, you will receive a Certificate of Studies and a Report of Studies which shows your attendance rate.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • It is usually easy to change your course while you are at CCEL. You can talk to someone in the Academic Team about this. They will check with you whether your level is suitable for the course, if your enrolment is long enough and if it matches with your English needs.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • This is your timetable for your first day at CCEL:

    8.30am – 8.50am - Arrive at CCEL reception (bring your passport and insurance). You will meet some of our staff and the other new students
    9.00am – 10.00am - Welcome / Test and interview
    10.00am – 11.00am - Orientation and tour
    11:00am – 11.15am - Break
    11.15am – 12.15pm - Orientation continued (including your class and timetable information)
    12:15pm – 12.45pm - Lunch
    AND
    12:45pm – 1:45pm - General English students - Orientation to CCEL eLearning
    OR
    1:15pm – 5:30pm - Cambridge Exam Preparation, IELTS, Business English and EAP students join their new class

    Bring your passport and your certificate of medical and travel insurance (English translation) so we can take a copy for your student record.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • At CCEL you will find plenty of people to help you including your teacher and the administration staff. We also have some people who can give you specialised help:

    Student counsellors can help you in your own language. They are available by appointment. The counsellors have been selected because they have lived in New Zealand for a long period of time, and have an excellent understanding of the New Zealand culture and how students will adapt to it.

    The Academic Team is available to discuss your study plans and to advise you on entry requirements to university and other tertiary level study options in New Zealand.

    You can also get advice about extra study you can do to help improve your level of English.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • Yes, students have free Wi-Fi internet access at CCEL Christchurch. There are also computers available at both schools for students to use.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • CCEL Christchurch's location means it has access to good quality homestays very close to the school. Some are within walking distance of CCEL and some are in the bus zone so students take a short bus ride to and from CCEL each day. Travelling in Christchurch is easy and convenient, and the bus service is regular.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022
  • At your homestay you will have a single room with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a heater. Your host family will provide you with dinner and breakfast each day, and three meals at the weekends and during New Zealand holidays. CCEL's host families are carefully chosen for their comfortable homes and their caring attitude towards students. Your student handbook will give you more information about homestay and adapting to life in New Zealand.
    Lisa Lebret, LanguageCourse.Net - Dec 14, 2022

FAQ about Christchurch College of English, Christchurch

  • English courses at Christchurch College of English start at 323 NZD for General English Day (Part time) course with 15 lessons per week. When booking here you benefit from an exclusive discount.
  • The accommodation Homestay (Under 18) is the most popular among all our clients of Christchurch College of English
  • Depending on the chosen course, the maximum number of students at Christchurch College of English varies from 14 students (English for Academic Purposes 1) to 15 students (General English Day (Full time))
  • 96% of teachers at Christchurch College of English hold a university degree. 100% hold a recognized language teaching certificate.
  • The highest Nationality percentage at Christchurch College of English comes from Japan with a 36% representation, followed by students from China (21%) and Thailand (14%).
  • Yes, there is an exclusive discount that only applies when booking online here.
  • Christchurch College of English offers courses from 15 years to 99. Average age is 24 during the summer and 24 for the rest of the year.

PDF brochure / price list of Christchurch College of English

 Prices (PDF)
Prices (PDF)
Pricelist 2025
Pricelist 2025
years
Starting date
Course available
Check-in date
Check-out date
incl.
No surprises! Course material not included
FREE cancellation
FREE changes
Share:
"Excellent" 4.8/5
1.280 reviews
* of LanguageCourse.net on Trustpilot
Data transparency: How the school data is collected and measures taken to ensure data accuracy
Travel with friends - Group Discount
Facebook Share Box city image
Christchurch College of English | Uncensored Reviews
https://www.languagecourse.net/school-christchurch-college-of-english-christchurch.php3?cid=43248
Do you know someone in particular with whom you would love to explore life in Christchurch? Just tag them in your post to Facebook or send them a link to this page in a message or email.

Not sure which course at CCEL Christchurch is best for you?

Get free advice from our language travel experts to help you find the best course for you.

Christchurch
Christchurch city attractiveness rated by our students:
4.4 

Rating: 4.4/5.0

More information about Christchurch including climate data and events on our Christchurch page with a list of all 3 English schools in Christchurch.
Don't just take our
word for it...
Fun stats
  • 1.000.000 US$: in course fees saved.
  • Pioneers: We were among the first sites to publish uncensored reviews of language schools. Established in 1999.
  • Leaders: We are one of the most visited independent sites dedicated to language courses.
  • >20.000 facebook fans.
Terms & ConditionsRefund PolicyPrivacy & CookiesAbout UsContact UsImprintReview & User Content PoliciesTrust & SafetyAffiliate ProgrammeAdd Your School
© 1999 - 2024 LanguageCourse S.L.