The University of Canterbury operates primarily across an expansive, integrated campus footprint in the western suburb of Ilam in Christchurch, New Zealand, alongside specialized regional field stations and satellite educational sites. Established in 1873 as Canterbury College and originally located in central Christchurch, the institution relocated during the mid-twentieth century to its current parkland setting, offering comprehensive academic programs spanning arts, business, law, science, engineering, health, and education.

The flagship Ilam Campus spans 76 hectares of landscaped grounds, native flora, and waterways, situated roughly five kilometers west of Christchurch’s central business district. Serving as the main academic, administrative, and cultural core of the university, Ilam houses the majority of the institution's faculties within modern learning complexes and research hubs. The physical landscape is anchored by the 11-story Puaka–James Hight Building, which houses the central library, alongside major facility footprints including the Ernest Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre, the Engineering Core, and high-specification laboratories for physical, chemical, and biological sciences. Student life and governance are centered around the Haere-roa student union complex, supported by campus amenities such as the UC Rec Centre, health clinics, retail hubs, and extensive student residential accommodation villages including College House, University Hall, and Ilam Apartments.

Immediately adjacent to the main Ilam site, the university incorporates the 11-hectare Dovedale Campus footprint, acquired through a merger with the former Christchurch College of Education. Dovedale features specialized teaching spaces, performing arts areas, early childhood learning centers, and additional student housing complexes like the Sonoda and Hayashi residences. In the central city, the university maintains a historic connection to its founding grounds through the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, located inside the Christchurch Arts Centre.

Extending its footprint beyond Christchurch, the university maintains regional satellite campuses and specialized scientific research stations across the South Island, including the Nelson Campus for teacher education, the Mount John University Observatory at Lake Tekapo for optical astronomy, and environmental field stations in Cass, Kaikōura, and Westport. Across all sites, the University of Canterbury integrates modern research and educational facilities with parkland environments connected directly by urban transport links.