Case Study: University of Canterbury Pioneers a Global Digital Prospectus

Background

The University of Canterbury (UC), a world-class institution renowned for its academic excellence, set out to reimagine its approach to international student recruitment. As prospective students and their families increasingly expect dynamic, accessible, and personalised information, traditional printed prospectuses no longer meet their needs.

UC required a digital-first solution capable of engaging global audiences, while offering a tailored experience for the strategically important Chinese market.

Solution: A Global Platform with Localised Expertise

UMS partnered with the University of Canterbury to create an innovative Global Digital Prospectus, designed to connect the university with prospective students, parents, and agents around the world.

Built on research-backed insights and UMS’s international student lifecycle methodology, the platform is underpinned by three key pillars:

Powerful Search & Discovery

A mobile-optimised global microsite serves as the foundation of the experience. Its intelligent search and filter functions allow students to easily explore UC’s diverse programs by subject area, study level, or keyword, and quickly compare options side by side.

Data-Driven Recruitment Insights

An integrated analytics dashboard gives UC’s recruitment team real-time visibility into global user behaviour, program popularity, and enquiry trends. These insights enable data-informed marketing and recruitment strategies across UC’s prioritised markets.

Tailored Engagement for the Chinese Market

To better reach Chinese students, parents, and agents, UMS developed a dedicated WeChat Mini Program that mirrors the core functions of the global platform. The Mini Program delivers a native, mobile-first experience within the app Chinese audiences use every day, making content sharing, enquiry submission, and brand engagement effortless.

Watch the Case Study Video

🎥 Discover how the University of Canterbury is redefining global student engagement with its new Digital Prospectus.

Video Player

https://www.umssocial.com/umsblog/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/UC_Digital_Prospectus_720p-1.mp4

00:00

00:00

01:16

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

The video showcases how UC and UMS collaborated to build a sustainable, mobile-first recruitment tool that will underpin UC’s future international marketing campaigns and support its presence at global market events.