Enrolment

Key Dates for Enrolment


23 May 2024 – Open Day

Year 9 intake sessions at 9am and 1pm.

Year 7 intake session at 11am. Registration not required.

26 July 2024

Applications close

31 July 2024

Ballots if necessary

1 August 2024

Acceptance emailed

12 August 2024

Last day to accept place

Interviews – tbc

Forming Faith Together Evenings – tbc

Orientation Year 9 students only – tbc

23 October 2024 – Orientation Year 7 students only


The staff at Villa Maria are committed to creating lifelong learners and nurture each girl and her academic needs.

We are extremely proud of our academic success.

NZQA data shows that Villa Maria students consistently perform well above the national average for all New Zealand schools. Striving for excellence is part of the College culture, and girls are guided and supported to set goals and achieve their potential. Our smaller class sizes are a significant advantage, and our teachers are specialists in their field and passionate about educating girls.

Enrolment

Enrolment Process

Villa Maria College has a strong reputation and therefore applications for places always exceed the number of places available. It is important that prospective students apply early.
If we have places available after accepting Preference students we are permitted to take up to 5% of our roll in Non-Preference students. Non-preference students need to supply supporting documentation.

If you are seeking to apply for admission to the College in the next enrolment year or future years, please apply online by following this link or you can download this enrolment form to fill in and return to the College.

Enrolments are welcome from the following parishes.

Please click the links below for the parish boundary maps:
Christchurch North Parish
Christchurch West Parish
Christchurch South Parish
Selwyn Parish
Akaroa Parish
Mid-Canterbury Parish

Waiting List
If the total number of applications is greater than the number of places available in any year level, unsuccessful Applicants will have their names recorded on a waiting list. Those applicants on the waiting list may be offered places at a later date if places become available. Preference applicants shall have priority above non-reference applicants.

Villa Maria College Foundation Scholarship

The Villa Maria College Foundation Scholarship is to support a student entering at Year 9, who is at risk of not accessing a Catholic (Mercy) education. The criteria of being at risk’ is where there is financial hardship, whānau/family upheaval, whānau/family illness, or similar situations.

To be eligible for a VMC Foundation Scholarship you must:

  • Be a Preference student with a commitment to Mercy values* as you understand them and eligible for enrolment to Year 9 within the Villa Maria College Enrolment Scheme;
  • Be participating in special character activities within your current context;
  • Display leadership qualities;
  • Be able to explain the difficulties that may prevent you from attending Villa Maria College.

VMC Foundation Scholarship Application Form
VMC Foundation Scholarship Objective and Criteria for Year 9

Enrolment Criteria for Preference Students

A girl is entitled to preference of Enrolment if she meets at least one of the following criteria:

  1. The girl has been baptised, or is being prepared for baptism, in the Catholic Church.
  2. The girl’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of her siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.
  3. At least one parent/guardian is Catholic.
  4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a significant familial adult such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle who is actively involved in the child’s upbringing undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.
  5. One or both of a girl’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.

Download the guidelines for Preference for Enrolment for NZ Schools, by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference here.
Download the Preference Form for Secondary School students here.

Enrolment Criteria for Non-Preference Students

Non-Preference applicants may only be enrolled if enrolment places remain after all Preference applicants have been enrolled and the College Board of Trustees is satisfied that enrolment of the non-Preference applicants will not compromise its ability to offer places to Preference applicants who may apply for enrolment at a later date. The number of places available for non-Preference applicants will be governed by the maximum number allowable from time to time under the College Integration Agreement. Priority of any such non-Preference applications will be given in accordance with the following order of priority:

  • Students who are sisters of current students
  • Students who are sisters of former students (evidence may be required to the satisfaction of the College)
  • Students who are daughters of past students
  • Students who are daughters of current College staff employed on a permanent basis by the College Board of Trustees
  • Students who are daughters of current members of the Board of Trustees (Trustees who ae either elected or appointed)
  • The geographical location of their residential address.

If, at any level of the criteria listed above, there are more applicants than available places, priority will be given according to the date of receipt of the applicants’ enrolment forms.

Documents & Links

Enrolment Documents