Student Life

SPBC is located at 201 Otumoetai Road, Tauranga, New Zealand. 

Tauranga (which means “safe anchorage” in Te reo Māori) is on the north-east coast of the North Island. It is known for its fabulous beaches, surf, and picturesque settings, including its landmark feature Mt Maunganui. With more than 2000 hours of sunshine annually (one of the highest in the country) and healthy rainfall, it has become well known for its farming, horticulture, and forestry.

The Bay of Plenty was named by Captain Cook in late 1769 after he noticed the abundant food supplies at several Māori villages he visited on the coast. Today the population of the Bay of Plenty is around 325,000 with 145,000 in Tauranga city and district. It is one of the fastest growing districts in New Zealand. It is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Auckland, where one third (nearly 1.5 million) of New Zealand’s population live.

Our campus is within walking distance of shops and public transport, and a five minute drive from the Tauranga town centre. The Otumoetai Church of Christ is also just five minutes away - convenient for many international students who make this their church home during their time in New Zealand.

For more about Tauranga, explore the links in our Living and Studying in New Zealand section.

Our premises includes the main building as well as several on-campus student houses. 

The main building features:

• Administrative offices

• Lecture rooms

• Computer labs (including photocopying and printing facilities)

• Free wifi for students with their own devices

• A library, containing more than 6,500 books, journals, videos, and resources.
  Each faculty member's private library is also available for student use.

• Study areas

• Student kitchen and dining, 

• Bathroom amenities, and 

• A student recreation lounge.

Learn more about student housing.

Our students tell us the supportive, culturally-diverse, Christian community at SPBC is one of the most enriching aspects of their study here.

As the saying goes, you get out what you put in, so we encourage students to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

These opportunities include:

• • Weekly lunch fellowship with staff and students.

  • Weekly prayer and devotion with staff and students.

  • Living on campus with fellow students, sharing meals, visiting, studying together and caring for one another.

  • Opportunities to get involved in local church ministries.

  • Organising or taking part in community service projects, trips, and social get-togethers.

As a hub for mission and ministry training in the South Pacific region, SPBC also hosts a range of visiting teachers, missionaries, past students, and others who often provide excellent connections for students, both in their study and development, and also their future ministry. 

This is in addition to the deep and lasting friendships that often form among classmates who experience this time of spiritual transformation together.

The information below serves as a guide only. Schedules are published to students, and are subject to change. Part-time students will be provided with the current quarterly schedule during their admission process.

Daily Schedule

• Classes generally begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 3:45 pm, except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when classes end at 12:15 pm. (Exceptions may apply).

• Lunch is from 12:15 to 1:15 pm Monday through Friday.

• Theology in Action (TIA) - a time of devotion, discussion, and practical application of course content - is scheduled immediately after lunch (1:15 pm) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and immediately after the last class on Wednesdays (12:15 pm).

• Wednesday afternoons are sometimes scheduled for library research and occasionally classes may be scheduled for the evening.

Quarterly Schedule

A quarterly schedule of classes is given to students for planning purposes.

Yearly Schedule

Orientation Week and the first classes happen in early February. Classes finish in early December, immediately followed by Graduation. This gives 44 weeks of classes, interspersed with public holidays and holiday blocks between quarters. Students receive a schedule for the year during Orientation.

2022 quarter dates and scheduled breaks are outlined below (subject to change).

Quarter 1: 8 February – 14 April    |    Scheduled Break: 15 April – 1 May

Quarter 2: 2 May – 8 July     |     Scheduled Break: 9 July – 24 July

Quarter 3: 25 July – 23 September     |     Scheduled Break: 24 September – 9 October

Quarter 4: 10 October – 9 December     |     Scheduled Graduation Ceremony: 10 December

2023 quarter dates and scheduled breaks are outlined below (subject to change).

Quarter 1: 30 January (online) or 6 February (on campus) – 7 April    |    Scheduled Break: 8 - 23 April

Quarter 2: 24 April – 30 June     |     Scheduled Break: 1 July – 16 July

Quarter 3: 17 July – 22 September     |     Scheduled Break: 23 September – 8 October

Quarter 4: 9 October – 8 December     |     Scheduled Graduation Ceremony: 9 December

Meet the dedicated staff and faculty at SPBC.

Learn about the qualifications and study options we offer.