Canterbury University's preparing to build more student accommodation.

A site's being prepared on Waimairi Road to build a 60-bed student accommodation block - extending the existing student halls.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr says the university's taking proactive steps as student numbers are expected to reach pre-quake levels in the next three years.

He says the halls have never been so full, and extra beds are needed help to offset a rise of almost 20 percent in international students.

The new block will be finished for next year's first semester.