Programme overview
Please note: While this certificate programme is not equivalent to NCEA Level 3, successful completion will allow you to progress to higher-level programmes.
The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3) will give you the confidence, knowledge, and skills you need to progress into higher education or a job. Each programme has been put together with employment pathways in mind, so you can be sure the skills you learn are relevant.
Upon successful completion, you can continue your study journey in the following subjects:
- Architecture and architectural technology
- Art and Design
- Business
- Computing
- Construction management and quantity surveying
- Early childhood education
- Engineering (electrical and civil)
- Environmental and animal sciences
- Land surveying
- Nursing and medical imaging
- Screen arts, acting, and technical production
- Social work and community development
- Sport, exercise and recreation
- Trades (automotive, mechanical, carpentry, plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying)
Once you've applied, we'll get in touch to find out what you want to specialise in. This will determine what courses you can choose from.
Highlights
- Learn in a supportive adult-learning environment: our lecturers are friendly, supportive and knowledgeable.
- Develop the study skills, background knowledge and confidence to succeed in your future studies and in the workplace.
- A mix of group and individual work, seminars, debates, whānau hui, oral and written exercises, and self-directed learning.
- When you successfully complete this programme, you will be able to apply to enter other higher-level programmes.
To complete this programme you need to pass four courses, totalling 60 credits. Each course is worth 15 credits.
Please note: International students who graduate will NOT be eligible for a post-study work visa upon completion of this programme.
Youth Guarantee Scheme
If you are between 16 and 19 years old and did not achieve NCEA Level 2 at high school, you may be eligible to study for free for one year under the Youth Guarantee Scheme. We have up to 60 places available. To see if you qualify, take a look at the scholarship page here: Youth Guarantee Scheme.
Skills Review
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Skills Review. A Skills Review is a session of online quizzes that check your current reading, writing and numeracy levels. The results will help us place you into the best programme (or individual courses) for your needs and career pathway.
Part 1: After submitting your application, you will be sent an email with the Skills Review booking details, so you can choose a date that suits you. Instructions and login details will be emailed to you the day before your session. On the scheduled day you will log in on your home computer, laptop or phone and complete the assessments anytime between 10am - 10pm. This isn’t an exam – we don’t expect you to get all the answers correct.
Part 2: Once the assessments are marked (within a day or two), one of our team will be in touch by phone to discuss your results, including our recommendations for how to start your studies at Unitec.
Pathways
In order to best prepare you for further study, the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3) offers six pathways designed to equip you with the skills you need to progress into your choice of higher-level programmes.
Health Science and Nursing (Waitakere campus)
This pathway is appropriate for students preparing for Nursing, Medical Imaging, Animal Sciences, Health Sciences or similar. It contains 4 compulsory courses:
- Nursing maths.
- Bioscience.
- Psychology.
- Identity & Communication.
Please note this pathway is available for students with a good score in the maths review only.
Health Science and Nursing (Mt Albert campus)
This pathway is appropriate for students preparing for Nursing, Animal Sciences, Applied Science and Biodiversity, Health Sciences or similar. It contains 3 compulsory courses and 1 elective:
- Bioscience.
- Identity & Communication.
- A maths course (a suitable course will be selected in your skills review).
- One elective selected from: Cultures in Aotearoa, Psychology, Art & Design 3D, Digital Technology.
Art and Design, Architecture and Interior Design
This pathway is appropriate for Art & Design, Architecture, Interior Design or similar. It contains 2 compulsory courses and 2 electives:
- Art & Design 2D.
- Identity & Communication.
- A maths course (a suitable course will be selected in your skills review).
- One elective selected from: Cultures in Aotearoa, Psychology, Art & Design 3D, Digital Technology, Toi Māori.
Students considering moving to Art and Design are highly recommended to choose Toi Māori and Art & Design 3D, and will not be required to study maths. Architecture and Interior Design students will need a maths course.
Engineering and Surveying
This pathway is appropriate for Engineering, Construction Management, Land Surveying, Quantity Surveying or similar. It contains 2 compulsory courses, 1 Maths course, and either 1 elective, or a second Maths course depending on your skills and interests:
- Physics.
- Identity & Communication.
- A maths course (a suitable course will be selected in your skills review).
- A second maths course, or one elective selected from: Cultures in Aotearoa, Psychology, Art & Design 3D, Digital Technology.
Early Childhood and Social Work
This pathway is appropriate for students preparing for Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Youth Work, Health and Wellbeing or similar. It contains 3 compulsory courses and 1 elective:
- Psychology.
- Identity & Communication.
- A maths course (a suitable course will be selected in your skills review).
- One elective selected from: Cultures in Aotearoa, Art & Design 3D, Digital Technology, Toi Māori.
Business
This pathway is appropriate for students preparing for Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, HR, or similar. It contains 3 compulsory courses and 1 elective:
- Introduction to Business.
- Identity & Communication.
- A maths course (a suitable course will be selected in your skills review).
- One elective selected from: Pathway Project (Business), Cultures in Aotearoa, Psychology, Art & Design 3D, Digital Technology, Toi Māori.
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
For this programme, you will need the following:
- 8 credits at NCEA Level 1 in English (4 in reading, 4 in writing);
- If you don't have NCEA, we will also accept a relevant qualification at Level 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework or above or an equivalent qualification;
- A minimum of 3 years' secondary education;
- Be at least 16 years old by the time the programme begins.
English requirements
If English is your second language, you will need one or more of the following:
- Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance
- Be able to provide evidence you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency
- Have achieved at least one English proficiency outcome in the last two years
If you don’t meet the English criteria above, we have a range of English Language programmes available, depending on your current level of ability.
If you don’t meet these requirements, you may still apply under special or discretionary entrance.
Skills review
You may be asked to come to a Skills Review session either online or at our Mt Albert campus. During this session, we will check your current reading, writing and maths skills and will give you the opportunity to talk to our friendly academic staff about your job plans and you can find out more about what Unitec can offer you. You can book your Skills review session here.
For advice about your career and study options, contact one of our friendly advisors at our Careers Centre.
For more information download the programme regulations:
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses including timetables, please click on the course names below.
