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New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) - Healthcare

Are you interested in preparing for further study in nursing? The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation is your start to an exciting future in the healthcare sector.

Level
4
Credits
60 (0.5 EFTS)
Campus
Waitākere
Start dates
February or July
Duration
Full-time for 16-weeks or part-time options available

Call us now on 0800 10 95 10

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Programme overview

This programme is ideal if you want to go on to higher-level study in nursing. You’ll learn the relevant literacy, numeracy and biological science skills you will need to excel in your dream career. While this certificate programme is not equivalent to University Entrance, successful completion will allow you to progress to higher-level programmes.

In this programme, you’ll also learn more about the anatomy of the body, psychology, how to calculate drug quantities, and key research skills which will set you ahead of the pack for an exciting healthcare career.

Highlights

  • Tailored content for Unitec’s Bachelor of Nursing; this means the content is highly relevant to the Unitec programme in which you want to enter;
  • In this programme you’ll already be a part of a Nursing student body – you’ll be learning with other aspiring nurses;
  • A chance to complete a collaborative project in order to develop the skills you'll need for a career in nursing;
  • A mix of classroom sessions, practical workshops, guest speakers, discussions, presentations and online learning;
  • Learn from an experienced and multi-cultural team whose value of partnership and care is reflected in quality teaching, support, and innovative curriculum delivery
  • A chance to take engage with Unitec's marae, a great setting to explore mātauranga Māori and the role of culture in communication.

Where to from here?

Upon successful completion of this programme, you can apply for study in Unitec’s Bachelor of Nursing, where you will be eligible to become a registered nurse.

Please note: International students who graduate will NOT be eligible for a post-study work visa upon completion of this programme. 

Admission requirements

Domestic students

To apply for this programme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Academic requirements
  • General admission, special admission, or discretionary admission requirements
  • English language requirements
  • You will need to complete a pre-entry Skills Review session

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for the Healthcare Pathway, you must meet one of the following: 

  • UE numeracy or equivalent

  • A minimum total of 40 NCEA Level 2 credits across four approved subjects, including a minimum of:  
    • 12 credits in English at Level 1 or higher 
    • 12 credits in Science at Level 1 or higher 

Or 

  • A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., International Baccalaureate or Cambridge) 

Or

General Admission

  • You’ll be 16 years old or older when the programme starts. 
  • If you’re under 16, you’ll need to complete an Early Release Exemption form. For more information on this process please see The Ministry of Education's website here.

Special Admission

  • You’ll be 20 years old or older when the programme starts
  • Show evidence of your work, life, or study experience (e.g., a previous qualification or job history)
  • You will complete a pre-entry Skills review

Discretionary Admission

  • You’re under 20 and don’t meet the general admission requirements 
  • Your level of preparedness for study at the required level will be reviewed and you will undertake a Skills Review. 

English language requirements for international students

You must meet one of the following:

For more information download the programme regulations.

International Student

To apply for this programme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Academic requirements
  • General admission, special admission, or discretionary admission requirements
  • English language requirements
  • You will need to complete a pre-entry Skills Review session

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for the Healthcare Pathway, you must meet one of the following: 

  • UE numeracy or equivalent

  • A minimum total of 40 NCEA Level 2 credits across four approved subjects, including a minimum of:  
    • 12 credits in English at Level 1 or higher 
    • 12 credits in Science at Level 1 or higher 

Or 

  • A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., International Baccalaureate or Cambridge) 

Or

General Admission

  • You’ll be 16 years old or older when the programme starts. 
  • If you’re under 16, you’ll need to complete an Early Release Exemption form. For more information on this process please see The Ministry of Education's website here.

Special Admission

  • You’ll be 20 years old or older when the programme starts
  • Show evidence of your work, life, or study experience (e.g., a previous qualification or job history)
  • You will complete a pre-entry Skills review

Discretionary Admission

  • You’re under 20 and don’t meet the general admission requirements 
  • Your level of preparedness for study at the required level will be reviewed and you will undertake a Skills Review. 

English language requirements for international students

You must meet one of the following:

For more information download the programme regulations.

Courses and timetables

For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2026; please check back again soon.

Debug


program code:NZCSP - HEALTH

Compulsory Course ID:012685 - 4001 - Academic Skills for Science, Healthcare and Social Work

Course count:1280
SELECT DISTINCT (CATALOG_NBR),ACAD_PROG,CRSE_ID,DESCRLONG,SUBJECT,AIM,NQF_LEVEL,NQF_CREDIT,CATALOG_NBR,PREREQS,MANDANTORY_CRS,FULL_YEAR FROM PS_UTC_IR_CRSE_VW WHERE ACAD_PROG = "NZCSP" AND (ACAD_PLAN = "HEALTH" OR ACAD_PLAN = "") AND MANDANTORY_CRS = "N" AND FULL_YEAR = "N" ORDER BY NQF_LEVEL,SUBJECT,CATALOG_NBR;
Elective Course ID:012311 - 3913 - Nursing Maths

Course count:1092

Elective Course ID:013227 - 4704 - Exploring Leadership

Course count:64

Elective Course ID:013229 - 4403 - Human Biology for Healthcare

Course count:1120

Elective Course ID:013221 - 4002 - Community Development

Course count:36

Elective Course ID:013222 - 4003 - Maths for Healthcare

Course count:54

Elective Course ID:013223 - 4004 - Bioscience 4

Course count:1176

Elective Course ID:013224 - 4005 - Psychology 4

Course count:36

Elective Course ID:013225 - 4006 - Applied Maths

Course count:54

Compulsory first Course array:4

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Elective first Course array:3

$elective courses array - array(8) { [0]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "3" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012311" ["subject"]=> string(4) "FSTU" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "3913" ["description"]=> string(13) "Nursing Maths" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(177) "This course is designed to develop tauira confidence, understanding and communication of mathematics used in nursing contexts as preparation for further study and/or employment." ["prereqs"]=> string(216) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3) programme or the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [1]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013227" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECS" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4704" ["description"]=> string(20) "Exploring Leadership" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(279) "This course introduces the concepts of leadership and Rangatira. This is done through exploring the place of self- leadership and the influence of others in our life. Models, theories, and concepts are studied, discussed, and applied through reflective and practical assessments." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [2]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013229" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BEHC" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4403" ["description"]=> string(28) "Human Biology for Healthcare" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(187) "This course introduces pathway-related concepts in human biology and healthcare as well as developing skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [3]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013221" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4002" ["description"]=> string(21) "Community Development" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(186) "This course will provide project experience using social change in a community development context to prepare tauira for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [4]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013222" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4003" ["description"]=> string(20) "Maths for Healthcare" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(311) "This course is designed to extend tauira confidence and understanding of mathematical and statistical concepts and processes that are needed within a nursing or health context. They will use mathematical methods, to solve contextualised problems and communicate findings using appropriate mathematical language." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [5]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013223" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4004" ["description"]=> string(12) "Bioscience 4" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(170) "This course aims to develop a working knowledge of fundamental biological concepts, problems and communication skills needed for further academic study and/or employment." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [6]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013224" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4005" ["description"]=> string(12) "Psychology 4" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(287) "This course introduces tauira to the dimensions of biopsychosocial health and wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual, and explores the external and internal factors influencing biopsychosocial health and wellbeing within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand society." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [7]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013225" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4006" ["description"]=> string(13) "Applied Maths" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(152) "This course introduces and develops pathway-related mathematical skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.??" ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } }

Compulsory coursesElective courses
Level 4
Level 3Level 4
Courses Credits Aim
Academic Skills for Science, Healthcare and Social Work(BPED4001) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces pathway-related concepts and develops pathway-related academic skills to prepare tauira for further academic study or employment in their chosen pathway.
Courses Credits Aim
Nursing Maths(FSTU3913) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course is designed to develop tauira confidence, understanding and communication of mathematics used in nursing contexts as preparation for further study and/or employment.
Courses Credits Aim
Exploring Leadership(BECS4704) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces the concepts of leadership and Rangatira. This is done through exploring the place of self- leadership and the influence of others in our life. Models, theories, and concepts are studied, discussed, and applied through reflective and practical assessments.
Human Biology for Healthcare(BEHC4403) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces pathway-related concepts in human biology and healthcare as well as developing skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.
Community Development(BPED4002) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course will provide project experience using social change in a community development context to prepare tauira for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.
Maths for Healthcare(BPED4003) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course is designed to extend tauira confidence and understanding of mathematical and statistical concepts and processes that are needed within a nursing or health context. They will use mathematical methods, to solve contextualised problems and communicate findings using appropriate mathematical language.
Bioscience 4(BPED4004) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course aims to develop a working knowledge of fundamental biological concepts, problems and communication skills needed for further academic study and/or employment.
Psychology 4(BPED4005) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces tauira to the dimensions of biopsychosocial health and wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual, and explores the external and internal factors influencing biopsychosocial health and wellbeing within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand society.
Applied Maths(BPED4006) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces and develops pathway-related mathematical skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.??
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Page last edited: 13 Oct 2025