17 weeks full-time
Up to two years part-time
Intakes are 17 weeks long
2023 Intake 1: 30 January to 26 May - Applications Close 16 January 2023
2023 Intake 2: 27 March to 21 July - Applications Close 13 March 2023
2023 Intake 3: 12 June to 6 October - Applications Close 29 May 2023
2023 Intake 4: 7 August to 1 December - Applications Close 24 July 2023
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme
International Students
Interested learners please note: all papers are compulsory and must be completed in the order listed below.
AHS100 Introduction to normal human structure and function in a health context (8 credits)
This paper introduces students to normal human structure and function (e.g. those physiological structures and functions that are not impaired by abnormalities or dysfunction) within a health context.
On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
AHS101 Introduction to abnormal human structure and function in a health context (8 credits)
This paper introduces students to abnormal human system structure and function (i.e. those which are in some way different from a normal or healthy state) and provides the skills and knowledge to describe complementary philosophies and a range of health care interventions.
AHS102 Human biology (10 credits)
This paper introduces students to human anatomy and physiology.
AHS103 Measurements, scientific notations and units (10 credits)
This paper introduces students to the basic System International (SI) units of measurement and the derived units used in the applied health sciences. Students will gain the functional mathematical skills and knowledge to undertake quantity calculations and use formulae to solve problems.
AHS104 Ethics in applied health sciences (8 credits)
This paper introduces students to ethical behavior and consumer rights in an applied health sciences context, including disability and community settings.
AHS105 Teamwork in applied health sciences (3 credits)
This paper provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in a team to achieve agreed outcomes in an applied health sciences context.
AHS106 Professional relationships in applied health sciences (4 credits)
This paper provides students with an insight to the professional relationships between applied health sciences practitioners important to health care provision.
AHS107 Cultural identities in applied health sciences (6 credits)
This paper provides students the knowledge and insight to describe their own, and other, cultural identities and the influence of cultural identity on work practices and policies, procedures, and resources used to assist in responding to culture-related issues in applied health sciences.
AHS108 Mental health in applied health sciences (3 credits)
This paper introduces students to the factors that contribute to mental health wellbeing and mental health issues.
Graduates will be equipped with the skills, capabilities, knowledge and attributes needed to advance to Level 4 or above within the context of applied health sciences.
Applicants should demonstrate a likelihood of success in the programme of study. Likelihood of success may be demonstrated through a variety of means, including: relevant work experience (e.g. CV), letter of intent, achievement of NCEA standards in human biology, or an interview.
School LeaversApplicants should be a minimum of 17 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2.
Mature ApplicantsApplicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.
Certificate at Level 3
STUDY OPTIONS
Full time study
Full time study is completing all nine papers (60 credits) in one 17 week intake. This requires around 35 hours of study per week for the duration of the intake.
Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion, and is not guaranteed.
Part time study
The number of papers you select to study per intake should depend on work, family, and other commitments.
All work for a paper must be completed during the intake in which you are enrolled in it. If you do not complete the paper within the intake, you must re-enrol in the paper in a later intake.
The example study plans below are guides only; you are free to select fewer, or more, papers per intake, as time allows. Use the ‘Study Load Calculator’ table below to calculate approximately how many hours per week you will require for your chosen study plan.
Light study load (2 years to complete)
Average study load (1 – 1.5 years to complete)
Full time study load
First enrolment
AHS100 (8 credits)
AHS101 (8 credits)
16 credits
AHS102 (10 credits)
AHS103 (10 credits)
AHS104 (8 credits)
AHS105 (3 credits)
AHS106 (4 credits)
AHS107 (6 credits)
AHS108 (3 credits)
Second enrolment
10 credits
20 credits
Third enrolment
24 credits
Fourth enrolment
8 credits
Fifth enrolment
7 credits
Sixth enrolment
6 credits
Additional information
Credit Transfers
Some NZQA unit standards meet the requirements for their corresponding paper in this programme. If you have previously completed a unit standard with a similar title and/ or content to one of the papers listed above, please contact SIT2LRN administration to see if that unit can be credit transferred into the programme to replace its corresponding paper.
Workforce Restrictions for Children's Workforce
If you have a criminal conviction, and you are studying (or considering studying) toward a qualification that will lead to a job in the state funded sector (including teaching or providing youth services) working directly with children, you need to check whether your conviction could prevent you from working in some roles in your chosen field.
This is because new legislation, the (Vulnerable) Children's Act 2014, will prevent state sector agencies and government-funded service providers from hiring people with convictions for specified offences to work with children in some roles. The restrictions came into effect on 1 July 2015.
You can read the list of the specified offences online here.
You can get more information about the Children's Act here.
This information has been supplied by the Children’s Action Plan Directorate and the Tertiary Education Commission.
All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.
Facilitator Assistance: During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only). All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study. Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme. Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.
Progress reports are sent out 6-8 weeks after the end of each intake.
We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.
Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.
What is the Zero Fees Scheme?
The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees. However, there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment and to student support services throughout your study with us.
Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?
Instructions to Help You with Your Application:
If you are a new student …
Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.
What happens next?
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
Graduates will be prepared for further study in the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Applied Health Sciences Programme of Study) Level 4).
After completing both certificates, students could pursue further study (at diploma or degree level) in health and science related subjects, such as Nursing, Massage, Sport and Exercise, and Midwifery (not available at SIT).
Assessments for this programme include online tests and written, short answer assessments. There are no external exams for this programme.
For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here.
Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study
