Get into the land based primary industry sector with the New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3). Learn the skills and knowledge needed to be able to actively contribute to the environmentally sustainable performance of a land based industry in Agriculture or Horticulture.
This programme will provide a base for learners to progress to more advanced studies in land based sustainable practices.
12 weeks full-time
Up to two years part-time
Intakes are 12 weeks long
2021 Intake 5: 09 August to 29 October - Applications Close 28 July 2021
2021 Intake 6: 20 September to 10 December - Applications Close 8 September 2021
This programme is available for free under the Government's Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
International students - $100.00 per credit
The New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) will teach you the skills and knowledge to actively contribute to environmental, conservation and land based management practices to enhance sustainability. You will be able to choose to focus on Horticulture, Agriculture or both strands.
This course will teach you to identify and apply knowledge of sustainable environmental, conservation and land based management practices to activities in a land based context.
You will learn:
Core Compulsory
PIT100 Options for Sustainable Practices (10 credits)
This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate a defined area and identify sustainable practices for management of the area. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
Compulsory - select 10 credits from
PIT103 Application of Sustainable Management Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces sustainable management practices for a specific environmental resource or issue, such as soil structure, air quality, water quality or quantity, effluent or waste and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant sustainable management practice. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
PIT105 Application of Conservation Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces conservation practices relevant to land and energy and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to meet sustainable management goals. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
Students are advised to select their remaining 20 credits from either the Horticulture-focused programme papers OR the Agriculture-focused programme papers.
Horticulture programme of study - select 20 credits from
PIT101 Application of Sustainable Planting Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces sustainable planting practices which students may apply in a variety of situations, including riparian zones, wetlands, companion planting, green crops, animal feed, or land stabilisation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
PIT102 Application of Sustainable Food Production (10 credits)
This paper introduces sustainable food production practices which students may apply in a local situation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
PIT104 Application of Plant Health and Protection Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces plant health and protection practices relevant to a variety of situations, including nutrient availability, protection from elements or animals, and pruning regimes and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to improve or protect planting areas. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
Agriculture programme of study - select 20 credits from
PIT106 Application of Livestock Management Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces sustainable livestock management practices which students may apply in a variety of situations, including fencing, stocking intensity, feeding, welfare management, and regional conditions. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
PIT107 Application of Sustainable Livestock Production (10 credits)
This paper introduces sustainable livestock production practices which students may apply in a local situation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
PIT108 Application of Livestock Health and Protection Practice (10 credits)
This paper introduces livestock health and protection practices relevant to a variety of situations, including protection from elements, health care regimes (e.g. drenching, shearing, inoculations), housing, and feed requirements, and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to improve or protect planting areas. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:
Graduates of this qualification may be self-employed, or employed as Iwi workers, Community Council workers, growers, farmers, farm workers or Department of Conservation workers.
School Leavers
Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2 as follows:
Mature Applicants
Applicants 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, 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
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36 Language Cert - B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than PASS in each skill Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
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. 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 and a non-refundable administration fee. 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 Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) and be awarded this qualification, the student must successfully achieve:
Please note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme reqirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
