The New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage teaches you the skills and knowledge needed to enter the Massage industry or progress to further training or advanced studies. You will learn about anatomy, health and nutrition and professional massage techniques.
One year full-time
2025 Semester 1: 10 February to 21 November
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
The New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage is the entry level qualification required to start your career in the massage industry or to progress to a higher qualification.
You will develop a base knowledge and develop professional skills required. This qualification is well regarded by employers in the Massage Industry.
Students will learn to:
Aim: To train wellness and relaxation massage therapists who can work independently and communicate with other professionals.
Purpose: To provide the health sector with qualified wellness and relaxation massage therapists.
Course content:
Graduates of this diploma will be qualified to enter the Massage Industry as wellness and relaxation massage therapists in a broad range of wellness and relaxation massage settings.
Graduates can work as wellness and relaxation massage therapists in a variety of settings:
To be admitted to this programme, applicants must hold NCEA Level 2 with 10 literacy and 10 numeracy credits, or a relevant qualification at NZQF Level 3, or above, a recognised equivalent; and a declaration indicating a level of health and abilities commensurate with achieving practice competencies in the programme; and a declaration of all existing or pending criminal convictions; and consent to undergo a Police Vet Check. International applicants are required to have an IELTS Academic score of 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5 from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules.
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage (Level 5) and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
Graduates of this qualification are able to continue their studies in:
Classes are held Monday to Wednesday 9am – 4pm at SIT's main Invercargill campus. The remaining days of the week are to be used for study and hands on practice. The timetable varies each semester and is confirmed about two weeks before the semester begins.
Students operate the SIT Massage Clinic on clinic days and sometimes this can go until 6pm at the latest.