New Zealand Certificate in Study And Career Preparation (Level 4) - Applied Science

Credits 60 (0.5 EFTS)

Campus Mt Albert

Career opportunities

This programme prepares you for further study toward a career in ecology, conservation and biodiversity management.

Highlights

• Tailored for Unitec’s Bachelor of Applied Science, meaning it’ll prepare you for the programme you want to enter.

• As a student in this programme, you’ll be part of our applied science student body – learning alongside other aspiring environmental scientists.

• Learn from lecturers who are eager to share their industry experience with you.

• A chance to complete a collaborative project and develop the skills you’ll need for a career in biodiversity management.

• A mix of classroom sessions, practical workshops, critique sessions, guest speakers, discussions, presentations and online learning.

• A chance to engage with Unitec’s marae, a great setting to explore mātauranga Māori and the role of culture in communication

Start dates February or July

Duration Full-time for 16-weeks or part-time options available

Annual fees $3,200 (NZD)

(Approximate domestic fees only. Includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee levy)

Are you interested in preparing for further study in applied science?

The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation is your start to an exciting future in biodiversity management.

Programme overview

As our human footprint increasingly makes its mark on the planet, conservation experts are in demand. In this programme, you’ll explore how ecosystems functionand become a leader in the biosecurity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

You’ll learn and develop the relevant literacy, numeracy and scientific skills you’ll need to excel in your dream career – and meet the admission requirements to our Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) degree programme.

Admission requirements

For this programme, you’ll need:

Academic

1. Four years’ secondary education

2. To be 16 years old by the time the programme starts

3. A total of 40 credits at NCEA Level 2 from four subjects

4. 12 credits at NCEA Level 1 or higher in English

5. 12 credits at NCEA Level 1 or higher in science

6. University Entrance numeracy (or equivalent)

English

If English is not your first language, you’ll need one or more of the following:

• Achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University Entrance

• Provide evidence that you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency such as IELTS

• 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.

There are additional English requirements for international students – you can find more information on our website.

Other options

If you don’t meet these requirements, you'll need one of the following:

• A relevant qualification at Level 3 or above on the NZQF, or equivalent

• The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3) including FSTU 3921 Bioscience

• Attend a Skills Review session where your literacy and numeracy levels will be assessed (see pg. 11).

• You could apply for special or discretionary admission

For more information download the programme regulations: unitec.ac.nz/biodiversity

International Students, please visit unitec.ac.nz/international

Applied Molecular Solutions Laboratory

If you’re interested in the inner workings of animals and plants, this lab is fully equipped for DNA extraction and analysis.

Second year Bachelor of Applied Science students gain first-hand experience in the lab and in their third year (if they take on a research project that utilises molecular techniques), this lab will become their second home.

Some cool research projects currently on the go include DNA barcoding of possible biological control agents, bioremediation of contaminated soils, and the molecular analysis of seabird diets.

The GIS Laboratory

Where science meets tech, the Geographic Information System (GIS) Laboratory has 40 workstations complete with industry standard ArcGIS and associated software.

Running on high-performance Graphics Processing Units on Virtual Device Interfaces, with large 24-inch monitors, these computers can run realistic 3D modelling, spatial analysis, image rendering, and other computing intensive tasks.