“What I enjoy best is that we got to do a lot of critical essays and forums that tickle our
academic creativity.”
Agatha Leiur Senina Araneta
EASTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Te Aho a Māui | New Zealand
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science offers a selection of courses designed to meet the needs of nurses, health practitioners, health sector managers and other professionals whose practice has a focus on health. The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science may be completed with or without a specialty option.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science offers a selection of courses designed to meet the needs of nurses, health practitioners, health sector managers and other professionals whose practice has a focus on health. The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science may be completed with or without a specialty option.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science offers a selection of online and blended delivery courses designed to meet the needs of nurses, health practitioners, health sector managers and other professionals whose practice has a focus on health. It is comprised of 60 credits, which is considered to be equivalent to six months full-time study or up to two years part-time study.
The programme is characterised by advanced study in a specific nursing or health science discipline, requiring a foundation of undergraduate knowledge and skills achieved through previous tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.
Upon graduating with the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science students will have developed their knowledge and skills of critical analysis and constructive synthesis and their application to high quality approaches to health care delivery.
As a graduate of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science you may be able to credit these courses to the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science or the Master of Health Science (pending successfully achieving the specified academic entry criteria). In addition, registered nurse graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate may choose to progress into the Master of Nursing Science or Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) programme (pending successfully achieving the specified academic and practice entry criteria).
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science is an interdisciplinary programme.
2025 Course Options
We highly recommend that you take the opportunity to discuss your study options with the Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator, prior to enrolment, to help ensure that you select the most appropriate pathway to meet your career goals.
For nurses contact:
Renee Goldbert (Nursing) on 06 830 1545, or email rgoldbert@eit.ac.nz
For non-nurses contact:
Dr Russell Davies (Health Science) on 06 830 6060, or email rdavies@eit.ac.nz
Pending successful completion of the required academic entry requirements, graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science may progress on to the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science or Master of Health Science.
Graduates who hold a current Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate may progress to the Master of Nursing Science or Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Pathway).
Possible career outcomes include a role in:
The academic entry requirement for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science is one of the following:
An interview may be part of the application process.
Additional entry requirements for the specified nursing practice endorsements may be required, including:
Special Conditions
For acceptance into some of the nursing courses, applicants must provide evidence of a current Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate.
For nurses considering the nurse practitioner pathway, please seek guidance from the Nursing Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator in regard to course choices before enrolling.
Contact Jamie Hanley on 06 830 1111 or email jhanley@eit.ac.nz
Applicants from countries in which English is not the primary spoken language must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme. Ways in which English language fluency may be demonstrated include:
Completion of a programme of study in which English was the language of instruction (conditions apply*)
Approved scores on IELTS tests, namely an Academic score of 6.5 with no band lower than 6 (or accepted international equivalents)
*See NZQA English language entry requirements for international learners at https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/
Applicants may be admitted with credit transfer or recognition of prior learning. The Postgraduate Programmes Cluster Committee has discretion in the granting of academic credit.
Academic credit may be awarded as specified credit where there is a substantial match between previous learning and the course for which academic credit is sought; or unspecified credit where the learning is broadly relevant to, and at an equivalent level to, the course for which academic credit is sought.
Credit granted shall not be for course(s) completed as part of an undergraduate degree, nor shall credit be granted that exceeds one-half of the total programme credits.
A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/entry with credit application pack is available on enrolment. It is recommended that applications for RPL/entry with credit are made as part of your initial application. Entry with credit cannot be processed until you are enrolled.
For further information please contact the Postgraduate Programmes Administrator, Stacey Wong, on 06 830 1507.
Make sure you have read and understood the entry requirements for your situation and background.
Entry requirements can be different for domestic and international students.
The next intake date(s) for your chosen course and campus are listed in the Course Details panel on this page.
Dates can vary between campuses, so make sure you have selected the campus you wish to study at.
Visit https://www.eit.ac.nz/fees/ to see the fees for this programme.
If your course requires any supporting forms, they will be listed below under ‘Supporting Documentation’
You’ll need an up-to-date email address to start your online application.
You’ll also need to know what you want to study – your degree or programme and majors and/or minors, and the courses you plan to take.
You may be asked to submit supporting documentation with your application.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science offers a selection of online and blended delivery courses designed to meet the needs of nurses, health practitioners, health sector managers and other professionals whose practice has a focus on health. It is comprised of 60 credits, which is considered to be equivalent to six months full-time study or up to two years part-time study.
The programme is characterised by advanced study in a specific nursing or health science discipline, requiring a foundation of undergraduate knowledge and skills achieved through previous tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.
Upon graduating with the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science students will have developed their knowledge and skills of critical analysis and constructive synthesis and their application to high quality approaches to health care delivery.
As a graduate of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science you may be able to credit these courses to the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science or the Master of Health Science (pending successfully achieving the specified academic entry criteria). In addition, registered nurse graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate may choose to progress into the Master of Nursing Science or Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) programme (pending successfully achieving the specified academic and practice entry criteria).
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science is an interdisciplinary programme.
2025 Course Options
We highly recommend that you take the opportunity to discuss your study options with the Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator, prior to enrolment, to help ensure that you select the most appropriate pathway to meet your career goals.
For nurses contact:
Renee Goldbert (Nursing) on 06 830 1545, or email rgoldbert@eit.ac.nz
For non-nurses contact:
Dr Russell Davies (Health Science) on 06 830 6060, or email rdavies@eit.ac.nz
Pending successful completion of the required academic entry requirements, graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science may progress on to the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science or Master of Health Science.
Graduates who hold a current Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate may progress to the Master of Nursing Science or Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Pathway).
Possible career outcomes include a role in:
Where an applicant does not hold an undergraduate degree in a health discipline, submissions from fields allied to health may be considered.
All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme. For international students, ways in which English language fluency may be demonstrated include the following:
Further information about NZQA English language entry requirements for international students can be found at www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/english-language-entry-requirements-for-international-students/
Complete and sign our international student application form at eit.ac.nz/apply-online-international/
We recommend you apply at least 12 weeks before your intended start date. You can apply online at www.immigration.govt.nz
If you have any questions about the process, contact your agent or email visas@eit.ac.nz
Book your flights
When your student visa is approved, book your flights and ensure you meet all government-mandated entry requirements to come to New Zealand. Check the Immigration New Zealand website for the most up-to-date information.
Organise your accommodation
If you haven’t already organised your accommodation, you should now decide which of the accommodation options is most suitable for you. You can find our more about our EIT accommodation options here.
Your International Student Support Officer will contact you after you enrol to keep you up-to-date with anything you need to know, including details about your Orientation, where you will meet your classmates and all about studying at EIT.
If you need any help you can contact our friendly staff at international@eit.ac.nz