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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science (Level 8)
Study Options
Online, Full-time, Part-time
Length
2 years part-time
Level
Level 8
Advance your nursing or health science career
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 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.
Outline
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.
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
- Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning
- Advanced pathophysiology for health professionals
- Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced nursing/midwifery practice
- Advanced practice to support elder health
- Research paradigms for nursing science
- Infectious and communicable diseases
- Health promotion
- Global health
- Health in Aotearoa New Zealand
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:
Jamie Hanley (Nursing) on 06 830 1111 or email jhanley@eit.ac.nz
For non-nurses contact:
Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing (Health Science) on 06 830 1535 or email ajagroopdearing@eit.ac.nz
Online / Blended Delivery
Our postgraduate courses are offered either online or with blended delivery. This means that the majority of the work is located on a virtual teaching and learning platform with directed activities and learning that you work through. Lecturers work within the virtual classroom setting so that they maintain contact with you.
Blended delivery means that there are contact sessions or workshops with the bulk of the learning activity undertaken in the online environment.
This flexible delivery method allows you to study at your pace, in your place, at locations throughout New Zealand.
Workload
Generally the courses are delivered online. However, some courses may require attendance at online sessions or face-to-face workshops. Any requirement for attendance at face-to-face sessions is identified in the course information.
Please click here to refer to the programme timetable, showing full year and semester dates, and compulsory study days or contact Stacey Wong, the Postgraduate Programmes Administrator on 06 830 1507 or swong@eit.ac.nz
Each credit for the course generally represents 10 hours of learning/study time over the period of the course.
Each course consists of online learning opportunities and in some cases clinical field work and workshops. You are expected to spend time in independent/self-directed study, critical reflection, and field work in your place of study or place of work.
Work-integrated Learning
Some courses will require you to be actively involved in clinical practice.
Career and Study Opportunities
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:
- Advanced nursing
- Allied health
- Research
- Project management
Dates
Domestic Enrolments
There are two entry dates per year:
- February
- July
Start dates can vary depending on courses selected, however generally 30 credit courses are semesterised and commence in either February or July each year.
International Enrolments
Hawke’s Bay Campus:
- February
- July
Auckland Campus and Online:
- February
- April
- July
- October
Entry
Entry Requirements
The academic entry requirement for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science is one of the following:
- NZQF-listed undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a health-related field with a minimum of the equivalent to a B average as per the EIT-specified 11-point achievement-based grading system; or
- A degree or equivalent professional qualification in a different field if the applicant can supply evidence of work experience at degree level or above within a health related field, subject to an interview and/or the submission of a portfolio of evidence to establish the status and relevance of the applicant’s prior learning and experience; or
- At the discretion of EIT, where an applicant’s situation is compelling but not covered by the requirements listed above.
An interview may be part of the application process.
Additional entry requirements for the specified nursing practice endorsements may be required, including:
- Registered Nurse
- Current annual practising certificate from the Nursing Council of New Zealand
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
English Language Entry Requirements
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/
Entry with Credit
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.
International Entry Requirements
Academic Entry Requirements
The requirement for entry is an undergraduate degree in a health science/ health discipline with a B average or better.
Where an applicant does not hold an undergraduate degree in health science, submissions with supporting professional evidence may be considered.
English Language Entry Requirements
All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English Language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme. English Language fluency can be verified by achievement of one of the following within the last two years:
- New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 5 (Academic)
- IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0
- PTE (Academic) score of 58 with no band score lower than 50
- International equivalents to IELTS accepted by NZQA or successful study of a programme in which English was the language of instruction (conditions apply)
Academic Learning Services
Academic Learning Services is here to assist you on your journey towards the successful completion of your studies at EIT. Our aim is for you to become confident, competent and independent learners.
We have dedicated advisors who can assist with your learning.
Find out more:
Scholarships
EIT offers a variety of scholarships across various subjects and programme levels. Some scholarships are based on your age, some are specific to the subject you want to study. Not all scholarships are based on your academic ability and anyone wanting to study should investigate what scholarships are available to them.
You can find a list of EIT scholarships here however there are many more scholarships offered nationally. Information about these is on an database called “givME”. givME is accessible at EIT or at some public libraries. If you would like to come to EIT to look through the giveME database don’t hesitate to contact scholarships@eit.ac.nz or call in for a chat.