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Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science (Level 8)

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science (Level 8)

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Location

Hawke's Bay Campus International Auckland Campus EIT Institute of Sport & Health (EIT ISH)

Study Options

Online, Full-time, Part-time

Length

2-4 years part-time

Level

Level 8

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Advance your nursing or health science career

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science is a 120 credit programme (one year full-time or up to four years part-time) that provides the opportunity for qualified nurses, health professionals and health service managers to develop advanced practice knowledge and critical analysis skills.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science is characterised by advanced study in a specific nursing or health science discipline.

The programme requires a foundation of undergraduate knowledge and skills achieved through previous tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.

International students have the option of undertaking this programme at the Auckland Campus. For more information about the Auckland Campus offering, please download the information sheet here.

Outline

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science offers two pathways, one for nurses and one for interdisciplinary health professionals. The diploma offers a selection of online and blended courses designed to meet the needs of health practitioners and other professionals whose practice has a focus on health. The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science may be completed with or without a specialty option.

Nursing specialty endorsement options available are:

Advanced Nursing Practice
Registered Nurse Prescribing (approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand)

As a graduate of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science you will have developed your knowledge and skills of critical analysis, constructive synthesis and their application to health care delivery.

Graduates of this programme may be able to credit these courses to the Master of Health Science programme. Registered nurse graduates may progress to the Master of Nursing Science or Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) programme (pending successfully achieving the specified academic and professional practice criteria).

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science (Registered Nurse Prescribing) is approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand as an advanced nursing practice programme.

The courses required for the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science (Registered Nurse Prescribing) in the recommended order are:

MN8.402 Advanced Pathophysiology for Health Professionals
MN8.409 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing/Midwifery Practice
MN8.401 Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
MN8.424 Registered Nurse Prescribing Practicum

You will also need a minimum of a B average in the prerequisite courses to enrol into the RN Prescribing Practicum, and a minimum of three years’ experience in the clinical area that you will be prescribing in (a requirement of Nursing Council). We recommend that you take the opportunity to discuss your study options with the Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator, prior to enrolment. This will 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

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.

Various teaching modes are used, such as virtual classroom discussions at predetermined times, and also in the asynchronous format.

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 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 you may have the following further study options:

Health Science graduates may pathway to the Master of Health Science.
Registered Nurse graduates may credit their courses to the Master of Nursing Science programme or the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Pathway) programme.

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 Diploma in Health Science is one of the following:

A 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.

Jamie Hanley (Nursing) on 06 830 1111 or email jhanley@eit.ac.nz to discuss.

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

International Entry Requirements

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:

Hawke’s Bay Campus

Tairāwhiti Campus

Auckland Campus

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.

Check out scholarships