Health Bridging Certificate (Level 3 and 4)

Don’t have the academic requirements you need to enter one of our diploma- or degree-level healthcare programmes? No problem. By studying courses such as Function of the Human Body and an Introduction to Careers in Health, you will be well prepared to apply for your chosen diploma or degree.

Domestic

Duration
1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time
Level
3
Credits
120
Fees
$7,959*
*Approximate full qualification tuition fee
Delivery
On campus
Online with block course(s)
Location
Dunedin
Online
Wellington
Intakes
February

International

Duration
1 Year Full-time
Level
3
Credits
120
Fees
$25,000*
*Approximate full qualification tuition fee
Delivery
On campus
Online with block course(s)
Location
Dunedin
Online
Intakes
February

What You Study

Courses

This programme is made up of health and community courses taught by blended delivery. Weekly tutorial attendance is required.

Tutorials will be held on campus if you are based in Dunedin and online if you are based elsewhere.

If you are studying online, you are also required to attend three compulsory block courses per semester, either in Dunedin or at Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua.

It's important to note that the Bioscience for Health and Applied Structure and Function of the Human Body courses incorporate practical laboratory sessions, some of which involve chemicals and animal tissue.

SEMESTER ONE (Complete all)    
Course name Level Credits

Communication Skills

Learn how to communicate clearly using a range of appropriate media 

3 15

Personal and Study Skills

Develop focused skills for career and study pathways

3 15

Human Biological Science 1

Gain an underpinning knowledge of chemistry, cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, in terms of normal function within a healthy environment

3 15

Mathematics for Health

Gain essential numeracy skills and statistical knowledge relevant for health professionals in the healthcare sector

3 15
Total   60
SEMESTER TWO (complete all)    
Course name Level Credits

Skills for Successful Tertiary Study 

Learn how to access and use information technologies for academic and/or vocational purposes

4 15

Building Communication Competence

Build the skills to communicate and collaborate as a speaker and a listener in a learning group

4 15

Human Biological Science 2

Understand and apply the basic structure and function of major body systems

4 15

Introduction to Careers in Health

Progress personal goals for career development in the health profession

4 15

Total

  60

Workload

Your workload

This is a full-time programme and you should expect to spend around 40 hours per week accessing required learning resources, completing assignments and undertaking self-directed study.

2024 block course dates (for those studying online)

Semester one block courses - North Island (Whitireia Weltec Te Pūkenga Campus, Porirua - find more info here)
  • Saturday 2 March - Sunday 3 March 
  • Saturday 4 May - Sunday 5 May 
  • Saturday 8 June - Sunday 9 June 
Semester one block courses - South Island (Otago Polytechnic Te Pūkenga Campus, Dunedin - find more info here)
  • Monday 4 March - Tuesday 5 March 
  • Monday 6 May - Tuesday 7 May 
  • Monday 10 June - Tuesday 11 June 
Semester two block courses - North Island (Whitireia Weltec Te Pūkenga, Porirua - find more info here)
  • Saturday 27 July - Sunday 28 July (all prospective Midwifery students also attend the Midwifery Presentation on Mon 29 July)
  • Saturday 7 September - Sunday 8 September 
  • Saturday 16 November - Sunday 17 November 
Semester two block courses - South Island (Otago Polytechnic Te Pūkenga Campus, Dunedin - find more info here)
  • Monday 29 July - All prospective Midwifery students attend Intro to Careers - Midwifery Presentation 
  • Tuesday 30 July - Wednesday 31 July (All new and returning students need to attend both of these days)  
  • Monday 9 September - Tuesday 10 September 
  • Monday 18 November - Tuesday 19 November

Entry

Entry requirements 

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Please note: You must have access to the internet to be able to complete this programme. 


Entry straight to Level 4

If you meet the below requirements, you will be able to apply for entry straight into Level 4. This six-month certificate starts in July every year. Click here for the Level 4 only programme.

  • New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3), or equivalent. 
  • If English is not your first language, you must provide:

Please note: You must have access to the internet to be able to complete this programme. 

Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Please note that while you don't need to provide evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination status to apply for this Level 3 or Level 4 health bridging programme, you will need to provide evidence of your vaccination status if you want to apply for one of our health diplomas or degrees when you successfully complete this programme. 

Moving into our health-related degrees

Due to the high demand for places, successful completion of the this programme will not automatically guarantee you entry to our health-related degrees.

Progression to Bachelor of Nursing 
  • A minimum B+ average pass, achieved across the four courses during semester two, is required to meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing. This must include at least a B+ in Human Biological Science 2.
  • These programmes also have non-academic entry requirements including language requirements for non-native speakers of English, so you may need to plan ahead!
  • Nursing applicants for whom English is a second language will also need to meet the language requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing, which is an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 6.5.
Progression to Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Midwifery Council states that applications from applicants under 20 who have met the academic entry criteria to the Bachelor of Midwifery via the Health Bridging Programme will be assessed on their individual merits.
  • A minimum B+ average pass, achieved across the four courses during semester two, is required to meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Midwifery. This must include at least a B+ in Human Biological Science 2.
  • These programmes also have non-academic entry requirements including language requirements for non-native speakers of English, so you may need to plan ahead!
  • Midwifery applicants for whom English is a second language will also need to meet the language requirements for the Bachelor of Midwifery, which is an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 7.0.

Please contact Otago Polytechnic to discuss your pathway to a health-related degree. Email info@op.ac.nz or phone 0800 762 786.

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, please ask us about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification and could achieve it in a shorter timeframe. Please email info@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786 and your message will be sent to the appropriate department.

Fees

Domestic fees

Level 3
Standard
$3,832
Level 4
Standard
$4,127

International fees

Level 3
Standard
$12,500
Level 4
Standard
$12,500

Additional costs

We recommend the text 'Introduction to the Human Body: The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology'  by Gerard J.Tortora and Bryan Derrickson (7th edition or later). 

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.

Get in touch

0800 762 786
International +64 3 477 3014
Email: info@op.ac.nz