New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3)
With this programme, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to manage your own beehives. You’ll meet commercial apiarists in your local area and have the chance to complete an American Foulbrood (AFB) disease recognition course. Topics include bee behaviour and life cycle, beekeeping equipment, harvesting and extracting honey, and suitable bee forage plants.
Domestic
About the programme
Want to learn more about beekeeping?
Apiculture is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing industries and there is international demand for mānuka honey and other beehive products.
During this programme, you will gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage your own beehives and be exposed to commercial apiarists in your local area. You will also have the opportunity to complete an American Foulbrood (AFB) disease recognition course as part of this certificate.
This programme is taught online with block courses in a range of locations throughout New Zealand (see locations in 'What you study' area below).
Graduates of this new programme will be able to work as an assistant beekeeper for commercial operators, as an independent beekeeper with a small number of beehives or even develop their own business. Alternatively, you will be able to progress into Level 4 Apiculture training (either as a leading hand or specialising in queen bee rearing).
What You Study
You will study
Courses
Each Apiculture tutor will develop their own course timetable and will supply you with the appropriate information. This information will include the dates of each workshop, their content and what will be assessed. There are no electives within this programme and all students undertake the following topics of learning:
- Bee behaviour and life cycle
- Suitable bee forage plants
- Beekeeping equipment
- Building a beehive
- How to feed bees
- Beehive products
- Manipulating beehives including swarm control, and dividing hives
- Re-queening beehives
- Harvesting and extracting honey
- Identifying and managing pests and diseases
- Shifting beehives
- Wintering beehives
At the end of this programme, you will have the knowledge and skills to manage your own beehives throughout a beekeeping season.
Block course locations
- Cromwell, Central Otago (Bannockburn Road)
- Dunedin (Momona Hall)
- Lincoln (Biological Husbandry Unit)
Workload
Your workload
This programme will involve:
- two weekend days per month (from 9.00am-5.00pm each day) for eight months - see locations in What you study tab
- 12 assessments (a mixture of theory and practical)
- a one-day, industry-recognised bee disease workshop (short test to complete at end of workshop)
- reading three text books that we provide you with
- the completion of a logbook documenting field work undertaken
- 5-10 additional hours per week for extra reading (online and books), undertaking assessments and doing practical work on your own beehives/course hives.
Entry
Entry requirements
Pathways into this programme
- New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2)
- On job training for those employed in the Apiculture industry
Academic requirements
- Open entry.
- You must be physically capable of meeting the demands of the programme and will need to disclose any medical conditions which may affect your ability to participate.
English Language requirements
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for nternationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Fees
Domestic fees
Includes:
- One kitset beehive
- Three textbooks
- AFB course
Approximate value = $500
Additional Costs:
- PPE Gear (suit, gloves, hire tool approx $250)
- Nucleus beehive of live bees approx $250
Total student cost = $500
Studylink
As this programme is part-time, students generally aren't eligible for student loans or allowances to cover additional material or living costs. But, some help may be possible depending on your circumstances. Check the Studylink website for more information. If you have any questions about student loans and allowances, please email our Studylink Advisor: Amanda.McAra@op.ac.nz
Fees Free
Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.
Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.
For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
The international tuition fee does not include your Student Levy. This will be calculated when you enrol with us.
Click below to find out more about the Student Levy costs and services provided.
