New Zealand Certificate in Bicycle Mechanics (Level 4)
Increase your knowledge and skill set further. During this programme, you will add more advanced techniques such as wheel building, suspension servicing, frame preparation and e-Bike diagnostics to your existing abilities and hone your previous knowledge to methodically diagnose, repair, overhaul and rebuild bicycles and components.
Domestic
Work-based
Distance
July
About the programme
Gain a qualification that will make you stand out from the crowd in this rapidly growing industry!
If you’ve completed your New Zealand Certificate in Bicycle Servicing (Level 3) with us, or have previous experience in the bicycle industry, this Level 4 programme is a great way to take your skill set and knowledge to the next level and advance your career.
Offering you a flexible learning environment through a blend of work-based learning, practical block courses, and online study, enjoy the chance to fit your study around other commitments.
Small class sizes, specialist equipment and expert tutoring from experienced mechanics and mechanical engineers combine to provide a learning experience that will enable you to develop skills and knowledge to help you stand out from the crowd.
During this programme, you will learn advanced techniques such as wheel building, suspension servicing, frame preparation and e-Bike system diagnostics whilst honing your previous mechanical knowledge to methodically diagnose, repair, overhaul and rebuild bicycles and components.
Start dates
- Our February start date is for the part-time programme.
- Our July start date is for the full-time programme.
If you start in February or July, you will complete block course one from 10-18 August, and block course two from 21-29 September.
International
Work-based
July
About the programme
Gain a qualification that will make you stand out from the crowd in this rapidly growing industry!
If you’ve completed your New Zealand Certificate in Bicycle Servicing (Level 3) with us, or have previous experience in the bicycle industry, this Level 4 programme is a great way to take your skill set and knowledge to the next level and advance your career.
Offering you a flexible learning environment through a blend of work-based learning, practical block courses, and online study, enjoy the chance to fit your study around other commitments.
Offering you a flexible learning environment through a blend of practical block courses, online learning and 160 hours of workplace experience, enjoy the chance to fit your study around other commitments.
Small class sizes, specialist equipment and expert tutoring from experienced mechanics and mechanical engineers combine to provide a learning experience that will enable you to develop skills and knowledge to help you stand out from the crowd.
During this programme, you will learn advanced techniques such as wheel building, suspension servicing, frame preparation and e-Bike system diagnostics whilst honing your previous mechanical knowledge to methodically diagnose, repair, overhaul and rebuild bicycles and components.
When can I start?
Part-time learners will start in February or March, and full-time learners in July - see the 'Workload' tab below for more information.
What You Study
What you will learn
During this programme, you will learn how to:
- Work safely and efficiently in a professional bicycle workshop
- Perform a range of advanced bicycle mechanic techniques and processes, including:
- Wheel Building
- Suspension Servicing
- Electronic Shifting Systems
- E-Bike Introduction
- Road and Gravel Bike Specifics
- Diagnose, overhaul, and repair an extensive range of bicycle components spread across all bicycle systems:
- Frames
- Steering
- Braking
- Drive Train
- Wheels
- Suspension
- Perform product-specific mechanical techniques and processes
- Design, select, fit, and tune bicycles to meet specific rider requirements
- Communicate and work with customers, co-workers, and other industry providers.
| Outcomes | Credits |
|---|---|
| Carry out diagnostic procedures, and repair and/or overhaul a range of bicycle components and systems under broad guidance; and inspect frames and forks | 40 |
| Effectively communicate with customers to interpret their needs and make recommendations for component and system solutions based on end-user requirements | 5 |
| Apply design principles and ergonomic considerations to select and tune components and systems of a bicycle to fit a rider | 5 |
| Apply wheel-building techniques for a specific purpose and end user | 5 |
| Conduct research to plan and price a bicycle for a specific purpose and end user | 5 |
| Total | 60 |
When you graduate, you'll be ready for a wide range of jobs including:
- Senior bicycle store workshop and retail positions
- Mechanic in unsupervised sole employee workshop
- Specialist bicycle servicing providers (wheel building, suspension servicing)
- Bicycle industry tourism providers (guides, workshop)
- Bicycle mechanic on professional racing teams
- Other areas of opportunity within the industry:
- bicycle store ownership
- bicycle import businesses
- bicycle coaching and fitting
- bicycle designing and building
This programme will also provide a great step towards other industry-related positions such as working in research, marketing, journalism or event management.
Workload
Your workload
You will study online by distance for 10-12 hours per week and attend two, nine-day block courses. The block courses will be held at our Central Campus in Cromwell. During the block courses, class will be held from 9am-3pm, Saturday to Sunday of the following week.
In addition, you will need to complete 180 hours of bicycle industry work-based learning. This can be completed at any suitable bicycle workshop within New Zealand. Ideally your work-based learning will be completed either in a six-week block (30 hours a week) towards the end of the semester or continuously over the full semester (10-12 hours a week). Alternate arrangements can be discussed with the Programme Manager.
The Programme Manager can also assist you to find a work experience placement and/or provide a reference if needed.
Block course dates
All full-time and part-time students will complete our two block courses on the same dates in August and September.
- Block course 1: 10 – 18 August
- Block course 2: 21 – 29 September
Entry
Entry requirements
- New Zealand Certificate in Bicycle Servicing (Level 3) OR
- 6 months verified industry workshop experience plus successful completion of a practical entry test
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 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 NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Selection criteria
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the programme has reached its capacity.
Want your existing skills recognised?
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 central@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Additional costs
You will need to cover your travel, food and accommodation costs during the block courses.
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.
Studylink
Domestic full-time students can apply for a student loan through Studylink.
Some support may be available for domestic part-time students.
Apply at the same time as you apply for your course (you can withdraw your application anytime).
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.
Fees Free
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.
For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.
Application
A change for 2023 enrolments
When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic in 2023, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people, and you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
