New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Nursery Production) (Level 3) and New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Fruit Production) (Level 4)
Develop your green thumbs and get paid for doing what you love. This one-year programme combines our level 3 and level 4 qualifications to fast-track you to a career in horticulture. You'll gain the skills and knowledge that horticulturists need when employed in orchards, vineyards, nurseries or any other major commercial operation.
Domestic
July
About the programme
Gain the fundamental skills and knowledge required of horticulturists in orchards, vineyards, nurseries or any other major commercial operation with this hands-on programme.
Employment opportunities are extremely diverse in this industry and, with motivation and hard work, you may find yourself working as an irrigation technician, fruit grower, plant propagator, vineyard supervisor or even at the head of your own business!
This qualification is a 50-50 mix of theoretical and practical studies and your learning will be based in the campus plant nursery, modern glasshouses, and the ten-hectare Otago Polytechnic crop production facility where wine grapes and cherries are grown. You will also undertake work experience within Central Otago's extensive horticulture industry, enabling you to develop real-world skills and forge important relationships.
You'll graduate with both the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) (Nursery Production) and the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) (Fruit Production).
International
July
About the programme
Gain the fundamental skills and knowledge required of horticulturists in orchards, vineyards, nurseries or any other major commercial operation with this hands-on programme.
Employment opportunities are extremely diverse in this industry and, with motivation and hard work, you may find yourself working as an irrigation technician, fruit grower, plant propagator, vineyard supervisor or even at the head of your own business!
This qualification is a 50-50 mix of theoretical and practical studies and your learning will be based in the campus plant nursery, modern glasshouses, and the ten-hectare Otago Polytechnic crop production facility where wine grapes and cherries are grown. You will also undertake work experience within Central Otago's extensive horticulture industry, enabling you to develop real-world skills and forge important relationships.
You'll graduate with both the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) (Nursery Production) and the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) (Fruit Production).
What You Study
Courses
This qualification is a 50-50 mix of theoretical and practical studies and your learning will be based in the campus plant nursery, modern glasshouses, and the ten-hectare Otago Polytechnic crop production facility where wine grapes and cherries are grown. You will also undertake work experience within Central Otago's extensive horticulture industry, enabling you to develop real-world skills and forge important relationships.
| New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) (Nursery Production) courses | 70 credits |
|---|---|
|
15 15 15 15 10 |
| New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) (Fruit Production) courses | 90 credits |
|
15 15 15 10 15 10 10 |
Further study options
Advance your knowledge with the New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) (Fruit Production). Horticulture may also be studied at degree-level in New Zealand.
Workload
Your workload
You should expect to spend a minimum of 30 hours a week on this programme.
Entry
Skills needed to work in this area
- An enjoyment of working outdoors
- Physical fitness
- Planning and organisational skills
- Good communication skills
- An eye for detail.
Entry requirements
- Open entry.
- 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 process
Applications will be processed as they are received. If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be placed on a waiting list in the order that they applied.
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 info@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Additional costs
You must have clothing and footwear suitable for the outdoors.
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.
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* for domestic learners
If this is your first time doing tertiary study, or your first tertiary study was covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship (TTAF) initiative, you may be able to get up to $12,000 of your fees covered for one year’s study or two years’ training.
All the details and criteria are on the Fees Free website and you can check whether you’re going to be able to access Fees Free by entering your National Student Number.
If you can access it, we’ll organise your fees with the Tertiary Education Commission when you’re enrolled to study with us. This funding doesn’t include additional costs or living costs.
* Please note: The Government has advised that they intend to change the Fees Free policy from 2025. The details of the change are yet to be confirmed. We'll update this information as soon as we can with any new details. The Fees Free policy for 2024 is unchanged.
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. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes that start in 2023, means that you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
