New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Nursery Production) (Level 3) - on campus
Develop your green thumb by propagating, transplanting, and caring for plants in our Central Otago nursery. You will build your experience and knowledge of the techniques needed to grow commercial nursery crops, as well as identifying, naming, and selecting plants for a range of sites.
Domestic
July
About the programme
Develop your green thumb skills in propagating, transplanting, and caring for plants. You will build your experience and knowledge of the techniques needed to propagate and grow commercial nursery crops, as well as identifying, naming, and selecting plants for a range of sites.
The best part about studying nursery at Otago Polytechnic is our hands-on approach to learning. You will gain practical growing experience in our Cromwell nursery.
This qualification is a mix of theoretical and practical studies, and your learning will be based in the campus plant nursery and modern glasshouses.
It is delivered part-time (20 weeks) over two to three years.
What You Study
What you will learn
Courses
You will build your experience and knowledge of the techniques required to propagate and grow commercial nursery crops, as well as identifying, naming and selecting plants for a range of sites. The courses in this programme include:
- Communication (10 credits)
- Nursery Plant Care (15 credits)
- Plant Identification and Selection (15 credits)
- Propagation (20 credits)
- Plant Science (15 credits)
Workload
Your workload
You'll spend varying days on campus during term time. Some weeks you may spend three or four days on campus whilst other weeks you might only be on campus for a day.
Longer block courses will be held in March and May on campus.
Entry
Entry requirements
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.
Academic requirements
- Open Entry
English Language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 (academic, no 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 internationally 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.
Selection process
Applicants 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.
All fees and costs are approximate.
Fees
Domestic fees
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.
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
Visit Welcome to StudyLink studylink.govt.nz to apply for a student loan to cover your course fees, course-related costs or living costs, or to apply for a student allowance.
If you are eligible for Fees Free you may not need to borrow for course fees, but you may still wish to apply for course-related costs, living costs or student allowance.
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.
