New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5)

Graduates of this qualification may work in roles such as:

• community, vocational or workplace educator
• academic staff, tutor or facilitator
• training, education or learning advisor 

Applicants for this programme of study must have access to adult learners (e.g. over the age of 18) over the duration of the programme of study in order to enable them to undertake learning and reflection in an authentic setting.

General Admission
Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age and must have attained either:

• NCEA Level 2
• A relevant qualification at NZQF Level 2 or above, or a recognised equivalent.

Any ākonga who do not meet the above criteria may be eligible for consideration for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the focus is on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.

English Language Requirements

All applicants (international and domestic) for whom English is not a first language need to provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme.

International applicants are required to have an IELTS score of 5.5 (general or academic) with no individual band lower than 5 from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/english-language-entry-requirements-for-international-students/

Ākonga who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English language skills.

International applicants should contact the SIT International team for advice.

Suggested study path / combinations

Part time study: The number of courses selected per intake will depend on your work, family, and other commitments. It is recommended that you complete study in alternate intakes. It is advisable to complete the courses in the order they are listed on the website. 

Full time study: This is completing all courses (60 credits) over one intake. Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager's discretion. Some courses may have weekly assessment  or other engagement requirements, therefore, part time study is recommended, even for students working less than 20 hours per week.

Additional information

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period. Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet)
• All courses selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs)
• Online enrolments are on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes in one enrolment.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Assessments for this programme typically include written reports, preparation and delivery of learning sessions to adult learners, and discussion board postings. There are no exams for this programme.

All SIT Online courses require you to have a computer and Internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT Online communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system and you will have access to this from the Intake start date. However, once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment.

Facilitator Assistance - During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to facilitators, who endeavour to respond to all emails within 48 hours (weekdays only). All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study. Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme. Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

You can view and download a copy of your Academic Transcript any time from the MySIT page (under My Courses). Please note that it may take up to 6 weeks from the end of an intake for grades to show here.

We recommend students new to SIT Online read through the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.

Before you apply

Please read the Information on this page before starting your application. 
Your application will be assessed based on the information and supporting documents you provide.

Missing information or documents may delay your application.

Application checklist (once you click “Enrol”)

Before submitting your application, check that:

• You have read the Programme Information on this page.
• You meet the programme admission requirements.
• You meet any entry requirements for the individual paper(s) you want to study.
• You have selected your preferred intake(s), avoiding overlapping intakes.
• You know how you intend to pay for your study.
• If your organisation or employer is paying, you have an approved purchase order ready to attach. If they do not pay your fees, these will become your responsibility.
• If applying for cross credit, you have completed the required cross credit form.
• You have access to a computer, internet connection and software for creating electronic documents, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

For Level 3 programmes: You will be required by the Tertiary Education Commission to complete at least one literacy and one numeracy assessment as part of your studies.

New students

You will also need to:

• Provide an active NSN in the name you are enrolling under. If you do not know your NSN, contact NZQA on 0800 697 296.
• If you do not have an active NSN, provide verified identification in the name you are enrolling under.
• If you are a New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident, provide proof of residency.
• Provide supporting academic documentation, such as your NZQA Record of Achievement, academic transcripts or certificates. These documents do not need to be verified.
• If you do not have academic documentation, provide a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience.
• Attach any other supporting documents required for the programme.

Zero Fees Scheme | What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

Under the Zero Fees Scheme, SIT does not charge tuition fees. You will still need to pay the applicable Student Direct Material Cost and a non-refundable administration fee.

The Student Direct Material Cost provides access to Blackboard®, SIT's online learning environment, and student support services throughout your study.

Who qualifies?

The Zero Fees Scheme is available to:

• New Zealand citizens completing the full qualification.
• Australian citizens, New Zealand Residents and Permanent Residents who will be living in New Zealand for the duration of their enrolment.

If you are not eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme, call 0800 748 257 to discuss your options.

Submit your application

Complete the online application and attach all required supporting documentation.

Before submitting, check that the information you have provided is complete and accurate. Missing information or documentation may delay the processing of your application.

Any additional documentation can be emailed to sitonline@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

1. Application received
   You will receive an automatic email confirming that SIT has received your application. Processing may take up to three weeks. We will contact you sooner if we require additional documentation.
2. Offer and invoice
   If your application is accepted, you will receive a conditional offer of acceptance, an invoice and payment instructions.
3. Enrolment confirmed
   Once payment has been received, or you have selected an approved payment method such as Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order, you will receive an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet.
4. Get ready to study
   Closer to the start of your intake, you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter with the information, tools and guidance you need to begin your studies.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Adult Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) and be awarded this qualification, the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 60 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Adult Tertiary Teaching (Level 5)
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) full-time over six months or part-time over five years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

This qualification may lead to Level 5 and above qualifications in adult and tertiary teaching. This may include:

• New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Vocational/Workplace) (Level 5)
• New Zealand Diploma in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 6)
• New Zealand Certificate in Learning Design (Level 6)
• New Zealand Certificate in Education Technology (Level 6) 

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here.