Pre-Entry Applied Health Sciences (Level 3)

Pre-Entry Applied Health Sciences (Level 3)

Pre Entry Applied Health Sciences programme of study leading to the: New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4)
Do you enjoy helping others? Are you interested in learning more about the human body and how it functions? Are you keen on starting or shifting your career to the health field?
If you dream of studying Nursing, Health and Wellness, or Applied Science (Laboratory Technician) at tertiary level, but do not have the necessary entry requirements, the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Pre Entry Applied Health Science) (Level 3) may be right for you.

 

New Students - Exciting Update for 2025 Programme: Transitioning to Version 2 (New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways) Level 3 

Be part of our new and improved programme launching in 2025!

Enrol now in the current version to seamlessly transition to the upgraded programme later. 

 

Returning Students - Important Update for 2025 Programme: Transitioning to Version 2 - New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways - Level 3 

Your previous learning in the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Pre entry Applied Health Science) Level 3 will be recognised as per the transition plan to the new version.

Check the Course Content tab for details on the Transition plan.

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Key Details
SIT2LRN Distance Learning
Qualification:
Certificate
Level:
3
Credits:
60
Duration:

17 weeks full-time

Up to two years part-time

Intakes are 17 weeks long

Study Modes:
Distance Learning
Dates:

2025 Intake 1: 27 January to 23 May - Applications Close 13 January 2025

2025 Intake 2: 24 February to 20 June - Applications Close 10 February 2025

2025 Intake 3: 09 June to 03 October - Applications Close 26 May 2025

2025 Intake 4: 07 July to 31 October - Applications Close 23 June 2025

2025 Intake 5: 04 August to 28 November - Applications Close 21 July 2025

Fees:

SIT Zero Fees Scheme

 

International Fees

$12500

 

Unsure which one is for me? Check Fees Eligibility Check my options

 

     
Do you enjoy helping others? Are you interested in learning more about the human body and how it functions? Are you keen on starting or shifting your career to the health field?
If you dream of studying Nursing, Health and Wellness, or Applied Science (Laboratory Technician) at tertiary level, but do not have the necessary entry requirements, the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Pre Entry Applied Health Science) (Level 3) may be right for you.
In addition to core subject such as anatomy and physiology, human biology, mathematics, and mental health, learners will also learn about professional relationships, cultural identities, teamwork and ethics.

Interested learners please note: all papers are compulsory and must be successfully completed to be awarded the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3).

These (version 1) papers will not be taught past December 2024. An updated programme, version 2, will be delivered in 2025; course/paper details will follow once the version 2 papers are confirmed.

AHS100 Introduction to normal human structure and function in a health context (8 credits)

This paper introduces students to normal human structure and function (e.g. those physiological structures and functions that are not impaired by abnormalities or dysfunction) within a health context.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

Define and describe the difference between the terms "anatomy" and "physiology"
Describe the normal structure of the musculoskeletal, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, reproductive, urinary, lymphatic, and endocrine systems.
  1. Describe the normal function of the musculoskeletal, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, reproductive, urinary, lymphatic, and endocrine systems.

AHS101 Introduction to abnormal human structure and function in a health context (8 credits)

This paper introduces students to abnormal human system structure and function (i.e. those which are in some way different from a normal or healthy state) and provides the skills and knowledge to describe complementary philosophies and a range of health care interventions.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe and provide examples of potential causes of at least two abnormal conditions structure for the musculoskeletal, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, reproductive, urinary, lymphatic, and endocrine systems.
  2. Compare at least two complementary philosophies (e.g. based on cultural and spiritual precepts, and holistic and complementary practices) related to abnormal human structure and function.
  3. Describe at least two health care interventions for abnormal human structure and function related to medication, non-mediation, invasive, non-invasive, psychological and spiritual therapies.

AHS102 Human biology (10 credits)

This paper introduces students to human anatomy and physiology.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the structure and function, and provide examples of cells and tissues, skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, integumentary systems of humans.
  2. Discuss the integration of the human bodily systems structure and function.

AHS103 Measurements, scientific notations and units (10 credits)

This paper introduces students to the basic System International (SI) units of measurement and the derived units used in the applied health sciences. Students will gain the functional mathematical skills and knowledge to undertake quantity calculations and use formulae to solve problems.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Apply the basic rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division for whole numbers, fractions, and decimal numbers.
  2. Undertake mathematical functions through the application of the rules of order of operations.
  3. Identify and describe common fractions and their decimal equivalents.
  4. Identify and describe at seven base units and at least 10 derived units in SI nomenclature.
  5. Perform calculations of length, mass, volume, and temperature in the metric system, including conversion of non-metric units to metric units.

AHS104 Ethics in applied health sciences (8 credits)

This paper introduces students to ethical behavior and consumer rights in an applied health sciences context, including disability and community settings.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe relevant legislation and codes of conduct relating to consumer rights, confidentiality, informed consent, and independent choice in health care, disability and community contexts.
  2. Describe relevant legislation and codes of conduct relating to ethical behaviour in a health care context, including how personal values, cultural practices, ethical requirements and consumer rights can all be respected in applied health sciences, including disability and community contexts.

AHS105 Teamwork in applied health sciences (3 credits)

This paper provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in a team to achieve agreed outcomes in an applied health sciences context.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe teamwork in terms of benefits to health context outcomes and the differences between leading a team and participating in a team.
  2. Identify and discuss potential barriers to effective teamwork and actions which could be used to overcome these barriers.
  3. Identify own role within a team and explore actions which would assist the team in meeting its goals.

AHS106 Professional relationships in applied health sciences (4 credits)

This paper provides students with an insight to the professional relationships between applied health sciences practitioners important to health care provision.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe different professional relationships which may be established between health care practitioners, both mainstream and complementary.
  2. Describe the roles and responsibilities in group processes in a health care context.

AHS107 Cultural identities in applied health sciences (6 credits)

This paper provides students the knowledge and insight to describe their own, and other, cultural identities and the influence of cultural identity on work practices and policies, procedures, and resources used to assist in responding to culture-related issues in applied health sciences.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe own cultural identity and the influence of this on own work practices in an applied health sciences context.
  2. Describe other cultural identities and the influence of these on own work practices in an applied health sciences context.
  3. Describe policies, procedures, and resources which are used to assist in responding to culture-related issues in an applied health sciences context.

AHS108 Mental health in applied health sciences (3 credits)

This paper introduces students to the factors that contribute to mental health wellbeing and mental health issues.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

  1. Describe factors that contribute to mental health wellbeing, in terms of lifestyle choices and strengthening a person's capacity to deal with stressful life events.
  2. Describe factors that have the capacity to contribute to mental health issues which may increase a person's vulnerability to stressful life events.

For returning students only - Transition arrangements for the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Pre -Entry  Applied Health Science) Level 3 to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Health Pathways) Level 3.

 The programme is in the process of transitioning into a new programme in 2025 and not all papers from the current SIT2LRN programme can be recognised under the proposed new programme structure.

(For more information - please contact sit2lrn@sit.ac.nz)

 

Graduates will be equipped with the skills, capabilities, knowledge and attributes needed to advance to Level 4 or above within the context of applied health sciences.

Applicants should demonstrate a likelihood of success in the programme of study. Likelihood of success may be demonstrated through a variety of means, including: relevant work experience (e.g. CV), letter of intent, achievement of NCEA standards in human biology, or an interview.

School Leavers
Applicants should be a minimum of 17 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2.

Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia­, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be  from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.

Certificate at Level 3

  • IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
  • TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
  • TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
  • Cambridge English Examination – B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
  • OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
  • NZCEL - a) Expiring Level   b) Current: Level 3 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 3 (General)
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
  • Language Cert - B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
  • Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

STUDY OPTIONS

Full time study

Full time study is completing all nine papers (60 credits) in one 17 week intake. This requires around 35 hours of study per week for the duration of the intake.

Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion, and is not guaranteed.

Part time study

The number of papers you select to study per intake should depend on work, family, and other commitments.

All work for a paper must be completed during the intake in which you are enrolled in it. If you do not complete the paper within the intake, you must re-enrol in the paper in a later intake.

Additional information

  • As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake periodClick HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
  • All papers 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. 

Credit Transfers

Some NZQA unit standards meet the requirements for their corresponding paper in this programme. If you have previously completed a unit standard with a similar title and/ or content to one of the papers listed above, please contact SIT2LRN administration to see if that unit can be credit transferred into the programme to replace its corresponding paper.

Workforce Restrictions for Children's Workforce

If you have a criminal conviction, and you are studying (or considering studying) toward a qualification that will lead to a job in the state funded sector (including teaching or providing youth services) working directly with children, you need to check whether your conviction could prevent you from working in some roles in your chosen field.

This is because new legislation, the (Vulnerable) Children's Act 2014, will prevent state sector agencies and government-funded service providers from hiring people with convictions for specified offences to work with children in some roles. The restrictions came into effect on 1 July 2015.

You can read the list of the specified offences online here.

You can get more information about the Children's Act here.

This information has been supplied by the Children’s Action Plan Directorate and the Tertiary Education Commission.

2024 Programme Update: Transition to Version 2

The programme is in the process of transitioning into a new programme in 2025 and not all papers from the current SIT2LRN programme can be recognised under the proposed new programme structure.

In order not to disadvantage any student, new students must be able to complete the qualification (pass all papers) in either intake 3 or intake 4 of 2024.

Alternatively, new students can only enrol in papers which should cross credit into the new programme to be delivered from 2025.

These papers should transition but this subject to change:

Level 3: (both papers would need to be passed to be recognised in the new structure)

AHS100 Introduction to normal human structure and function in a health context

AHS101 Introduction to abnormal human structure and function in a health context

2024 will be the last year SIT2LRN will offer the current version (version 1) of this programme. All ākonga studying part-time should endeavour to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation before 31 December 2024 or risk completed (version 1) credits not being able to be recognised under version 2 of the qualification. Version 2 of this qualification, New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways, will be offered in 2025.

All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days 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.

All students will get an official academic transcript on successful completion of their programme of study which will be posted or given at Graduation.  After each intake is finished, it is suggested that students check their results on MySIT.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.

Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with.  Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.

  • I have read all sections of the Programme Information on this page
  • I have read the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions section
  • I have met all admission criteria for the programme (found under Application Criteria)
  • I have met all the criteria for individual papers (found under Course Content).
  • I have selected the paper(s) I wish to study
  • I have selected intake(s) (I have selected alternate intakes rather than overlapping intakes)
  • I know my intended payment method
  • If my organisation/company is paying for my studies, I have a completed and approved purchase order to attach to my online application.  I am aware that should my organisation or company not pay my fees, these will become my responsibility.
  • I have completed and attached a cross credit form (if applying for a cross credit)
  • New students – I have provided an active NSN in the name I am enrolling in or I have verified ID and will attach it to my online application.
  • New students – I will attach academic documentation (NZQA record of achievement/academic transcripts/certificates).  These do not need to be verified. (If you do not have any academic documentation to support your application, please attach a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience).
  • I understand that this is a Level 3 programme therefore, as required by the Tertiary Education Commission, I agree to complete at least one online literacy and one online numeracy assessment as part of my studies
  • I have computer access,  an Internet connection and access to software to create electronic documents e.g. Microsoft Word or Open Office

What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees. However, there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment and to student support services throughout your study with us.

Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?

  • A New Zealand citizen completing the full qualification or 
  • An Australian citizen/New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident who will be residing in New Zealand for the duration of your enrolment.

Instructions to Help You with Your Application:

  1. Read the Programme Information on this page and the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions and find out if you meet the application criteria for both the programme and the unit/s you wish to study.
  2. Check your eligibility for Zero Fees. If you are not eligible to study under this scheme, please call 
    0800 748 257 for further options.
  3. Complete your online enrolment checking that:

If you are a new student …

  • Provide an active NSN number in the name you are enrolling in (contact NZQA on 0800 697 296 to get your NSN number if you do not know it);
  • If you do not have an active NSN, then attach a copy of your verified ID in the name you are enrolling in.
  • If you are a Resident or Permanent resident of NZ, please provide a copy of proof of residency;
  • Attach all academic documentation to support your application including copies of any certificates of courses you have undertaken / NZQA record of achievement / transcripts / CV;

Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.

  1. Please check that you have included all the required information and supporting documents.  Your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide.  Missing information will delay the processing of your application.
  2. Please scan and email all additional documentation to sit2lrn@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

  • You will receive an automatic email confirmation when we receive your online application. Processing may take up to three weeks. However, we will get in touch with you sooner if we require further documentation.
  • Once your application has been accepted you will be sent a conditional offer of acceptance with an invoice and instructions on how to make payment.
  • Once we have received your payment (or if you have opted to pay by Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order) you will be sent an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet. Closer to the start of the intake you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter which will give you all the necessary information, tools and guidance to start your study with us.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3), 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 Study and Career Preparation (Level 3)
  • The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3) full-time over six months or part-time over two years.

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

Graduates will be prepared for further study in the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Applied Health Sciences Programme of Study) Level 4).

After completing both certificates, students could pursue further study (at diploma or degree level) in health and science related subj