Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation)

Enhance your qualifications and fast-track your health and wellness career with the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation). The programme will help strengthen your skills in critical and professional/clinical reasoning for specialised practice, as well as leadership and management in professional settings.

SIT now offers this programme in a HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') format, allowing you to study onsite, online (live) and/or online in your own time. This programme is taught using a mix of online learning, practical experience and classroom teaching.

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Invercargill
Campus
Invercargill / Hyflex
Qualification
Postgraduate Certificate
Level
8
Credits
60
Duration

Six months full-time

Blended delivery and part-time options available

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$555.00 (incl. GST)

International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.

Course Outline

The Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Health Science (Wellness and Rehabilitation) is aimed at health and wellness and rehabilitation practitioners wishing to undertake a short programme of study in order to extend and update their knowledge and skills. 

The programme is tailored to the individual study needs of each student. Public and private sector organisations employing graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) will benefit from the knowledge and specialist skills that the graduates have acquired during their programme of study.

The areas of focus in this programme are:

  • Health and wellness
  • Holistic wellness
  • Nutrition for wellness
  • Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
  • Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
  • Female health and wellness
  • Wellness for the older population

 

Course Content

SIT now offers this programme in a HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') format, allowing you to study onsite, online (live) and/or online in your own time.  This programme is taught using a mix of online learning, practical experience and classroom teaching.

Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Health Science (Wellness and Rehabilitation) students will undertake a coherent programme of 60 credits approved by the Programme Manager.

The following course is compulsory for students to complete:

  • WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles (30 credits)

and an approved course from the following list:

  • WR801 Advanced Practice to Support Older Persons’ Well-being
  • WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
  • WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
  • WR808 Nutrition for Wellness

Note:

  • Onsite students attend classes in Invercargill.
  • Online students join live sessions or access recordings.

2026 Intake 2 Papers: 20 July - 20 November (HyFlex Delivery) 

WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles 

WR801 Advanced Practice to Support Older Persons’ Well-being

WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Health

WR810 Research Skills for Professional Practice

2026 Intake 3 Papers: 11 September - 14 January 2027 (Onsite Students only) 

WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles 

WR808 Nutrition for Wellness

 


Course descriptions:

WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles

This course enables practitioners to develop knowledge and skills in lifestyle wellness coaching to improve people’s health habits and coach people towards achieving their personal, health and fitness goals. Practitioners will also apply the principles and practices of an interdisciplinary and client-centred approach to wellness and rehabilitation within their clinical or industry setting to enhance lifestyle management and healthy outcomes.

WR801 Advanced Practice to Support Older Persons’ Well-being

This course recognises the diversity of the older adult age group and the complex relationship between determinants of health, health status and well-being. With the steady increase in the number of older people, many of whom will experience chronic disease states and/or declining functional abilities, it is vital that advanced practitioners are able to assess, plan, deliver and facilitate appropriate evidence-based care and services for this age group. The course examines the scope of independent/collaborative practice in relation to health promotion, maintenance and restoration of health, preventative care, rehabilitation and/or palliative care and encourages the generation of new approaches to the delivery of expert care in different settings.

WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health

The course will explore cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic health and wellness. This course assumes knowledge of the body's response to normal anatomical/physiological function and directs the student towards a progressive and more critical understanding of altered, complex health states. This will include the multiple interrelationships of physical activity for daily living, exercise physiology and exercise prescription to complement and inform advanced wellness practice. Students will design and implement quality integrated wellness and rehabilitation programmes for clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic health conditions. Students will reflect on case management as a complete approach to wellness with an emphasis on empowerment rather than dependence.

WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Health

The course will explore musculoskeletal and neurologic health and wellness. This course builds on knowledge of the body's response to physical activity, normal anatomical/ physiological function and directs the student towards a progressive and more critical understanding of altered, complex health states. This will include the multiple interrelationships of physical activity for daily living, exercise physiology and exercise prescription to complement and inform advanced wellness practice. Students will design and implement quality integrated wellness and rehabilitation programmes for clients with musculoskeletal and neurological health conditions. Students will reflect on case management as a complete approach to wellness with an emphasis on empowerment rather than dependence.

WR808 Nutrition for Wellness

The course will investigate current issues of nutrition as therapy for wellness. The emphasis will be on nutrition strategies for specific populations with New Zealand.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme may seek employment in the private or public sector undertaking a range of roles including:

  • ACC case manager, 
  • advanced massage therapy practitioners, 
  • clinical leadership and clinical specialist roles, 
  • complementary and integrative medicine professional, 
  • disability support services manager/professional, 
  • health promotion advisor, 
  • rehabilitation professional, 
  • spa/clinical practice manager, 
  • specialist advisor and health management roles, 
  • wellness and lifestyle coach.
Application Criteria

Students will have completed all requirements of a bachelor degree in a relevant field (such as chiropractic, health science, massage therapy, medicine, naturopathy, nursing, occupational therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sport and exercise) with at least a B grade average at Level 7.

Special Admission
Notwithstanding the above admission criteria, in exceptional circumstances, a mature aged applicant who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, or has relevant industry experience, which is deemed to meet the required standard for entry.

Provisional Part-time Admission
An applicant who does not meet academic criteria may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more papers. Upon successful completion of the paper(s), the student may apply for special admission. 

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


IELTS test - Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 590 (with an essay score 5.5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 79 (with a writing score of 21) 
Cambridge English Examination - C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill. 
OET- Minimum of Grade C+ or 300 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 5 (Academic) or (Professional)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 58 with no band score lower than 50 
Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS and no less than Pass in each skill or C2 Mastery IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill 
Trinity ISE- ISE III with no less than pass in any band

Additional Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hyflex?

HyFlex learning is designed to fit your needs — you can choose to study on campus, online in real time, or in your own time. No matter how you learn, you’ll get the same teacher, support, and resources as everyone else.

What is the difference between “semester' and ”intake"?

These terms refer to the same thing, you might also think of it as a school "term".

What is the difference between part time and full-time study?

Full-time study takes around 18 months and each intake you will be doing two courses per intake or your project/thesis. 

Part-time study spreads your courses over a longer time, so you can balance study with work or other commitments. For part time students you could do one course per intake or one course per year.

What does a typical course involve? 

Most courses include in person and online learning and interactive classes where you apply what you've learned. You’ll do readings and learning in your own time, then take part in group discussions, hands-on activities, and assessments that help you use research in real-world ways.

An example of class time would be:

Online class: 2–3 hours (scheduled within 9am–3pm Monday to Friday)
Online class: 7pm to 9pm

Please note that while typically online classes occur in the evening, some online classes may also occur during the day. For example, one paper includes a Wednesday morning class.

There may also be optional tutorial classes to add learning.

What are the differences between PG Cert, Dip and Masters?

The Certificate is the shortest (60 credits)

The Diploma is longer (120 credits) 

The Master’s is 180 credits, with deeper learning and a research project or thesis

Do I need a background in health sciences?

You don’t need a formal background, but a strong interest in health and wellbeing is important. If you’re passionate about helping others through wellness or rehabilitation, this programme could be a great fit.

Do I need to come to Invercargill at any stage?

No — thanks to HyFlex learning, you can study the programme onsite, online (live) and/or online in your own time.

How many assessments are there for each course?

Most courses have around two main assessments, and sometimes extra unmarked tasks to help you practise and apply what you've learned. The exact number can vary depending on the course.

Will I be required to attend classes at night?

Yes. Most courses have a night class, delivered online via Teams (accessed via Blackboard). Please note that there may be some classes that have an online class during the day.

Is there a list of recommended textbooks?

No. All resources required for your selected course(s) are provided, either directly in Blackboard or via links that will take you to the resource.

Are the course holidays the same as the school holidays?

Not always. Whilst every effort is made to match school holidays this is not always possible. Each course will provide you with a course outline that states when course holidays are, allowing you plenty of time to organise childcare.

Why are there different intakes listed?

There are multiple start dates each year so you can begin the programme at a time that works best for you. Although some courses are available only in a particular intake, you will still have the option of these due to the multiple end dates.

Are you a domestic or international student?

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