Start with zero fees

It depends on your pathway and your starting point, but for most students it can take around 3.5 to 4.5 years to go from certificate to degree.

In some areas, such as the two-year diplomas in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, courses can cross-credit directly into the degree, which means you may be able to move into the final year of the bachelor’s degree and complete the full pathway in around 3 years.

Engineering pathways are similar, but after the two-year diploma you would usually need to complete an additional 60 credits to finish the degree, so that pathway is typically around 3.5 years from diploma to degree, or about 4 years from certificate to diploma to degree.

For the Bachelor of ICT, progression depends more on the elective pathway you choose, and diploma-level courses would need to go through an individual credit recognition process. Across all programmes, one of the main factors that affects how quickly you can progress is your numeracy achievement.

It depends on the level of certificate. The Level 3 certificates are open entry pathways, so there are no academic entry criteria. For the Level 4 certificates, you need 40 credits at NCEA Level 2, including 10 Level 1 Literacy credits and 10 Level 1 Mathematics credits. For the Engineering, Construction and ICT pathways, you should have strength in algebra. For other pathways, numeracy is the key requirement.

The offer is for domestic students applying for an eligible certificate course for Semester 2, 2026. It applies only to new applications received from 25 May, so it doesn’t apply if you enrolled before that date.

Yes. For eligible students in eligible courses, both the tuition fees and the student levy are covered under this offer.

Yes. If you meet the entry criteria, you can still apply for one of the eligible free certificate courses.

You don’t need to already be strong at maths to start. These certificate courses are designed as an entry point and will help build your numeracy so you’re ready for diploma-level study.

The Level 3 certificate is open entry, so no NCEA numeracy credits are required to begin.

For the Level 4 certificates, you’ll need 10 Level 1 Mathematics credits (with some algebra needed for the Study and Employment pathways).

If you’re unsure where you fit, speak with an advisor about the best starting point for you.

Yes, you can study part-time. However, the zero fees offer only applies to study completed in 2026. If you continue your qualification into 2027, standard fees will apply to any remaining courses.