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LocationIntakeStudy breaks
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Distance19 February 20241 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
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Distance19 February 20241 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
Study breaks content
Progress your career in the national or international horticultural communities by gaining the knowledge and skills to become a competent leader in the stonefruit, pipfruit, berry or wine grape production industries.
All of our teaching centres around sustainable growing principles and you will gain hands-on experience and industry contacts through professional work experience. In addition, our unrivalled Central Otago Campus practical horticulture facilities include a propagation nursery, hydroponics unit, modern glasshouses, 7-hectare crop production unit and vineyard.
Upon successful completion of this programme, you will graduate with the New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) (Fruit Production).
Skills required
- An enjoyment of working outdoors
- Physical fitness
- Planning and organisational skills
- Good communication skills
- An eye for detail.
Entry requirements
- New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) (Fruit Production) OR equivalent.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual 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 NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Want your existing skills recognised?
If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.
Additional documentation
You need to provide academic records, proof of identity and proof of residency (where appropriate).
Selection procedure
Applications 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.
Courses
Course name | Credits |
Leadership and Relationship Management | 15 |
Professional Work Experience | 20 |
Capstone Project | 30 |
Crop Development and Quality | 15 |
Weather and Crop Protection | 10 |
Soil and Water Dynamics | 15 |
Pest, Diseases and Weeds | 15 |
Total | 120 |
Block courses
All the courses will be run in blocks for industry-based learners.
Please email jason.barry@op.ac.nz for more information.
Further study options
Continue your learning with degree and postgraduate-level horticulture programmes at Lincoln and Massey Universities in New Zealand.
Paying for your study
TTAF
The Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) is currently running but will end in December 2022. That means only your 2022 study will be covered. You may be able to get some financial help for your remaining study through the Fees Free scheme if you’re eligible (see info below).
Whilst this programme is free for you to study during 2022, the TTAF fund only covers tuition fees and compulsory costs such as student levies. It does not cover any additional costs or living costs.
Full-time learners
You can pay for additional and living costs by yourself if that is possible or by applying for a loan or allowance through Studylink (which is only available for domestic learners).
It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.
For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website.
Part-time learners
You can pay for additional and living costs yourself if this is possible.
As a part-time learner, you're generally not eligible for student loans and allowances through Studylink but some help may be possible depending on your circumstances (for domestic students). Check the Studylink website for more information.
Fees Free
The Government is also running a funding scheme called Fees Free for domestic learners. This scheme normally pays for your first year of study if you’ve never been enrolled in tertiary study over 60 credits at Level 3 or higher in New Zealand. They have confirmed that TTAF does not impact on a learner’s entitlement to also access the Fees Free scheme.
So, you’ll be covered by TTAF for your 2022 study and, if you would have originally been eligible for Fees Free, you’ll be able to access that to cover some of your remaining study.
You can check your Fees Free eligibility here >
Fees Free only covers your tuition fees. You would still need to pay for things like accommodation, living costs and placement transport costs. And the same full-time learner/part-time learner information would apply to Studylink financial support as was mentioned above.
If you have any questions about student loans and allowances, please email our Studylink Advisor: Amanda.McAra@op.ac.nz
Intakes:
Course | Description | Dates |
24-DIS-FY | Distance | 19 February 2024 - Wine Growing |
24-DIS-FYF | Distance | 19 February 2024 - Fruit Production |