New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Fruit Production) or (Wine Growing) (Level 5)

Location

  • Central Otago Campus, or
  • Online and in your work place

 

Duration

1 year full-time; two to three years part-time

DescLevel

Intakes

February and July

    Study breaks content

  • Location
    Intake
    Study breaks
  • Distance
    19 February 2024
    1 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
    15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
    30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
  • Distance
    19 February 2024
    1 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
    15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
    30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024

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 

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