Health Bridging Certificate (Level 3 and 4)

• Open entry.
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.0 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). 
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you are ready for this study. Click here for your country's equivalent entry criteria.

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Entry straight to Level 4

If you meet the below requirements, you will be able to apply for entry straight into Level 4. This six-month certificate starts in July every year. Click here for the Level 4 only programme.

• New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3), 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). 
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you are ready for this study. Click here for your country's equivalent entry criteria.

Please note that while you don't need to provide evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination status to apply for this Level 3 or Level 4 health bridging programme, you will need to provide evidence of your vaccination status if you want to apply for one of our health diplomas or degrees when you successfully complete this programme. 

Due to the high demand for places, successful completion of the this programme will not automatically guarantee you entry to our health-related degrees.

Progression to Bachelor of Nursing 

• A minimum B+ average pass, achieved across the four courses during semester two, is required to meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing. This must include at least a B+ in Human Biological Science 2.
• These programmes also have non-academic entry requirements including language requirements for non-native speakers of English, so you may need to plan ahead!
• Nursing applicants for whom English is a second language will also need to meet the language requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing, which is an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 6.5.

Progression to Bachelor of Midwifery

• Midwifery Council states that applications from applicants under 20 who have met the academic entry criteria to the Bachelor of Midwifery via the Health Bridging Programme will be assessed on their individual merits.
• A minimum B+ average pass, achieved across the four courses during semester two, is required to meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Midwifery. This must include at least a B+ in Human Biological Science 2.
• These programmes also have non-academic entry requirements including language requirements for non-native speakers of English, so you may need to plan ahead!
• Midwifery applicants for whom English is a second language will also need to meet the language requirements for the Bachelor of Midwifery, which is an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 7.0.

Please contact Otago Polytechnic to discuss your pathway to a health-related degree. Email info@op.ac.nz or phone 0800 762 786.   

This programme is made up of health and community courses taught by blended delivery. Weekly tutorial attendance is required.

Tutorials will be held on campus if you are based in Dunedin and online if you are based elsewhere.

If you are studying by distance, you are also required to attend three compulsory block courses per semester, either in Dunedin or at Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua.

March 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 2 March, Sun 3 March 
• Dunedin: Mon 4 March, Tues 5 March 

May 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 4 May, Sun 5 May 
• Dunedin: Mon 6 May, Tues 7 May 

June 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 8 June, Sun 9 June 
• Dunedin: Mon 10 June, Tues 11 June 

July 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 27 July, Sun 28 July, Mon 29 July 
• Dunedin: Mon 29 July, Tues 30 July, Wed 31 July 

September 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 7 Sept, Sun 8 Sept 
• Dunedin: Mon 9 Sept, Tues 10 Sept 

November 2024 

• Porirua: Sat 16 Nov, Sun 17 Nov 
• Dunedin: Mon 18 Nov, Tues 19 Nov 

This is a full-time programme and you should expect to spend around 40 hours per week accessing required learning resources, completing assignments and undertaking self-directed study.

The Bioscience for Health and Applied Structure and Function of the Human Body courses incorporate practical laboratory sessions, some of which involve chemicals and animal tissue.

We recommend the text 'Introduction to the Human Body: The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology'  by Gerard J.Tortora and Bryan Derrickson (7th edition or later). 

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. 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. 

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.