New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General)

Summary

Apply to start at our Richmond Campus by the end of August and be ready to go by Spring.

Love plants and science? Dig deep and grow your skills in horticulture.

If you like working outdoors, love variety, and don't want to work in an office, this programme is for you. It offers skills for working outdoors while learning the feeling of accomplishment by growing things well.

You will learn about soils, how best to manage them to improve your growing, and how to identify and understand pests and diseases and their management.

You will gain the skills and knowledge through hands-on learning to improve your soil management, identify and manage pests and diseases, train and prune fruit trees, maintain plant health, manage water and irrigation, and grow your plants.

We also regularly go on field trips to local growers to apply practical skills. Full-time classes are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9.15 a.m. to 2.45 p.m.

Both campuses have on-site gardens, propagation houses, and amenity plantings.

With the knowledge you learn from this programme, you can get work in the horticulture industry, go on to study at level 4 or put it into practice on your own land or business if you are a small block owner.

If you belong to a business, iwi, or community group and you need horticulture skills, talk to us about how we can work with you to deliver this programme to your group. Email: horticulture@nmit.ac.nz

Start 14 October | NEW Flexi Marlborough course

Learning how to grow plants is even easier now with a new entry into this Level 3 programme, making it simple to mix learning with life.

Classes are from 6 to 8.30 pm on Monday evenings and every first and third Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Apply today!

Entry requirements Academic requirements

No minimum academic requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you may also be required to provide evidence of your English language skills as listed below. If you have no evidence of your English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, contact us for an assessment.
• IELTS 5.0 Academic (no lower than 5 in any subtest). For acceptable alternatives refer to the English Proficiency Outcomes Chart.
Note: Students who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.

Special entry

Skills for tertiary study (including literacy and numeracy) may be acquired through study, work and/or life experience. Students who can demonstrate these skills may be approved for alternative entry. Literacy and numeracy assessments are available.

Structure and timetable Full-time study class times

Study two days a week for six months.

In Nelson

Classes are held on the Richmond Campus on Lower Queen Street, where the horticulture facilities are provided.

You will have class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9.15 am-2.45 pm and will also apply your learning 8.5hrs per week at work placement on a horticultural property.

The rest of the week is self-directed learning. 

In Marlborough 

Classes are held on the Marlborough Campus on Budge Street where the horticulture facilities are provided.

You will have class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9.15 am-2.45 pm and will also apply your learning 8.5hrs per week at work placement on a horticultural property.

The rest of the week is self-directed learning.

Part-time study class times

Study part-time with one day of study and one day of work placement for one year.

Career opportunities and pathways

This qualification can lead onto Level 4 study in horticulture or employment in a range of horticultural enterprises.

Work can be at a wide range of levels and in different areas such as the amenity, orchard, vegetable and flower industries or nursery sector.

Positions can be seasonal to permanent. They can include nursery propagator, horticultural consultant, crop manager, cool store manager or science technician. 

You could be supervising workers or leading teams or self employed growing your own crops.

The programme is also suitable for small block owners and learners wishing to gain knowledge in horticultural science in a range of general horticulture growing systems and practices fo...