Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care (PGCertPC) develops health practitioners' skills in palliative care.
• It introduces palliative care as a field of research.
• The programme develops knowledge for holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the needs of people and their families/wh?nau living with a life-limiting condition.
• UC's approach considers physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing.
• The programme is interdisciplinary and focuses on the patient, family and wh?nau rather than treating palliative care as a purely clinical discipline.
• It is suitable for health professionals, non-clinical members of the health workforce and others with an appropriate health-sciences background.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification consists of two compulsory 30-point courses.

1. HLTH448 – The Foundation of Hospice Palliative Care

2. HLTH449 – Praxis in Hospice Palliative Care

This is the second paper and builds on HLTH448.

The course integrates theory, research and reflection into evidence-based palliative-care practice. Its four progressively integrated themes are:

• Understanding and caring for self; understanding others.
• Caring for the person, family and wh?nau living with a terminal illness.
• The practice of palliative care, including therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities.
• Creating and maintaining a culture of excellence and learning. 

Disciplines / Specialisations

The PGCertPC does not have separate majors, minors or formal specialisations.

The current UC regulations explicitly state that there are no majors, minors or endorsements for this qualification.

The academic focus is nevertheless specialised in palliative care.

Relevant areas include:

• Hospice palliative care
• Holistic patient care
• End-of-life care
• Family and wh?nau support
• Interprofessional healthcare
• Therapeutic interventions
• Evidence-based practice
• Cultural and spiritual dimensions of care
• Professional reflection and development
• Palliative-care research.

Programme Highlights

• 60-point postgraduate qualification.
• Normally completed over two years part-time.
• February and July entry.
• Entire qualification structured around two 30-point compulsory courses.
• Distance-learning delivery.
• Strong focus on holistic palliative care.
• Patient, family and wh?nau-centred approach.
• Interdisciplinary health-care perspective.
• Incorporates physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs.
• Introduces palliative care as a research field.
• Suitable for health and allied-health professionals with appropriate prior tertiary study.
• Can provide a pathway into higher Health Sciences qualifications.

Career Outcomes

UC states that many graduates continue working within their existing health profession.

Other graduates work in:

• Health-related fields
• Social services
• Local government
• Central government. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The PGCertPC remains listed as an active UC qualification in the current 2026/27 UC information. UC's current specialist-health information, updated 4 August 2026, continues to list Palliative Care among its postgraduate health specialisations.

The current 2026 structure is:

• HLTH448 – 30 points – Distance Learning
• HLTH449 – 30 points – Distance Learning.

There is also a progression pathway.

A student who has completed the PGCertPC requirements but has not yet graduated may apply for admission and transfer credits into:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Palliative Care)
• Master of Health Sciences (Palliative Care)
• Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice (Palliative Care).

International Student Visa Requirements

This programme requires special consideration for international students because it is delivered by distance learning.

Immigration New Zealand's Fee Paying Student Visa normally requires:

• An Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an applicable scholarship.
• Sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Evidence of good health and character.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.