Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Certificate in Health is a short undergraduate qualification designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills in health promotion.
• It explores how the environments and circumstances in which people live, work and participate affect health and wellbeing.
• Students develop knowledge relevant to health promotion, health systems, communication, M?ori health, global health and other health-related issues.
• The programme is multidisciplinary, allowing students to combine introductory Health courses with selected courses from related areas.
• It can be completed in approximately six months when studied full-time.
• Students can also study part-time for up to three years.
• UC allows completed Certificate courses to be transferred towards the Diploma in Health or Bachelor of Health, subject to the applicable UC requirements. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Certificate consists of 60 points.

Students must complete at least 30 points from the approved elective schedule. UC's current programme page identifies the following principal compulsory-course choices:

• HLTH101 – Introduction to Health Studies
• HLTH102 – Health Promotion
• HLTH105 – Communication for Practice
• HLTH106 – Te Wero – M?ori Health Issues and Opportunities

The approved 2026 course list includes:

100-level courses:

• HLTH101 – Introduction to Health Studies
• HLTH102 – Health Promotion
• HLTH105 – Communication for Practice
• HLTH106 – Te Wero – M?ori Health Issues and Opportunities
• HLTH111 – Global Health
• HLTH112 – Anatomy & Physiology I
• HLTH113 – Anatomy & Physiology II
• HLTH121 – Introduction to Health Education
• HLTH122 – Building Resilience
• SOWK101 – Introduction to Social Policy
• SOWK102 – Social Services in Aotearoa

200-level courses:

• HLTH203 – Epidemiology
• HLTH213 – Health Systems and Policy
• HLTH214 – Environmental and Occupational Health
• HLTH215 – Human Development across the Lifecourse
• HLTH216 – Foundations of Mental Health and Addictions
• HLTH222 – Sexualities Education
• HLTH223 – Physical Activity and Nutrition
• HLTH270 – Te Ao Hauora Tangata: M?ori Health Perspectives
• SPRT207 – Nutrition and Exercise Prescription
• SPRT229 – Sport Psychology.

Some courses have prerequisites or recommended preparation. For example:

• HLTH113 recommends HLTH112.
• HLTH203 requires 60 points at 100-level and has an associated prerequisite requirement.
• HLTH213 requires 60 points at 100-level.
• HLTH214 requires 60 points at 100-level, or specified combinations of Health/Sport courses.
• HLTH223 requires appropriate prior study such as HLTH112, HLTH113 or BCHM111.
• HLTH270 requires 15 points at 100-level from HLTH, MAOR or TREO.

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements within the Certificate in Health.

Instead, students can build their 60 points around different health-related interests, including:

• Health promotion
• Health studies
• Global health
• Health education
• M?ori health
• Health communication
• Anatomy and physiology
• Epidemiology
• Health systems and policy
• Environmental and occupational health
• Mental health and addictions
• Human development
• Physical activity and nutrition
• Sport psychology
• Social policy and social services.

Programme Highlights

• New qualification introduced in 2026.
• Replaces the previous Certificate in Health Sciences for new students.
• 60-point Level 5 certificate.
• Six months full-time.
• Up to three years part-time.
• February and July intakes.
• Multidisciplinary health curriculum.
• Includes M?ori health and Aotearoa New Zealand health perspectives.
• Combination of compulsory health study and electives.
• Campus, distance-learning and UC Online options are available depending on course.
• Potential pathway into the Diploma in Health or Bachelor of Health.
• No major, minor or endorsement.
• No Honours, Distinction or Merit designation is awarded for this qualification. 

Career Outcomes

UC identifies potential career pathways including:

• Health promoter
• Wellbeing coordinator
• Community health worker
• Health educator.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current change is that UC introduced the new Certificate in Health in 2026. It replaced the Certificate in Health Sciences for new enrolments. The 2026 regulations confirm that the new Certificate in Health was first offered in 2026.

The previous Certificate in Health Sciences is explicitly marked as not open to new enrolments in 2026.

UC's new Health study portfolio also includes the new Diploma in Health and Bachelor of Health. The Certificate can provide a progression route into these qualifications, subject to meeting the relevant admission requirements.

There are no programme-wide clinical placement, nursing registration or professional-registration requirements stated for the Certificate in Health.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student intending to study in New Zealand, the appropriate visa will depend on the student's circumstances and study arrangement. For full-time study in New Zealand, the relevant route is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or evidence of an applicable scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Evidence of genuine intention to study.
• Evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase onward travel.
• Compliance with the conditions attached to the visa.

Current Fee Paying Student Visa information:

• Cost: from NZD 850
• Maximum stay: up to 4 years
• Processing: 80% within 8.5 weeks
• Application: online
• INZ strongly encourages students to apply approximately three months before intended travel.

Work rights can allow eligible students to work:

• Up to 25 hours per week while studying
• Full-time during scheduled holidays, where the student's visa conditions permit this.

Living-fund requirement:

• NZD 20,000 per year for tertiary study lasting one year or more.
• NZD 1,667 per month where the study period is less than one year.