Skip to Main Content

Contents

Quick Facts

Programme Tabs

Overview

Programme Overview

Our Hikitia Te Ora - Certificate in Health Sciences (CertHSc) is open to students of Māori and Indigenous Pacific ancestry. This one-year programme will help strengthen your sciences, improve your academic skills and prepare you for undergraduate programmes in our faculty - all in a culturally safe environment. 

If you'd like to be considered for the CertHSc, you must attend the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) General Interviews.

Programme highlights:

  • A pathway into Nursing, Health Sciences, and Biomedical Science
  • A combination of lectures, tutorials, lab sessions, wānanga, online learning, and self-directed study within a culturally safe environment

Programme Careers

Potential Careers

Hikitia Te Ora can provide an entry pathway into the Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs), Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), and the Bachelor of Science (BSc) specialising in Biomedical Science. From there, students in Health Sciences or Biomedical Science have an entry pathway into a bachelors degree in Medicine, Medical Imaging (Honours), Optometry, or Pharmacy.

Student career planning services

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

Key Information for Students

Key Information for Students

Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.

Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates

Programme Entry Requirements

Overseas qualifications

If your highest qualification was gained outside New Zealand, view our international entry requirements


New Zealand qualifications

You are eligible for the CertHSc if you have verified indigenous New Zealand Māori or Pacific whakapapa/ancestry and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand. CertHSc and Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) eligibility and ancestry verification is approved upon receipt of a completed MH04 form available online..

To apply you must first apply under MAPAS and then apply for the CertHSc. You will be required to attend a one-day MAPAS interview which will take place in the week 11-15 December.

Please note the following points when applying for the programme:

  • Submission of the MAPAS MH04 form alone does not constitute a formal application to the University.
  • You must complete the University's online application by the set closing date of the CertHSc programme of 8 December.
  • You must complete the online MAPAS MH04 form by the set closing date of the CertHSc programme of 8 December.

Students are selected for the CertHSc through the MAPAS interview process. Find out more about the MAPAS interview process..

Other Pathways to Study

You could be eligible for another programme, or check out these alternative pathways:

Fees and scholarships

Fees

Fees Disclaimer

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships

Scholarships and awards

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Loans and Allowances

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of Living

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

Advice on Programme Limits

This is a limited entry programme: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Key Dates

Application Advice

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Key Dates

SemesterApplication Closing DateSemester Start DateSemester End Date
2026 Semester One08 December 202502 March 202629 June 2026

Other Important Dates

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

Regulations

Preamble

The regulations for this certificate are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

Admission

1 In order to be admitted to this certificate, a student must:

a be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand and have indigenous New Zealand Māori or Pacific whakapapa/ancestry verified through the Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme

and

b (i) have completed Year 13 in a New Zealand secondary school or its equivalent

or

(ii) be eligible for Special Admission to this University.

Note: This is a limited entry programme as per the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 and selection criteria apply. Selection criteria are available from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Duration and Total Points Value

2 A student admitted to this certificate must complete within two full-time semesters in the same academic year and pass courses with a total value of 120 points, unless credit is granted under the Admission Regulations and/or the Credit Regulations.

Structure and Content

3 A student enrolled for this certificate must complete the requirements as listed in the Certificate in Health Sciences Schedule.

4 A student who fails up to three courses may, with the permission of the Programme Director, complete a subsequent additional assessment for each failed course providing that the student has achieved:

a a Grade Point Average of 3.0 over all the courses passed for the certificate

and

b a grade of not less than D for the failed course.

5 The subsequent assessment must be undertaken within two weeks of the notification of results to the student.

6 A student must complete the University of Auckland Academic Integrity course as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic Integrity, of the University Calendar.

Variations

7 In exceptional circumstances Senate or its representative may approve a personal programme which does not conform to these regulations.

Regulation Commencement or Amendment

8 These regulations and/or schedule have been amended with effect from 1 January 2023.

Schedule

Programme Schedules

Complete 120 points comprising:

  • 120 points for all Compulsory Courses, and
  • 1 items from Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Complete exactly 1 of the following:

Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

Graduate Profile

#ThemeDescription
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Programme Capabilities

#Programme Capability
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.1
5.2
6.1
6.2
7.1
7.2
7.3
8.1
8.2
8.3

Programme Capabilities to Graduate Profile Map

Programme Learning OutcomesPeople and PlaceSustainabilityKnowledge and PracticeCritical ThinkingSolution-SeekingCommunicationCollaborationEthics and Professionalism