Study and train at Te Pūkenga

Te Pūkenga connects you to vocational education and training programmes.

At Te Pūkenga you can choose to:

• become an apprentice or trainee – learn on-the-job, get qualified and earn money as you work
• learn while you work – if you want to get ahead in your job, you can get qualifications as part of your normal mahi
• do distance or online learning – study from anywhere using posted or online coursework
• learn on campus – learn alongside others in classrooms or workshops
• do a mixture of these options to suit your circumstances.

Vocational education and training gives you skills that can lead to an exciting career.

Whether you're looking for your first job or retraining, there are programmes to get you started in all sorts of industries. You can get qualifications for everything from building to aged care, and from viticulture to mechanical engineering.

You’ll finish your programme with a set of work-ready skills and feel confident you can use them for mahi straight away.

Programmes offered through Te Pūkenga can lead to:

• New Zealand Certificates at Levels 1 to 6
• New Zealand Diplomas at Levels 5 to 7
• Bachelor’s degrees at Level 7
• Graduate and postgraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees at Levels 8 to 10.

Apprenticeships lead to New Zealand Certificates at Level 4.

Te Pūkenga offers programmes at over 150 sites across Aotearoa New Zealand.

You’ll have more local on-campus options if you live near a big town or city – but many programmes will be available online no matter where you live.

If you want to do an apprenticeship, you’ll probably need to find a job first. That might mean it’s easier to find a building apprenticeship in Auckland, or a viticulture apprenticeship in Marlborough.

Entry requirements depend on the programme you want to do.

Level 1 to 3 certificates might not have any requirements.

For programmes at Level 4 and higher, you might need specific NCEA subjects or achievement standards at a certain level.

Find out what you need by looking up your programme on the Te Pūkenga website.

• Te Pūkenga website - check entry and programme requirements

There’s a lot to get used to when you start vocational education and training. Don’t worry too much – Te Pūkenga has advisers ready to help you.

You can ask about anything, like which programme you should choose, costs, equipment and how to find an apprenticeship.

Te Pūkenga also has support services and networks to make life easier while you’re an ākonga. Check their websites to see what’s on offer like libraries, help with learning, Māori and Pacific peoples support, and financial support.

If you have questions or worries about learning material or coursework, you can ask your tutor or support services for advice.

• How to apply for study, apprenticeships or training