New Zealand Certificate in Applied Science (Level 3)

This programme is a starting point for those interested in a career in science and/or engineering. This programme provides a pathway for entry into higher level science programmes, or to the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering, for those students who don’t already meet the academic entry requirements.

Students will study one compulsory module ‘Professional Skills in Applied Science 1’, then choose a context and modules from one of two contexts – Applied Science or Engineering.

On completion of this programme graduates can progress on to further study in Applied Science 5, or graduates from the engineering context will be able to go on to further study in engineering.

Science context

Besides learning theory, students will go on fieldtrips, for example:

• To a native tree nursery to learn about eco-sourcing and eco-restoration
• To Lake Ngaroto to investigate plant and animal communities in a scrub ecosystem
• To a local dog handler who trains and works dogs that detect American Foul Brood in bee hives
• To Waikato Valley Chocolate factory to learn about food processing

They will also take part in in-class/on campus practical lab work, including:

• Testing the anti-bacterial action of honey
• Honey sensory lab
• Native tree identification
• Testing physical and chemical properties of soil samples and identifying invertebrates collected on a field trip
• Fieldwork sampling techniques

Engineering context

Students will learn theory, and get to carry out investigations in the lab, including experiments on centroids and using Hook’s law.

In the physics module, students will look at a wide range of topics, and investigations will include experiments on gravitational constants, energy, magnetism, electricity and optics. 

Hamilton City Campus