Programmes :

“ETC offers different courses for students with Permanent Resident (PR) or citizenship. Most of them are FREE. Our courses for residents are fully or partly funded by the New Zealand Government.”

PR / Migrant / Refugee Programmes

NZ Certificate in English Language

  • Available at all campuses

  • Can start at anytime

  • 20 weeks of study / Monday to Friday from 9am to
    around 3pm

ETC offers programmes for students with permanent residence PR or citizenship. The New Zealand Government fully or partially funds our programmes for New Zealand residents or citizens. This means that our course fees for domestic students are lower than for international students and are sometimes free.

The NZQA NZ Certificate in English Language (NZCEL) programmes are ideal for students who wish to improve their English to go on to university, polytechnic or other tertiary institutes. These qualifications are designed for people who are learning English as an additional language. There are 5 qualifications which each lead to a graded New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL). These programmes involve 20 weeks of full time study. (Part –time study may be available, please ask) Each qualification level builds on skills learnt in the previous one. At level 3 the qualification is split into two programmes, General and Applied and at Level 4 into three separate programmes; General, Employment and Academic. Each programme is 20 weeks long (60 NZQA credits) and you can choose to do one or all of them.

If you want to go to university we advise that you select the academic strand. Domestic students studying NZCEL are able to apply for Fees Free Funding, Refugee Scholarship or Student loans and allowances to help with paying their fees. You may also have the opportunity to prepare for exams like IELTS and FCE. Each qualification is divided into four courses (reading, writing, listening and speaking), each worth 15 credits. You are required to complete 60 NZQA credits to complete each qualification. Each credit involves approximately 10 hours of study. Within some courses there are NZQA unit standards which you can gain as part of the qualification. To achieve the Level 4 Academic strand you must complete the mandatory unit standards. This is a full time programme. Teaching hours are Monday to Friday, from 9am to around 3pm, and it is expected that you will do at least 5 hours self-directed study (homework) per week.

ILN 100 (Intensive Literacy and Numeracy)

These programmes are designed for any student wanting to learn English, Maths or computing journey. They are suitable for native English speakers who have low levels of literacy and numeracy or ESOL students. As the programmes are funded by the New Zealand Government there are some special requirements. Students must;

  • Complete up to 300 hours of literacy numeracy and digital literacy within 5 to 20 weeks.

  • be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand

  • have low skill levels in literacy and/or numeracy and/or digital literacy

  • have less than 80 credits on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF); or

  • if you have more than 80 credits on the NZQF, but you have less than 12 credits in literacy and/or numeracy unit standards/achievement standards

ILN ESOL (Intensive Literacy & Numeracy)

These programmes are designed for beginner to intermediate ESOL students on their English language learning journey. As the programmes are funded by the New Zealand Government there are some special requirements. Students must;

  • complete 500 hours of literacy numeracy and digital literacy within 10 to 26 week.

  • be a refugee (includes a protected person and people sponsored by a refugee or protected person)

  • be a migrant

  • be a person for whom English is their second language

  • be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

  • be 16 years and over

  • have low English language and/or literacy skills and/or low digital literacy skill

  • have less than 80 credits on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF); or

  • if you have more than 80 credits on the NZQF, you have less than 12 credits in literacy and/or numeracy unit standards/achievement standards.

English for Migrants programme

The English for Migrants programme allows migrants to attend English language courses, helping them settle into communities and work. Some migrants have paid English language tuition fees to the Department of Labour (Immigration New Zealand) before arriving in New Zealand as part of their residence requirement. This is known as pre-purchased tuition (PELT). TEC administers these pre-purchased tuition payments for Immigration New Zealand. Migrants who have pre-purchased tuition as part of their residency can use their pre-purchased tuition for English language courses at approved organisations. There is no cost to the student. ETC is an approved provider and offers various courses under the English for Migrants scheme at their schools in Palmerston North, Wellington and Lower Hutt.

Courses available include;
General English, Academic English, IELTS, 1-1 tuition and many other options. Contact us and ask what is available.

New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (level 2)

An introduction to working in the health and wellbeing sector. Gain basic skills and knowledge combined with practical hands-on experience in a health and wellbeing workplace such as a rest home or care facility. 
The entry qualification for an entry position in a rest home or care facility. Graduates can progress to employment or further training at Levels 3 and 4

  • Free for local students with Permanent Resident (PR) or citizenship

  • 14 weeks programme, Monday to Friday  9am—3pm.