Certificate
The Certificate in University Preparation (CUP) is designed to prepare Aotearoa New Zealand citizens, or holders of a Residents Class Visa of New Zealand or Australia, for university study. The CUP programme provides an inclusive and supportive learning environment with small classes and individual attention to help you develop your confidence to succeed at university.
CUP is recommended for people of all ages, those who have been out of study for a while and want to refresh their study skills, or school leavers who want to gain University Entrance. Course places are limited to allow for small classes, which could include a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, exercises, and group tasks.
CUP is a 12-week programme of study for full-time students, with two six-week options throughout the year plus summer school. Flexible part-time and distance options are also available. Full-time study could mean up to 20 hours of study per week, including up to 12 hours of classes and time spent on self-directed learning.
The CUP programme will help you to develop the skills necessary for successful university study, including:
The CUP programme provides an environment for students to:
For the full qualification requirements, see the Regulations for the Certificate in University Preparation.
We accept students into the CUP programme based on:
(In your application you will be asked to include a small statement about yourself (max. 250 words). This is to help provide some information for the Transitions Team prior to the interview. Some things you could include are your background, work experience, achievements, current interests, and/or future plans).
All students have an interview before they start to help design an appropriate pathway around their future ambitions and current needs.
Our intention is for students to succeed in tertiary study, and some background knowledge is required for certain degree pathways.
We have a partnership with Hagley College to deliver an extended pathway into degree study, if required.
See the apply for preparatory programmes webpage for application information. The Regulations for the Certificate in University Preparation has all regulatory details.
To apply for entry into the Certificate in University Preparation programme, you need to apply to enrol online with myUC.