Entry requirements

We accept students into the CUP programme based on:

• a Personal Statement.

(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).

• an interview with a Student Advisor.
• a previous academic record.

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.

• A diagnostic maths test may be required for our engineering and science pathways.
• An English Language test may be required if your previous education is in another language.

Note: If you select TRNS007 Preparatory Maths course, this worksheet will assist you in studying for the test.

We have a partnership with Hagley College to deliver an extended pathway into degree study, if required.

See how to apply for preparatory programmes.

To apply for entry into the Certificate in University Preparation programme, you need to apply to enrol online with myUC.

Subjects and courses

There is one compulsory core course that is delivered on campus and by distance:

• TRNS001 Introduction to Academic Writing

You can choose from three other courses depending on which areas of study interests you:

• TRNS002 Te Uku: The Peopling of Aotearoa
• TRNS003 Introduction to Social Issues and Challenges
• TRNS004 Teacher Education and Educational Studies
• TRNS005 Exploring the Psychology and Biology of the Human Mind
• TRNS006 Elementary Chemistry
• TRNS007 Preparatory Mathematics
• TRNS008 Fundamentals of Physics
• TRNS009 An Introduction to Statistics and Probability
• TRNS010 Digital Data: An exploration of the use and pervasiveness of data in a digitised society
• TRNS011 An Introduction to Business
• TRNS012 An Invitation to Law
• TRNS017 Mathematics with Calculus
• MATH101 Methods of Mathematics

All elective courses are subject to minimum enrolment numbers.

Māori and Pasifika students can study the core skills course on the University campus as part of the connective grouping — Te Waka Talanoa. An academic pathway will be designed around a student's individual needs via another three courses that make up the CUP certificate.

Further study

This Certificate is accepted as an entry qualification for Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury and, by application, to other Aotearoa New Zealand universities.

See the undergraduate certificates and diplomas and bachelor's degrees offered at UC.