Nursing courses

Southern Institute of Technology

Bachelor Of Nursing in Southern Institute of Technology

  • Duration : 3 Years
  • Intake : Feb,Nov
  • Level : Undergraduate
  • Tuition & fees : $ 19,000 Per Year
  • IELTS : 6.0
  • TOEFL : 60
  • PTE : 50


About Bachelor Of Nursing in Southern Institute of Technology

  • SIT’s School of Nursing (previously Southland Polytechnic) has been delivering nursing education for 40 years and has a long history of successful graduates.
  • Our enthusiastic staff have a wide range of nursing experience within NZ and overseas.
  • Specialist equipment includes a nursing simulation suite with computerised mannequins and life size models of body parts, as well as a large library of DVD resources and text books.
  • Clinical placements throughout Southland and Otago provide real-life experience in many diverse nursing environments
  • A career in nursing can take you around the world! Nurses are always in demand.

The Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year degree programme which provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills appropriate for employment in a wide and growing number of nursing careers.

The programme has as its core, theoretical and practical work in nursing – including principles relating to primary health, acute and chronic nursing care, mental health and mental illness throughout the lifespan.  The programme also recognises the importance of the cultural dimensions of nursing.

The Bachelor of Nursing has a strong applied component to allow students to enter the workforce proficient in a range of additional strengths including health promotion, illness prevention, evidence-based practice, the ability to provide nursing care in a medical and surgical context, as well as the provision of emergency nursing care.

This programme will enhance opportunities for students to develop a broad understanding of nursing, thus preparing them for professional practice or further advanced study in this area.

The Bachelor of Nursing has been designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of nursing careers in community and hospital situations.  It is expected Bachelor of Nursing graduates will make a positive contribution to the health of people of New Zealand and the wider world.  This contribution will be as nurses demonstrating caring, competent, safe nursing practice in partnership with individuals, groups and communities.

Increasing complexity of health care needs requires well-educated, competent and compassionate nurses who are able to:

  • Comprehend, critique and apply knowledge from nursing and other related disciplines in an appropriate and safe practice context.
  • Facilitate the competent and safe provision of nursing care to groups and individuals with a variety of settings.
  • Competently practise within the legal and ethical parameters of the nursing profession.
  • Recognise, value, critique and apply research to nursing practice and knowledge.
  • Meet the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration as a Registered Nurse.

The degree follows four themes – Professional Practice, Praxis, Health and Society and Health Sciences.  

Throughout the programme students are involved in learning in clinical settings in a variety of community and hospital areas.  By the end of the programme it is expected students will have integrated the theory and practice framework to develop into confident beginning practitioners.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to practise nursing and they will be eligible to sit the Nursing Council of New Zealand Examination for registration in the Registered Nurse scope of practice. Once formally registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, graduates will work as nurses in primary, secondary and tertiary health settings; they will be critically reflective practitioners of nursing and they will practise within a framework of cultural safety. 

A nursing career offers great opportunities for men and women from a variety of cultures and walks of life.  Nursing is a partnership with people to improve their health. This includes assisting children, adults or older people recovering from physical or mental illness in hospital, or their own homes.  Health promotion in nursing may involve people in schools, the workplace, marae or health centres.

Máori nurses help promote health and well being to Te Iwi Máori in culturally appropriate nursing services. Pacific Island nurses can use their skills to benefit the health status of their people both in New Zealand and in the Pacific Islands.

There are opportunities for career development in many areas including practice, teaching, management, and research both in New Zealand and overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Bachelor of Nursing be completed part time?
The Bachelor of Nursing is a 3 year full time course. Under exceptional circumstances, students can take up to a maximum of 5 years at the discretion of the Academic and Relationship Leader.

Will I be required to work weekends and nights?
Yes. The courses require that you will undertake placements that require you to work shifts, nights and weekends. People are unwell 24/7.

Are all the placements in Invercargill?
No. We use a variety of placements from Queenstown, Gore, and Bluff and surrounding towns. Students will be required to make their own travel arrangements.

I have a criminal conviction – do I need to declare it?
Yes. All criminal convictions must be declared to the Academic and Relationship Leader before the course commences. Some criminal convictions may prohibit you from continuing your training.

Does a place on the pre-entry course guarantee a place on the Bachelor of Nursing course?
No. The pre-entry course prepares you for the academic study on the Bachelor of Nursing but it does not necessarily guarantee you a place on either the New Zealand Diploma of Enrolled Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing course.

I don’t have sciences or maths – does that matter?
Yes. Nursing is heavily based in the sciences and it is recommended that you have undertaken some studies in both.

Is there a list of recommended text books?
Yes. This is sent out with your acceptance letter.

Are the course holidays the same as the school holidays?
Not always. Whilst every effort is made to match school holidays this is not always possible. Timetables are given out on orientation day so this will give you plenty of time to organise childcare. You may need to organise childcare as you could be on a clinical placement or in class.

Are there any part-time / member of the public papers?
No not in nursing. If you are looking for some preparatory study, you may wish to consider Health Science papers; Massage papers; or Computing skills.

Do I need a current first aid certificate?
YES you do. NZQA unit standard 26551 or 6402 equivalent. This is required before you start (if possible).

Do I need to have any immunisations?
Yes. In order to protect both yourself and other patients. You will be sent a laboratory form with your acceptance letter.

Information for Bachelor of Nursing applicants wishing to transfer in from another School.

  • We do not take people into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Nursing
  • Students wishing to transfer must obtain a reference from their current Head of School and give permission for the Head of School to be contacted by SIT
  • Students wishing to gain Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) must provide a transcript and copies of all the related outcomes for that course. There is a charge for the RPL process. Any RPL for a second year clinical paper has to be approved by Nursing Council. RPL is not automatic and careful consideration is given to matching up outcomes – this is a lengthy process and may require a student to submit an assessment.
  • There is no national curriculum and therefore applicants need to acknowledge that they may have to repeat part of their first or second years, thereby increasing their length of study
  • Students need to think very carefully about why they are transferring
  • Any students wishing to transfer must meet the entry criteria for the SIT Bachelor of Nursing programme
  • There is no July intake - you cannot transfer mid-year.

School Leavers

University Entrance requirements - NCEA Level 3: three subjects at Level 3 or above made up of the following:

  • 14 credits each, in three approved subjects, preferably  in Science, Mathematics and English
  • Literacy, 10 credits at Level 2 or above made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing
  • Numeracy, 10 credits at Level 1 or above made up of specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or Unit standards package of three numeracy unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627. Allthree required.

Or an overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of the above.

Mature Applicants
Applicants who do not meet the criteria stated above may be considered for the Bachelor of Nursing degree programme if they are over the age of 20 years at the date of commencement of the programme and have demonstrated academic ability to undertake the undergraduate nursing degree. For example, this means successful completion of a programme of study at NZQF Level 4 or above.

Interview
For your group interview, you will have 30 minutes to complete a numeracy assessment. You can expect 30 questions. Download a sample of 10 questions here, which are reflective of the types of questions you can expect.

Language Requirements

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate of at least 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or

Successful completion of a Bachelors’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the preceding two years:

  • IELTS test - Academic score of 6.5 that includes a score of at least 6.5 in each of Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.
  • TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
  • TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
  • Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169.  No less than 162 in each skill
  • OET – Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
  • NZCEL - a) Expiring Level, b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic), b) Level 4 (Academic)
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
  • Language Cert – C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
  • Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

Completion of all primary education and at least three years secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction, or

Completion of five years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction.   

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate below 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English must provide evidence that they:

  • Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements, or
  • Have successfully completed a Bachelors’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
  • Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA, or
  • Have achieved the required score and with all scores achieved in a single test in one of the internationally recognised English Proficiency tests (specified above) within the preceding two years

Southern Institute of Technology Highlights

University Type Public University
Campus Setting Urban
Establishment Year 1971
No. of Students 13,758
Cost of Attendance 8,000-26,000 NZD (annually)
Applications Accepted Online/Offline
Work-Study Available
Intake Type Semester wise
Mode of Program Full time and online

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.

General expenses Cost
(in NZ dollars)
Rent (per month) $800–$950
Groceries (per week) $100–$150
Gym membership (per year) $300
Entertainment (per week) $50
Milk (per litre) $3
Coca Cola (per can) $2
Cup of Coffee $3–$5
Lunch from University food hall or campus café $7–$12
Local calls made from a cell-phone $0.50–$1.50
Taxi - 5 km ride $10–$12
Movie ticket $10–$14
Visit to doctor $45–$85

Know more about Studying in New Zealand

Tuition Fees in New Zealand (1st Year Average) BE/Btech NZD 24605 | MBA NZD 25694| MS NZD 29178 | BSc NZD 30702 | BBA NZD 22863 | MEng NZD 41589 | MIM NZD 34186 | MFin NZD 142025
Average Accomodation & Food Costs in New Zealand NZD 1250 Per Month
Entrance Exams in New Zealand TOEFL: 74 | IELTS: 6 |PTE: 53
Work and Study in New Zealand Permitted for 20 hours/week with a valid study permit.
Post Study Work Permit in New Zealand One to Three Years Depending on the Region.
Cost of Student Visa in New Zealand NZD 295
Student Visa in New Zealand If a student wants to study full time in New Zealand for more than three months, and is willing to pay the full cost of the course, Fee-Paying Student Visa is for him/her.
Intakes in New Zealand There are Two Main Intakes in New Zealand: January Intake and July Intake.
Top Job Sectors in New Zealand Engineering, Software Developing/Programming, Medicine, Education, Accounts, Electrician, Automotive Technician, etc.
Economy in New Zealand Growth Rate of 2.8% (2018), 2.5% (2019e), 2.7% (2020e), 22nd Largest in the World by Nominal
Fees components - (1st year Fees and expense)

Tuition & fees :

$ 19,000

Total

$ 19,000