Admission and Enrolment Information

Admission Criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Academic Board of the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the commencement of the programme.
• Applicants under the age of 20 must have NCEA level 3 (or equivalent) in English and Chemistry.
• Applicants over the age of 20, who do not have a chemistry background, will be required to complete an on-line Introduction to Biological Chemistry course.
• Applicants over the age of 20, who do not have documented achievement in English Communication, will be required to undertake a basic English communication task.
• Applicants who hold The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) will be considered to have met the entry criteria for the BNatMed.
• For domestic students for whom English is a second language, applicants must meet the Academic IELTS, overall band of 6.5 (or equivalent), with no band score under 6.0, before enrolment. Equivalence may take the form of a TOEFL Certificate, or proof of primary and secondary schooling through the medium of English.
• All international student applicants, whether or not they are first language English speakers, must provide proof of English language proficiency. This must be in the form of an IELTS or TOEFL Certificate.

If a prospective international student does not have the required IELTS of TOEFL Certificate, then English language proficiency must be demonstrated through alternative means as set out in the NZQA Rule 18.2 https://www.nzqa.govt.nz).

NOTE: an offer of place by another New Zealand tertiary institution is not acceptable evidence under NZQA Rule 18 (https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/expired-rules/programme-approval-and-accreditation/8/18/).

Selection Criteria

In addition to the above admission criteria, preference will be given to applicants who meet the following:

• Completed Naturopathy courses at another college.
• Hold a tertiary qualification, preferably in a health-related field.
• Successfully completed The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) or a Personal Interest course, with an average A grade in their overall achievement.
• Demonstrate previous engagement with natural health.
• Interact in a professional and respectful manner.
• Not in full-time employment.
• Able to attend on-campus classes.

Fee Protection and Refunds

Fees Protection Procedures

• Student fees will be deposited into a Static Trust Account administered by an approved professional as per the NZQA Fee Protection Policy 2004. The amount held in the Static Trust Account will be at least equal to the sum of all the fees paid by each individual student should a refund be required and will be held for a minimum of 10 days after students are required to be in attendance on the course.
• If the College voluntarily withdraws, or ceases to offer its programmes, all efforts would be made to protect student interests. Students will be given a choice of receiving a pro-rata refund or assistance to enrol in a similar programme with a transfer of fees.
• All students will sign the Student Acknowledgement form – Student Fee Protection Static Trust Form. These will be lodged in the student’s file.

Refund Regulations: All students, including International Students

• A refund of all payments made less costs, which will not exceed 10% of the total fees paid or $500 whichever is the lesser, will be made to any student who withdraws and applies in writing to the Academic Director within two weeks (14 calendar days) of the commencement of a semester.
• No refunds will be made if more than two weeks (14 calendar days) from the commencement of the semester have been completed.
• If a student withdraws before the academic programme commences then they will receive a refund of all tuition fees paid. The administration fee is not refundable.
• If a student decides to withdraw after the semester has commenced, they must complete a Withdrawal Form and provide any supporting documentation to the Student Administration Manager.
• If a student is excluded, then no refund of tuition fees will be given.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Recognition Transfer

• Recognition of Prior Learning is that credit granted following an assessment in respect of prior learning based on life experience, work experience, competency, informal education/training and/or formal education/training. A challenge test may be offered to applicants.
•  Credit Recognition Transfer refers to situations where there is equivalent learning from similar colleges or situations where the learning is identical, as would be the case for any students who have taken our Personal Interest courses and then been accepted into the Bachelor of Natural Medicine.

The RPL/CRT Application Process

It is the sole responsibility of the student applying for RPL or CRT to provide all evidence to demonstrate that the Learning Outcomes for the course have been met. Evidence for assessment can come from previous course completion, job experience, formal tests and tasks, and previous proven achievements outside formal learning. Other courses should be of a similar length and NZQA level and cover similar content.

Students may be assessed by a combination of:

• evidence the student provides;
•  further assessment tasks, to assess all the skills and knowledge required.

Starting the process 

• A new applicant or current student indicates that they may be interested in applying for RPL or CRT during the pre-application process for the Bachelor of Natural Medicine or the annual course enrolment process.
• The Learning Outcomes for the course/s, full instructions and an application form are supplied to the applicant.
• A completed RPL and CRT Application Form and evidence are submitted to the Student Enrolment & Progression, the Financial Controller is informed, and an invoice is raised.
• On confirmation of payment of the processing fee, the Student Enrolment & Progression decides whether the application meets the criteria for:
  • Recognition of Prior Learning or
  • Credit Recognition Transfer
• The application will be assessed against the Learning Outcomes by the Student Enrolment & Progression Manager with assistance from the Academic Director and the Academic Team if necessary.
• Should the Student Enrolment & Progression Manager decide that more information is required in order to make a recommendation, the applicant will be contacted to produce further evidence.

Attendance Expectations

The College believes that attendance, or access to courses on our learning management system (Moodle), for on-line students, has an impact on a student’s progress and success in a programme. As a result, the following statements set out the expectations for on-campus attendance and on-line student access.

• Attendance at every class is expected of on-campus students.
• On-line students are expected to access and study all the compulsory weekly course material in a timely manner.
• All students are expected to be actively involved in discussion, either in class or on Moodle, and in practical work. They will also be expected to prepare for classes by doing some prior reading or activities.
• If for any reason a student is unable to attend classes or access courses at the recommended rate (given the number of courses that the student is enrolled in), the College must be notified prior to the scheduled classes or the upcoming on-line topic.
• It is the individual student’s responsibility to follow up on any learning they have missed in their absence.

On-campus students:

• It is expected that students will attend 100% of all scheduled classes for the courses in which they are enrolled at the College.
• If an on-campus student is absent from three successive classes, without providing a valid absence notification, the College will contact the student and, if required, provide academic and pastoral care support to assist student progress for the course/s in which they are enrolled.

On-line students: 

• It is expected that students will demonstrate active engagement (completion of 100% of compulsory activities per week for an enrolled course of study) when accessing learning material and participating in activities on Moodle, for all scheduled classes, in the course/s in which they are enrolled at the College.
• If an on-line student fails to access their Moodle courses weekly, without providing a valid absence notification, the College will contact the student and, if required, provide academic and pastoral care support to assist student progress for the course/s in which they are enrolled.
•  Where student attendance or access falls below 85% the Academic Administrator will inform the Academic Director. Studylink will be notified if a student is absent or has not accessed Moodle for 10 working days without providing a valid absence notification.

SPCNM Code of Ethics

Paua Clinic 

• Student Practitioners shall recognise their obligation towards their Paua Clinic clients at all times, and shall practise to the best of their ability, to prioritise their clients’ comfort, welfare, privacy and future health.
• Student Practitioners shall not give advice or treatment to Paua Clinic clients without the approval of a Paua Clinic supervisor.
• Student Practitioners shall at all times adhere to the principles and requirements of informed consent and confidentiality.
• In accordance with the principles and requirements of privacy and confidentiality all health information and diagnostic findings acquired during consultation, or in the course of professional treatment, shall not be divulged to anyone without the client’s consent, except when required by law, or where failure to take action would constitute a menace or danger to the client or another member of the community.
• Student Practitioners shall not give guarantees regarding the results of any treatment.
• Student Practitioners shall not denigrate a fellow practitioner’s treatment.
• Student Practitioners shall not knowingly interfere with any ongoing treatment instigated by another practitioner, whilst the client is under that practitioner’s care.

SPCNM College Rules

In accordance with the College’s dedication to the education of the country’s leading holistic health practitioners who will contribute to the health and wellbeing of themselves, their families, and their diverse communities, the following rules apply:

Students are expected to:

• Uphold the College’s good reputation at all times.
• Be punctual for lectures, clinics and appointments.
• Refrain from using mobile phones during lectures and clinics.
• Be considerate of, and show respect for, all of those in the SPCNM community.
• Show care for the buildings, furniture and resources of the College.
• Refrain from smoking on or in SPCNM property.
• Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages on or in SPCNM property without the express permission of the Chief Executive.
• Abstain from using illegal substances on or in College property or at any College functions

In addition:

• All visitors must sign in at Reception.
• Visitors may not attend classes, unless by explicit invitation of the Chief Executive.
• Babies up to 12 weeks of age may be brought to classes. If restless, the baby should be removed from the classroom to avoid disturbing others.
• If exceptional circumstances require students to bring their child/ren to lectures at the College, the Chief Executive and/or Academic Director must be advised as soon as possible. In such instances, children must sit with their parent/s at the back of the classroom, where care should be taken that they are not causing a disturbance. Children must not be left in Cheal Cottage, the Library, Paua Clinic or in the garden without adult supervision.

Withdrawals

Withdrawal from the programme or a course 

• A student may withdraw from a course/s by written notice to the Student Administration Manager.
• Any withdrawal from a course within two weeks (14 calendar days) of the commencement of a semester shall be without prejudice to the student’s right to apply for re-enrolment in the future.
• Students will be required to meet admission and selection criteria when applying to re-enrol after a period of withdrawal.
• Where a student withdraws or is withdrawn by the Academic Board, their academic record shall record a grade as:
  • Withdrawn (WD) in respect of that course;
  • A fail grade (i.e. D) is recorded if withdrawal is after an unsuccessful or incomplete assessment attempt.
• The College will notify NZ Immigration Service if an international student withdraws from their course/programme before the expiry date on their visa.
• All students shall surrender their student ID card upon withdrawal from the programme.