FAQS
1. How do I apply to study at SPCNM?
For courses starting in February of the following year, applications open in October (Bachelor of Natural Medicine and Certificate of Personal Interest courses).
For courses starting in July, applications open in May (NZ Certificate in Study & Employment Pathways – Natural Medicine (full-time option). Limited places may be available for the Bachelor of Natural Medicine and Certificate of Personal Interest courses for our Semester Two intake, depending on class numbers.
2. How do I get the documents necessary for the application process certified?
A certified document – a scanned copy of a document, passport or card (e.g. driver’s licence) must:
- show the entire image of the relevant document/card on the scan or photograph.
- be certified by someone authorised to do so. Examples of officials authorised to verify a document: Justice of the Peace, lawyer, registered teacher or medical doctor, an official of the issuing authority, or a court official (Court Registrar or Deputy Registrar). The verifier must not be a member of your family.
- have the date, the official’s signature, with the name and occupation of the official shown clearly below their signature.
3. I previously studied at South Pacific College. Can my previous completed courses be transferred if I apply to study again?
This will depend how long ago you first studied with the college and the currency of your knowledge. The College regulations have changed so that the degree should be completed within 6 years of your first enrolment. You will need to complete a new application to enrol in the degree programme. Acceptance is not guaranteed. You may be required to take competency tests to demonstrate the currency of your knowledge.
4. What makes SPCNM the best place to study?
The College upholds high education standards, and at the last EER (External Evaluation and Review) by NZQA in 2022, SPCNM was noted as a Category One provider (the highest possible rating). This EER system has now changed and categorisations are no longer awarded.
SPCNM is in a handy central location with a lovely College environment including a working garden and light well-equipped facilities. SPCNM prides itself on our highly qualified and skilled staff. The College has been in existence since 1967 and is a supportive, stable friendly environment.
5. Who has to pay an application fee?
Applicants for the Bachelor of Natural Medicine programme are required to pay the application fee on request if selected for an interview.
(There is no application fee for NZ Certificate of Study & Career Pathway – Natural Medicine or Certificate of Personal Interest applicants.)
A refund of the initial application fee will be provided for enrolled students who withdraw from the programme before the initial semester start date (100%) or with an administration fee of 10% for withdrawals from the programme in the first two weeks (14 calendar days) following the initial semester start date.
6. Can my enrolment application fee be paid with my course fees?
No, the application fee of $138 (including GST), must be paid as part of the enrolment process. The application fee is not covered by Studylink.
7. Do you offer scholarships?
Yes, the College is fortunate to be able to offer scholarships from donation by a previous librarian – Annette Huang. Please refer to https://www.spcnm.ac.nz/scholarships/ for current dates, offerings and eligibility.
8. What prerequisites are there to enrolling?
English language proficiency and Science prerequisite requirements vary between the programmes.
For details please see:
9. What do I need to do if I do not have the prerequisite NCEA Level 3 or equivalent Chemistry qualification?
You need to have the pre-requisite chemistry qualification for the Bachelor of Natural Medicine. We have our own Introduction to Chemistry course on Moodle. There is an extra fee of $200 + GST) for this course. It comprises 8 lessons with an open-book, auto-assessed quiz at the end, to check your understanding. You will need to complete the course and pass the quiz before entry into the programmes.
10. How long will it take me to complete the Bachelor of Natural Medicine Degree?
Our recommended study pathways allow you to take between 3 years (full-time), to 5 years (part-time in Years One & Two, full-time in Year Three). Take a good look at the course descriptions (outlining our 24 compulsory Bachelor of Natural Medicine courses) and recommended pathways on the website:
11. Am I eligible for a student allowance?
You will need to be studying full-time to be eligible for a Student Allowance (if you meet Studylink’s other requirements). Seven or eight courses per year for a degree or diploma, or four courses per semester for a certificate constitute full-time study. See the Studylink website for details.
12. Can you explain on-campus and online study?
We recommend on-campus attendance wherever possible. On-campus classes are live-streamed via a video platform (Zoom) to allow students outside of the Auckland area to participate. Course material and resources are uploaded to the Learning Management System (Moodle) for students to study in their own time. Course work and forums must be completed within the same week to keep up to date.
For the Bachelor of Natural Medicine online courses are available in Years 1 & 2, however you must attend on-campus for the Year 3 practical courses.
If you normally study online (livestreaming or via recordings) we invite you to attend on-campus if the opportunity arises.
You may formally apply to change your mode of study for a course if your circumstances change. There is a charge of $50.00 per course including GST to do so.
13. Is there any compulsory attendance for online students?
Online students have the same attendance expectations as on-campus students. They must access the course content through live-streaming or by watching the recorded classes and completing the required activities online each week.
14. What equipment and resources will I need to study?
You will need to purchase to textbooks and equipment for some courses. You will be sent a list of required texts and resources. In Herbal Medicine, where there is a practical component we send you out the resources for the manufacturing assessments.
IT requirements: Your computer must meet our minimum requirements – Windows 10 OR macOS High Sierra; an up-to-date internet browser; latest Adobe Acrobat & Flash players; and a comprehensive, full desktop version of Microsoft Office).
Study space: We recommend you have a dedicated place to study at home. You may also study at time on-campus in the library or in Cheal cottage (our student space) or in a public library.
15. How much are the course fees each year?
Please see the Fee Schedule on our website. All fees for the year are due two weeks before the beginning of the first semester. If you are applying for to StudyLink for a student loan or using a Training Incentive Allowance to pay for your fees, you will need to ensure that your application has been completed, and all contracts promptly returned to StudyLink or WINZ. StudyLink request that student loan applications are submitted in mid-December.
16. When does the timetable come out?
We aim to publicise the timetable as early as possible prior to the start of each new semester. As a new student you will normally receive the timetable with your letter of offer. You will not know your assessment due dates until the courses start.
17. Is there an orientation for new students?
Yes, there is. This usually takes place the week prior to courses starting (early February). Orientation starts with a brief mihi whakatau – a welcome to the College. The half day programme allows you to meet staff and other students, to explore the College if you come in person, to understand our expectations and to become familiar with our procedures.
The orientation is both livestreamed and recorded for those who cannot be in Auckland for the day.
18. What can I do if something unexpected comes up and I can no longer study?
For the BNatMed degree we recommend a 3 or 5-year pathway, you have a total of 6 years to complete your degree. This allows you some lee-way to take a leave of absence of one semester, if need be, to manage major life changes. It will also help you to restructure your pathway if you fail a course. We do not recommend that you take time out from study for more than six months.
We urge you to consider your individual circumstances before you apply and plan how you will manage your study for the duration of the degree. Much deliberation and planning take place in the time that we are considering applications. Once the academic year is underway, and the confirmed study period has begun, we cannot offer another student your place if you withdraw.
If you withdraw and re-apply at a later stage, we cannot guarantee acceptance back into the degree.
19. Can I change from full-time to part-time during the semester or during the year, or are changes required at the end of the year only?
Two weeks into the semester is a really important milestone. If you transfer from full-time to part-time study within this time period, you will be refunded for the courses from which you have withdrawn, minus 10% administration fee. After two weeks from the start of the semester, fees are non-refundable. Please think carefully about study considerations prior to enrolment (see above).
20. Can I try the courses to see if I can manage the level of study before committing to the degree?
You may apply to enrol in the Certificate in Personal Interest Courses programme commencing in either Semester 1 or 2 if places are available. Select this option in the application process – Enrolment Application Form. You will be able to select from certain Year One courses offered in our degree programme. We normally allow students to study one Certificate in Personal Interest course per semester to a maximum of four if places are available. Assessments are optional on the Certificate in Personal Interest programme. However, applicants must nominate if they will complete assessments, at the time of enrolment. For more information see https://www.spcnm.ac.nz/
21. How indicative is the prerequisite Chemistry course of the work required during the first year of the degree? It was suggested that this course needed up to 40 hours of study time depending on your previous Chemistry background.
The Chemistry course is not indicative of the time requirement for the degree programme. It is a course that the College designed to ensure students have the necessary basic understanding before they start the degree. Some people finish it in a few hours’ time, and others take longer.
22. Is SPCNM looking to change Year three to online?
No, with the complexities of clinical practice it needs to be delivered on-campus in-person. This is reinforced by our professional associations and our other stakeholders.
23. If I complete the first two years of the degree programme online, what planning will I need to consider for Year 3 of study on-campus?
The year three programme is delivered full-time. There are 16 hours per week of clinic and on-campus classes. There are also additional hours of supervision working on your cases – a total of 30 hours per week.
Students who live outside of Auckland sometimes relocate to the city for the whole term or commute home at weekends, depending on where they live.
As the clinical year approaches there are a number of meetings to outline the structure of year three and the experiences of current students.
24. How often are the tests, and if you are studying online, what is the process for completing these?
You will receive an assessment schedule in your Course Guidelines at the start of each semester. Tests and assignments are spread through the academic year. Several assessments can be submitted online and there are some online tests. There are a few paper-based tests which you can write on-campus or, if you reside out of Auckland, in the presence of an approved invigilator.
25. What happens if I fail a test or an assignment?
All learning outcomes must be met, and if you fail to do so, you will have one further opportunity to re-sit that test or re-submit your assessment at no cost. If you fail to meet all the learning outcomes in a course, you will need to re-enrol in that course the following year.
26. Do you record the on-campus lectures?
The College’s preference for your learning to maximise success is for you to attend classes live – on-campus or livestreaming. This is important for your engagement and understanding. Class recordings are available for emergencies, when you are unable to attend. They provide a useful resource for reviewing classes. Watching recordings is discouraged as a regular means of accessing course material.
27. How do I ask for support from the College?
Refer to the Quick Help Guide in the Student Handbook which informs you who the most appropriate person is for your issue.
28. How do I apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Credit Recognition and Transfer (CT)?
Your intention to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and/or Credit Recognition and Transfer (CT) can be discussed at your interview during the application process and an application form will be provided to successful applicants along with their offer of place.
29. Is the SPCNM Bachelor of Natural Medicine degree recognised overseas?
This depends on the individual country/state. Contact officials in the specific country/state for clarification.
Australia requires a four-year degree but the College has an articulation programme with teaching institutions. Refer to https://www.spcnm.ac.nz/programme-articulation-post-graduate-study-pathways/.
30. As an International student living overseas, can I study Years 1 and 2 of the degree programme outside of NZ?
Currently, no you cannot do this. If you are in NZ, with an international study visa, you must study full-time on-campus.
31. Do you have a mid-year intake for the Bachelor’s degree?
We do not routinely have a mid-year intake but please send through an enquiry to enquiries@spcnm.ac.nz.
32. How does the NZ Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways – Natural Medicine relate to the Degree?
The NZ Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways – Natural Medicine is Level 4, whereas the BNatMed programme progresses from Level 5 – 7. The NZCert is good preparation for the degree and students who have progressed from the NZCert to the degree attest to this.
33. What career opportunities are there upon completion of the Bachelor of Natural Medicine Degree?
34. What happens if I want to primarily study nutrition?
Following stakeholder requests we are redeveloping the Dip in Holistic Nutrition into a degree. It will become a stream within the Bachelor of Natural Medicine and will be delivered from 2028.
Please send through an enquiry to enquiries@spcnm.ac.nz.
If you are keen to start studying in 2027, please refer to Certificate of Personal Interest courses or New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways.
35. What other activities does the College offer?
Refer to the question above on Orientation.
The College organises Immersion days (on a Saturday) twice a year for all students, offering a range of activities, guest speakers, and time for you to socialise and meet your peers and College staff.
We have an annual Suppliers Expo Day (normally in June when classes have finished). This is an opportunity to meet product suppliers and manufacturers, to set up accounts (if you wish), to meet professional associations and to network with others.
There is an online “grad chat” once a month in the early evenings. Past graduates are invited to speak about their careers. A mix of graduates are represented – some who have been in practice for a decade or more, and some who are newly qualified. The breadth of possible career paths is highlighted. The grad chats are recorded and stored on the Learning Management system – Moodle.
The College hosts various speakers throughout the year and runs weekend community events.
