Latest Information
Tuesday, 23 April 2024

 

University of Auckland Information Evening and Open Day

The University of Auckland is holding an online information evening on Tuesday 25 June from 6.00-9.00pm. Learn more about their range of programmes and have any questions answered. Register here

The University of Auckland open day will be Saturday 24 August, 9.00-4.00pm. Experience what it will be like to be a student at Auckland for a day. This is your chance to chat directly to staff and students, explore the campus in the heart of Auckland, and check out their facilities. Expect an action-packed day with live performances, lectures, DJs, food trucks and activities. Register here 

Ethos Sports & Education- Learning About Sports Scholarships

Ethos Sports and Education are an agency that will help you with applications for sports scholarships overseas. They charge a fee to do this. They are hosting a webinar to provide potential recruits with information on how to manage the application process, even if you are interested in doing the process on their own.
When: May 16, 2024 8:00 PM 
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kyyg9kHiTDaHU5GvO2POPg

Porirua Careers Expo

Students may like to visit this careers expo being held at the Te Rauparaha Arena (Main Stadium), Porirua on Thursday 9 May until 5.30pm, especially if you live locally. 

Chiropractic Careers Information Evening 

If you are Interested in a career in the chiropractic sector, The New Zealand College of Chiropractic information evening is being held on Thursday 15 August at 7.00pm at 50 The Terrace, Wellington. (at the premises of Back to Living Chiropractic)

University of Auckland Engineering Information Events

The University of Auckland is holding two events accessible for students in Wellington, to focus on their engineering degrees, one online and one in person. 
The online event is on Tuesday 14th May from 6.00pm-7.00pm.
The Wellington event is on Thursday 16th May (sadly a clash with the school’s future pathways evening) from 6.00pm-7.30pm at Engineering New Zealand, NEC House, 40 Taranaki Street, Level 6. 
You can register for both these events here. 

Massey University Nursing
Massey University is holding a Nursing workshop on July 11th from 11.00am-1.30pm at their Wellington campus, Wallace Street, Wellington. If you are considering nursing as a future pathway it would be worthwhile attending this hands-on nursing experience event. 
Register here – Nursing Workshop link.

J & J Education US & UK university applications webinar

J & J Education are Oxbridge admissions consultants. They are holding a webinar about their services on Sunday 12th May at 8pm NZST. Parents and students can register here. This is an opportunity to hear tips on winning applications to top US & UK colleges and speak directly with admissions specialists. 

PIHMS Pacific International Hotel Management School Residential Career Weeks 
PIHMS are running two Career weeks this year in the school holidays, 15th-19th July or 7-11th October. 

  • PIHMS career weeks provides any student with the opportunity to experience PIHMS, their culture, lifestyle, education and training to see if this is where your future lies.
  • This will cost you $199 per person – This includes accommodation, all meals & beverages and scheduled activities, however not travel to New Plymouth and back 
  • All students attending need to be motivated about considering PIHMS as an option for tertiary study. See www.pihms.ac.nz or general information about PIHMS’s tourism, hotel and hospitality management diploma and degree with a guaranteed job offer at the end of training.
  • Places are limited as they only have a limited number of rooms available for accommodation . 
  • Apply online via this link www.pihms.ac.nz/events/careers-week

Defence Careers Information Evening

An information evening on careers with the NZ Defence Forces will be held on 9 May from 6.00pm-7.00pm at HMNZS Olphert, 34 Waione Street, Petone. Register here.

Media Design School (Auckland) 

Students interested in creative technology may wish to take a look at the Media Design School High School Hub, where you'll find tailored advice, course information, and handy tips to navigate the application process effortlessly.

Visit: https://www.mediadesignschool.com/high-school-hub

Virtual Open Day 

June 18th 3:00pm-5:15pm
Whether you're out of Auckland, or just out of energy, join the Virtual Open Day online to hear all about MDS. RSVP HERE

Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand

Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand (Wellington)  is fully equipped with state-of-the-art training kitchens, student learning spaces, and is located in the heart of Wellington city.

They offer a wide range of qualifications including certificates, diplomas and degrees, which include:

To learn more about their courses please Download Brochure;
To view entry requirements & calendar & fees Click Here.

Whitecliffe Holiday course.

Whitecliffe (Wellington campus) are hosting a course in fashion technology in July. Spaces are limited so register through this link Whitecliffe | Events at Whitecliffe.

GirlBoss ChangemakeHer Healthcare Course

ChangemakeHer is an accelerated version of GirlBoss Edge: Healthcare.

Students aged 15 to 21 with an interest in Healthcare are invited to participate in this free global 5 day virtual summit. This course is designed to help young women with a heart for healthcare explore career paths, such as medicine and psychology, network and gain tips to help them achieve their goals. 

See here for further information and how to apply. 

Gain inspirational coaching from iconic speakers, such as:

  •  Harvard Psychiatrist and United Nations Advocate: Dr Ashna Basu
  •  Medical Doctor and Star of Medical Reality TV Show, The Check Up: Dr Nini Prescott
  • Tik Tok Sensation and founder of JTTMed, Justin Sung who has supported ⅓ of all Successful New Zealand Medical students.

Students will complete CV-worthy Healthcare Challenges, and most importantly, become a part of an incredible community of young women from across Aotearoa.

GAP Year Opportunities with JENZA

JENZA can help to organise working placements overseas if you are looking for a GAP year in 2025. See here for further information.

UCAT 2024 Registration is Now Open
Students interested in applying for medicine or dentistry in future may like to have a go at the UCAT examination this year as preparation. UCAT ANZ is only available to a candidate who is undertaking or has completed the final year of secondary school, or higher. For example, candidates registering for UCAT ANZ 2024 should have completed, or plan to complete their final year of secondary schooling in 2024, that is, Year 13 in New Zealand.
The test will  be held between 1 July and 9 August. 
PLEASE NOTE: UCAT registration is only via the UCAT ANZ website - ucat.edu.au  The register tab is at the top of the page. Bookings close 17 May 2024 
Universities and the UCAT Requirements
UCAT Format

International Travel College Flight Attending Taster. 
There is a course being run for students interested in finding out more about a career as a flight attendant. This course completes the requirements for unit standard 23755, (Identify and self-evaluate the demands of a specific role in a tourism workplace), which is worth  3 credits at Level 3. 
The cost to attend this course is $235+GST 
This course runs from 9:30-2:30pm on Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd May. 
Learn the role & responsibility of a Cabin Crew member and participate in practical role play activities using real onboard equipment.  The skills learnt during this time give a broad overview of interactions with others whether it’s customer service or general communication.

If you are  interested in attending this course, please discuss with your caregiver and contact Ms Binns. 

Ripple Effect: Stormwater Conference for Students interested in Careers in Stormwater

This is a free conference being held at Takina Wellington Conference and Events Centre (opposite Te Papa) on Tuesday, 14 May 8:45 am until 3:30 pm. Lunch is provided. 

If you would like to secure your place and/or need further information please contact: waternz@avenues.co.nz 

Stormwater offers exciting opportunities with lots of variety while working to create a sustainable environment for the future: 

• Climate change solutions • Design and Wetlands • Rivers • Te Mana o te Wai 

• Technology • Engineering • Science • Data • Research • Ecology

 

University of Otago Information Evenings

Interested future students and their whānau  are invited to attend one of the following information evenings about studying at the University of Otago in Dunedin for 2025 and beyond. 

Hear about

Otago overview: What the University of Otago can offer you

Accommodation: Life in a residential college

Admission, scholarships, costs, support services

Study options: Arts, Law, business, Sciences and Health Sciences

There are two evenings:

Wednesday 29th May | 6 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.

         Wellington College, Alan Gibbs Centre Auditorium

         15 Dufferin Street, Wellington 

Thursday 30th May| 6 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.

         The Dowse Art Museum, James Coe Centre

45 Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt 5010

University of Canterbury Information Evening (Wellington Central  and Lower Hutt)

Information evenings for future students and whānau will be held on Wednesday 5 June from 6.00pm-8.30pm at the Michael Fowler centre, and on Tuesday 4 June from 6.00pm-8.30pm at the Lower Hutt Events Centre. Register here to attend please. 

 

University of Canterbury Rā Tōmene Open Day (Christchurch) 

The University of Canterbury Rā Tōmene Open Day will be held on Friday 30 August. You may wish to look at flights. See here for further information. 

  University of Auckland

The University of Auckland has put together these helpful videos for students considering applying to study with them 

QRC, Queenstown Resort College

Are you interested in the tourism and hospitality industry but would like to experience what it’s all about before you decide? You can experience QRC first-hand and find out if the college and the tourism industry are the perfect fit for you. 

EQRC (Experience Queenstown Resort College) runs during the school holidays in April, July and October with limited places available at either campus in Queenstown or the Bay of Islands.

Find out more about EQRC here. 

QRC also collaborates with the University of Otago where graduates of the QRC  level 6 diplomas are able to move directly to a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Otago. 

 

This means in only 3.5 years students will have:

  • An Industry specific diploma in either hospitality or adventure tourism management from QRC
  • 9 months fully paid employment (earn a minimum of $23,150.00 during a fully paid internship
  • Bachelor of Commerce from University of Otago
  • 1.5 year Post Study Work Visa

Immerse Education programmes - information for students aged 13-18:

Take a look at these education immersion/extension opportunities. 

  • Academic Insights: 2-week summer programme at prestigious universities like Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Sydney, and the University of Toronto. These courses are designed to deepen your understanding of academic subjects, fostering intellectual curiosity and insight.
  • Career Insights: Hosted in dynamic cities such as London and New York, these 2-week programmes focus on providing you with a glimpse into various career fields, helping you gain valuable skills and practical insights into their future professions.
Visionary Minds Challenge (Immerse Education) 

This essay competition provides a platform for students to showcase their innovative ideas across a spectrum of topics, including artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital education, and global health. The Challenge is a unique chance for students to take a hands-on step towards their academic and professional futures, where their ideas could lead to real-world change.

Participants will have the chance to win incredible prizes, including £3,000 towards university expenses, full scholarships for a summer program at prestigious university locations, and additional opportunities such as partial scholarships, publication opportunities, and more!

For more information, including submission guidelines (note you can submit a group essay)  and detailed prompts, please visit the  webpage  Entries are due 4 April 2024. 

Student Leaders Camps

The Pacific Leaders Academy hold leadership camps in various locations throughout the Pacific for 16-18 year old students from Australia and New Zealand. This year they have camps in Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji during the school holidays. They are one week in length. These camps can also be used for accreditation toward the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Gold award. For more information please see here. 

Otago University Information

The Tertiary Open Days are Sunday 26 May and Monday 27 May 2024 . For those who are planning to attend, I highly recommend booking flights and accommodation early as prices rise closer to the time and both flights and accommodation fill up quickly. Otago Polytechnic is also open these days.

Remember that the University is an open campus;you are welcome to visit at any time of the year and take advantage of free campus tours. Families can also contact individual residential colleges for tours while they are visiting Dunedin.

The information evening for students and whānau will be held in Wellington on 5 June 2024. There will be more information about the venue and times closer to this date. 

Interested in a flying career?

NZICPA will be hosting an on-site (in Whanganui) Open Day for Year 12-13 students on Friday, 14 June, from 10 am to 2 pm. This event promises to be an informative and engaging experience for students who are considering their future career paths.

The address is New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy Limited

25 Airport Road, Whanganui Airport. Register here. 

Unit standards in Boating education

During 2024, Coastguard Boating Education (CBE) will be offering a Day Skipper - Unit Standard (US) 26542 v3 course online. This is a Level 2 Unit standard worth  6-credits , representing 60 notional hours of learning, and covers introductory knowledge on the operation of a pleasure craft, in familiar waters.You would complete this in your own time and the entire course needs to be completed within 12 weeks. (so roughly 5 hours a week)  

They are also offering the Maritime VHF Operator course - Unit Standard 19491 v 4 This is a Level 3 unit standard worth 3 credits, representing 30 notional hours of learning. Again there is a time limit to complete the whole course of 15 weeks. (so roughly 2 hours a week) 

If any student is interested in enrolling, this must be done through the school, please contact Ms Binns. (susan.binns@marsden.school.nz) 


Entry to Medicine in NZ

Students who are thinking of professional medical degrees need to read the following before making subject choices for Year 13. There are two universities who offer medical degrees in New Zealand.   

For Otago University only: You must take Health Science First Year (HSFY) and apply for entry at the end of your first year of university. It is strongly recommended students take Level 3 Chemistry, Physics and Calculus and at least one English rich subject (this could include Biology but does not have to be) as there is a compulsory English Diagnostic test.  This information was updated December 2023. HSFY is also required at Otago for entry into professional courses in physiotherapy, dentistry, pharmacy and medical laboratory science and is recommended but not compulsory for students considering degrees in  oral health, dental technology and radiation therapy. 

See here for ways to prepare for HSFY and also Summer school options for Chemistry and Physics preparation for those students who may not have completed Year 12 Physics

For Auckland University only:  There are two options for the first year pathway to medicine, complete the first year of either a Biomedical Science degree or a Health Science degree. 

For Health Science:  

Students will be selected into the first year of a health sciences degree on the basis of their rank score and as well  as UE must have at least 18 credits in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and 18 credits in one of Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, History of Art, Social Studies, Te Reo Māori (or Te Reo Rangatira) at NCEA Level 3 or equivalent. In 2023 they wanted you to have a rank score of 250 for your top 80 credits. For potential applicants to the MBChB, Level 3 Biology, Chemistry and at least one English-rich subject are strongly recommended.

For Biomedical Science: It is strongly recommended that students have Level 3 Chemistry, recommended that students have Level 3 Biology,  and it is useful to have achieved a Level 3 English rich subject, Level 3 Physics and Level 3 Mathematics, either Statistics or Calculus. In 2023 they wanted you to have a rank score of 280 for your top 80 credits. 

Students interested in studying Medicine or some other medical professional degrees at both Otago and Auckland need to sit the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) as part of their admissions process in the year they apply for the professional programme. The UCAT is a well-established and internationally respected test, used to select students for medicine and dentistry courses at the majority of universities in the UK. The test is a 2 hour computer based test which gives students immediate results. The test consists of five, separately timed, sub-tests in these areas:  verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement. All the universities in New Zealand and Australia who use UCAT for admissions are here. https://www.ucat.edu.au/ucat-anz/universities/ 

Please note, some Australian Universities will not require UCAT but all New Zealand ones will. To help prepare for UCAT,  free comprehensive preparation materials, including an online guide, tutorials, question banks and practice tests will be available on the UCAT website https://www.ucat.edu.au/ucat-anz/

MedEntry is a private organisation who offer preparation help at a cost. They posted  this webinar in November 2023 which discusses UCAT and preparation for studying medicine, but is based on applications in Australia. 2024 Powerpoint on MedEntryPowerpoint on MedEntry
 

Students interested in pursuing medicine can sit the UCAT test in July/August 2024.(yes, this year) However, your results from this year will not be considered for your application at the end of 2025. You need to sit the test again in the year you are applying for entry to medical or dentistry school. There may be benefits from sitting the test in Year 13 to familiarise yourself with the process. MedEntry is a government-accredited Registered Training Organisation specialising in UCAT preparation. MedEntry offers free resources, discounts of 40% for groups, and many other discounts including for those nominated by their teacher. For more information, please visit www.medentry.co.nz 

Please note, Otago University do not support this organisation and state there is no need to sit the test in year 13 as well. It is a personal choice.
This guide has been put together by HSFY students about how to deal with the stresses of first year.
Visit it here: https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/tips-for-studying-biomed-and-health-science.html

Studying Medicine in Australia and entry to the different universities there. 

Entry to Veterinary Science in NZ

Applications for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey (Massey in the only New Zealand university offering this degree) 

The recommended preparation for the BVSc Preselection semester is now as follows - 

  • Entry into the veterinary pre-selection semester is open to all applicants who meet university entrance standards.
  • You need to complete at least ONE semester at Massey before applying for the professional stage (4.5 years- making the minimum time you can complete this degree equal to five years) 
  • Massey strongly recommend that in order to give yourself the best chance of success in being selected to the professional phase of the BVSc, you should have achieved a minimum of 14 credits in each of Level 3 Biology, Level 3 Chemistry, Level 2 Physics and EITHER Calculus OR Statistics at NCEA Level 2. However, the more science and mathematics experience you have, the better prepared you will be to do well enough in the pre-requisite courses to meet the requirements for selection into the professional phase of the BVSc.
  • You are also expected to have completed 40 hours of observation/work experience in a veterinary clinic before you start the pre-selection semester.. 
  • Phase 1: Pre-selection semester
    The pre-selection semester for the BVSc is offered at the Manawatū Campus (Palmerston North)  in Semester One beginning in late February each year. It is your opportunity to show them you have what it takes to become a veterinarian. You’ll complete the pre-requisite courses and a range of selection assessments. You’ll need to do well in these to be selected into the professional phase, so work on your communication and interpersonal skills and get a good background in the sciences before joining us for the pre-selection semester.
  • Phase 2: Professional phase
    The professional phase of the BVSc is essentially ‘vet school’. It starts in Semester Two (mid-July) at the Manawatū Campus. There are two stages in the selection process. In Stage One, you’ll sit the Casper and STAT assessments and your results in these assessments will determine if you’re invited to Stage Two. If you’re invited to Stage Two, you’ll participate in the multiple-mini-interview. Your final selection will be based on whether you’ve met the academic entry bar (Grade Point Average, GPA ≥ 5) and passed all the pre-requisite courses, and you’ll be ranked on the basis of your MMI and Casper results. 

 

Pilot Careers Evening

If you are interested in training as a pilot, watch this is a video from Air New Zealand’s career evening in Auckland in August 2023. They cover a lot of information about types of planes, training and what the job conditions are like. For further information or support contact pilotsupportmanagers@airnz.co.nz  

Introduction to Gliding

Interested students might like to attend this 6-flight, 3-day Introduction to Flight Programme. These are held by the Wellington Gliding Club in Greytown. This looks like a great value programme so take a look at the brochure here.  (BROCHURE)

Pilot Training - New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy Ltd

Applications for 2024 are open now. See here 

All applicants will be required to attend an interview with the Head of Training either in person or via phone or ZOOM.

Prospective students (parents also welcome) may book a tour and a chat with the Chief Flying Instructor about the training on a mutually convenient day and time.

 

Kiwi Flyer Guide to Aviation Training

This guide is available to download at http://www.kiwiflyer.co.nz/ and includes information for students interested in a career in aviation. The guide profiles a broad variety of flight training providers and opportunities throughout New Zealand.

Train to be a commercial pilot with NZICPA (New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy Limited)
The NZICPA is based in Whanganui and is now enrolling for their 2024 intake. more information visit their website.

 

Teaching

Whether you are interested in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary teaching have a look at this link for the latest information about qualifications available in NZ. https://www.teachnz.govt.nz/studying-to-be-a-teacher/

 

New Zealand Defence Careers

The NZDF encompasses the army, air force and navy. They offer on the job training in a variety of careers.https://www.defencecareers.mil.nz/defence-careers/

They hold Defence Careers Information evenings at 6.00pm on the last Thursday of every second month throughout the year at the Defence Careers office at 34 Waione Street, Petone, Lower Hutt.·      

Future Leaders Academy 

Future Leaders Academy run 7 day leadership courses for senior high school leaders in the Pacific Islands. If you are interested in one of these courses, see this website for information about dates, application and costs. https://www.flacademy.com/pacific-student-leaders-pogrammes 

CareersNZ - Where To Next

The Careers NZ website has put together this page for students and their caregivers to look at to help get ideas about future career options.

Parents as Careers Educators Online course

All the students at Samuel Marsden in Years 9-13 have access to the Careers Central platform. Careers Central have put together the following online course for parents of teenagers to examine how you can support your children as they make career decisions. See https://rise.articulate.com/share/D1mI8gT2fjWyFTc9ntmeYNvgSrdfk1WJ#/

Resilience, Stress and Grit

A short online course is available to complete here- https://rise.articulate.com/share/Or7ZjMhg0TUyt9lhV1384N7QLV4ROCO6#/?_k=vcld37

 

Where To Next?

Careers NZ have put together a range of information sources to help parents and students consider what to do when they leave school. It is called ‘Where To Next’ so have a look.