Qualifications & Awards

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) is committed to recognising the achievements made by students, so appropriate qualifications and other awards are issued upon successful completion of programmes and, where appropriate, individual courses. We use the NZ Qualifications Authority definitions, based on the number of credits and the level of each programme. All of our qualifications are eligible for inclusion in the NZ Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.

At CPIT a Programme is defined as a group of one or more courses, usually leading to a qualification or other award. A Course is defined as the smallest part of delivery in which a student is enrolled; and which consists of defined learning outcomes and requirements.

If you are comparing our qualifications with those offered by other providers, it is important that you ask what definitions they use.

Statement of Attendance

Recognition of attending a particular course, usually awarded where there is no exam or other formal assessment.

Statement of Attainment

We also recognise completion of shorter assessed courses not leading to a qualification. Recognition of achievement at the required standard in a short course or programme (less than 40 credits or not at the required level to issue a qualification).

Certificate

Recognition of achievement at the required standard in a programme of at least 40 credits (equal to approximately 10-12 weeks study), although many of our certificate programmes are offered on a part time basis over the entire year. Certificates are issued at a level equivalent to levels 1-4 on the Qualifications Framework.

Diploma

Recognition of achievement at the required standard in a programme of at least 120 credits at a level equivalent to Level 5, 6 or 7 on the Qualifications Framework. In most cases 120 credits is the equivalent of one year full time study, although many of our diploma programmes are longer.

Graduate Certificates & Diplomas

Recognition of achievement at the required standard in a programme of at least 40 credits (Graduate Certificate) or 120 credits (Graduate Diploma) at a level equivalent to Level 6 or 7. Graduate programmes are designed for people with previous tertiary study or relevant experience equivalent to level 6 to 7.

Degree

Recognition of achievement at the required standard in a programme recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority as a Level 7 qualification of at least 360 credits (equivalent to three years full time study) and meeting all the other criteria for a degree.

National Qualifications

CPIT also offers many qualifications which have been developed nationally and/or registered on the National Qualifications Framework. These qualifications are defined in terms of credit value and level, and the Institute must be accredited to teach them. They usually have "New Zealand" or "National" in their title.

Accreditation

Accreditation is an evaluation of our internal systems designed to ensure the quality of our programmes.

Under delegation from NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority), the New Zealand Polytechnic Programmes Committee has accredited this Institute to teach all the national courses we offer. In 2000 CPIT gained "quality assurance status" which was reconfirmed through full audit in 2002.