Suitable for individuals or groups, our short courses and micro-credentials give you:
- theory based on research and critical thinking
- insight into up-to-date practices used in industry
- ways to apply what you've learned to your life.
We offer a range of both short courses and micro-credentials, each with their own purpose.
Short courses
Short courses are organised learning periods offered separately from the standard university curriculum. They provide specific learning outcomes. Upon successful completion you may receive a Certificate of Participation or Certificate of Completion. Short courses do not carry formal assessments and are not recorded on academic transcripts.
Micro-credentials
Micro-credentials are organised learning periods with assessable learning outcomes. On successful completion, learners receive a micro-credential that can be used for admission to a qualification, credited against existing courses, or showcased to employers. They are formally recorded on academic transcripts.
Available courses
Courses are offered throughout the year. Browse the list below to find a short course or micro-credential that meets your learning needs.
Agriculture
Make sure you're up to date with the latest thinking in farm management. With a strong practical side, our professional development courses train rural professionals, including local farmers and food producers. Leading researchers at the Farmed Landscapes Research Centre work on these courses with New Zealand industry bodies so you get knowledge you can use in your job right away.
Advanced Freshwater Farm Planning
Get a deeper understanding of agriculture and freshwater. Create advanced freshwater farm environment plans for arable, sheep and beef, and dairy farms.
Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management
This course will cover nutrient management, recent research and nutrient budgeting issues. You'll develop nutrient management plans that meet production goals for actual farm enterprises.
Analysis of New Zealand Agricultural Systems
Discover how to use systems theory to understand farming in New Zealand. Learn about system-wide changes and impacts, and how to talk about them with farmers.
Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design and Management
Get a deeper understanding of farm dairy effluent (FDE) systems. Understand design, management and auditing of FDE.
Intermediate Freshwater Farm Planning
This course is designed for industry professionals interested in upskilling in the concepts and components important for the development of farm environment plans for freshwater.
Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management
This course will cover nutrient cycling, water movement, sustainable farm practices and nutrient budgeting.
Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment
This course will introduce you to life cycle thinking as a concept and Life Cycle Assessment as an analytical tool to support environmental management.
This course focuses on understanding greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral production systems and includes how to reduce and mitigate emissions.
Understanding Herbicides
This course will give participants a good grounding in the principles of using herbicides to control weeds.
Aviation
Take professional development courses with the New Zealand experts in aviation training, Massey School of Aviation. Learn how to teach new pilots or get qualified in using drones or Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
CAANZ Instructional Techniques
Instilling knowledge in others requires a specific skill set. This course shows you how to use the flight experience you gained whilst working a commercial pilot to teach others to fly. The course will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and techniques to help you to become a good flight instructor.
You need to pass this course to apply for the Civil Aviation Authority New Zealand (CAANZ) Category D and C initial instructor rating.
Take this course if you:
- have a commercial pilot’s licence
- are training to be a flight instructor.
Email us on aviation@massey.ac.nz
Contract Flight Training
Massey offers contract flight training for airlines and international aviation training institutions that require group training for prospective pilots. Choose from:
- Basic training – airline cadet (69 weeks)
- Advanced training – airline bridging course, equivalent to European Union Aviation Safety Agency Multi Crew Co-operation course (2 weeks)
- King Air type rating (3 weeks)
Email us on aviation@massey.ac.nz
Our professional Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) courses introduce concepts of ‘best practice’ to novice and more experienced RPAS operators.
Business and financial services
Get ahead in your career when you study with experts at Massey Business School. Meet your continuing professional development requirements. Build the business and leadership skills to help you become an effective manager and director.
Certificate in Financial Advice
Meet the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services in New Zealand. Gain introductory specialist knowledge and financial advice skills to prepare you for entry into the financial advice industry.
Take this online professional development course if you:
- are a financial adviser in New Zealand
- are planning to become a financial adviser in New Zealand
- work in the financial services sector in New Zealand.
Governance development programmes
Massey Executive Development customises governance development programmes for large private and public sector organisations. We help to develop the directors of tomorrow.
Manager Acceleration Programme (MAP)
Activate your managers' thinking, grow their knowledge and build their competence through our Management Acceleration Programme (MAP).
SME business development
This course equips business leaders and managers with the essential skills and knowledge for sustained growth and success.
Data analysis
Understanding how to analyse data is becoming more important as computer technology underlies more of what we do in the world.
Visualising Animal Health Data with QGIS
This course covers how to generate static and interactive maps of animal or public health data using the open-source software “QGIS”.
English language
Our English language courses for international students will help you to develop your English language and study skills. You could get direct entry to a Massey qualification with our English for Academic Purposes courses.
English for Academic Purposes 1
Have you considered studying in New Zealand as an international student but need to improve your English language skills first? Our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course is designed to help you excel in your chosen field. Learn to communicate with confidence and improve essential study skills in an English-speaking academic environment.
English for Academic Purposes 2
Our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course is designed to help you excel in your chosen field. Learn to communicate with confidence and improve essential study skills in an English-speaking academic environment.
This course is for you if:
- you are preparing to enter university directly, and already have a higher level of English
- you need to gain extra language confidence.
General English
Our General English (GE) course is designed to improve your core skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Food and drink
Understand the science and practice of making food and drink with our experts. Take professional development courses in food technology and food manufacturing with the School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences.
Brewing
Our short brewing course is a comprehensive introduction to brewing, malts, hops, yeast, and the process of making good beers.
Evaluating Consumer Response
This is an interactive course with a mix of theory and practical lessons. The course looks at the why, who, what, where and when of consumer product testing.
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
Be confident in your food manufacturing with this two-day course. Learn the theory and practice of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures to take back to your job.
Take this course if you work in food manufacturing and other areas of the food industry.
This course is run on demand so contact Steve Flint.
Introduction to Sensory Evaluation
This is an interactive course with a mix of theory and practical lessons. The course focuses on measuring the sensory attributes of food and introduces sensory evaluation techniques for the food industry.
Low Acid Canned Food (LACF) Thermal Processing Systems
Explore the principles of food microbiology, food-plant sanitation and thermal processing. Learn about the design and control of thermal processing systems. Study the design and handling of food containers in these systems and understand effective record-keeping.
Take this course if you want to supervise thermal processes for low-acid food.
Contact Jon Palmer or Glenda Rosoman
Safety in Food Manufacturing
Understand microbiological safety in food manufacturing. You also learn about chemical and foreign matter in this two-day course.
Take this course if you work in food manufacturing and other areas of the food industry.
This course is run on demand so contact Steve Flint.
Quality Assurance and Control
This interactive course is a mix of theory and practical lessons. It is an introduction to how to apply sensory evaluation in the context of quality assurance for the food industry.
Health and safety
Make sure you can keep your team, and the public, safe and well with expert teaching from the College of Health. Professional development courses in environmental and occupational health help you put what you learn into practice.
Noise Assessment Refresher
Make sure you’re up to date with occupational and environmental noise assessment theory and practice.
Take this course if you need to assess noise and work in an industry body or a business.
This course is run on demand so email Dr Wyatt Page at: W.H.Page@massey.ac.nz
Oiled wildlife response training
Massey and University of California at Davis have jointly developed a university-endorsed and research driven online Oiled Wildlife Response Training (OWRT) programme.
Designed to be taught online or face-to-face, this comprehensive training programme aims to train high quality oiled wildlife responders anywhere in the world. Having personnel trained in oiled wildlife response is an important part of complete oil spill response preparedness.
Level 1 Foundations of Oiled Wildlife Response
This covers the fundamental elements needed for a person to be involved in an oiled wildlife response.
There are eight online modules to the foundations course including:
- Topic 1 – Components, risks, and hazards of petroleum
- Topic 2 – History of oil spills from around the world
- Topic 3 – Effects of petroleum when spilled
- Topic 4 – Preparation for oil spills (preparedness)
- Topic 5 – The oil spill response
- Topic 6 – The oiled wildlife response
- Topic 7 – You as a responder
- Topic 8 – Health and safety
This has eight online modules which outline information needed for people involved in the field stabilisation, rehabilitation and release of oiled wildlife through an oiled wildlife facility.
The modules are:
- Module 1 – Introduction
- Module 2 – At the gate
- Module 3 – Field stabilisation
- Module 4 – Intake
- Module 5 – Pre-wash stabilisation
- Module 6 – Wash, rinse, dry
- Module 7 – Conditioning
- Module 8 – Release.
Oiled Wildlife Response Management
This course will provide you with a broad overview of the key management considerations to plan for and how to implement an industry-led, oil spill wildlife response.
If you are likely to be undertaking the planning and management roles in the event of an oil spill, this course will be of use to you.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
- understand the (legal) requirements for response to oiled wildlife, including the roles and responsibilities of the key government agencies
- understand the key processes in oiled wildlife response
- understand the relationship between the oiled wildlife response and the other functional areas of the incident management team
- understand the basic features required to set up and function an oiled wildlife facility
- understand the key ‘inputs’ required to commence and maintain the oiled wildlife response
- understand an overview of species-specific response techniques, including avian, mammalian and reptilian
- be aware of health and safety considerations during an oiled wildlife response, including protection from disease and injury.
Oiled Wildlife Response – Rehabilitation
This course will provide you with a broad understanding of handling and rehabilitation techniques used in oiled wildlife response. You will be taught to work in a supervised capacity in an oiled wildlife response situation.
This course is useful if you will be part of a team undertaking the remediation of oiled wildlife during an oil spill.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
- understand the effects of oil on wildlife
- broadly understand the overall process of responding to oiled animals
- thoroughly understand the treatment and rehabilitation process of oiled animals, from transport to intake to release
- understand the functionality of an oiled wildlife facility
- understand aspects of husbandry and nutrition of oiled animals
- demonstrate and/or discuss species-specific handling techniques for animals which may be affected during an oil spill
- identify the correct equipment for safe handling
- be aware of health and safety considerations when handling oiled wildlife, including protection from disease and injury.
Personal finance
Learn how to manage money so you can reach your goals in life. Take short courses and micro-credentials from Massey’s world-leading Financial Education and Research Centre (Fin-Ed Centre).
Complaint Response and Management
This micro-credential course builds the technical and soft skills required to improve customer outcomes in complain response and management in the financial services sector.
Money Smarts @ Work
Help your staff to develop sound personal financial management skills that they can apply to their professional and personal lives.
Financial Capability Practitioners
Gain the tools, knowledge and confidence to educate and enhance people's financial wellbeing.
Gain the tools and knowledge to ensure your own business complies with the Anti Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, through this research-based course tailored to NZ's legislative and regulatory environment.
Research and publication
Understand how to get your research published in academic journals and prepare your work for other types of scholarly publications. Postgraduate students and early-career researchers can learn from active academics at the School of Humanities, Media and Communication.
This course prepares you to publish your research in an academic journal or other scholarly publication. You’ll review, revise, edit and prepare an existing manuscript for submission.
Security and emergency management
Understand the theory and practice of managing defence, security and emergencies. Take professional development courses with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies and the Joint Centre for Disaster Research.
Emergency Management Institute
Learn about emergency management in this five-day course held every March in Wellington. Explore the theory and practice of dealing with emergencies in New Zealand and around the world.
International Security postgraduate certificate
Help your military career with our Postgraduate Certificate in International Security. Study a special English-language course PaCE for defence and security and get a deep understanding of international security. Learn from security experts, including academics, defence attaches and government staff.
This professional development qualification is customised to your needs. We can include accommodation, excursions and field trips when we talk to you about your needs.
You need to pass two postgraduate courses of 30 credits each to get the certificate.
Take this course if you are in the armed forces.
Email the Centre for Defence and Security Studies on cdss@massey.ac.nz
Pacific Security Dynamics
Explore what’s happening and likely to happen in Asia-Pacific security, co-operation and development. Learn about strategic trends in the Asia-Pacific region. Understand what this means for New Zealand.
This four-day course is run on demand for teams and individuals working in security and development in the Pacific region.
Take this course if you work in Pacific-related:
- government policy
- defence and security
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities
- industries.
Email the Centre for Defence and Security Studies on cdss@massey.ac.nz
Response and Recovery Leadership
These courses provide professional training for response and recovery leaders across the all-hazards National Security System working at local, regional, and national levels.
Teaching and education
Become a better teacher with our professional development courses. Our innovative research and techniques at the Institute of Education help you help your students.
This extended short course covers the research, theory and evidence-based practices of raising student achievement through mathematical inquiry.
This course is intended to support teachers to develop mathematical content knowledge and adapt mathematical tasks to implement in the classroom
University readiness
UniReady is a series of self-paced, fully online learning courses designed to boost your readiness for university study. They cover essential skills and knowledge that are key for your academic success.
Academic Reading for University Study
This course will help you to develop academic reading strategies to prepare you for undergraduate study.
Academic Writing for University Study
This course will help you to develop effective academic writing strategies and skills to prepare you for undergraduate study.
Critical Thinking for University Study
This course will help you to develop critical thinking strategies to prepare you for undergraduate study.
Numeracy for University Study
This course will help you to develop an understanding of numeracy concepts and skills to prepare you for undergraduate study.
Customised courses
If you don't see exactly what you want, we can help. Our professional and continuing education centre, Te Tumu Whakatipu specialises in creating customised courses to meet the needs of your organisation.
For more information, and to request a customised proposal, please use our enquiry form.
Short course and micro-credential enquiry form
Terms and conditions
Read the terms and conditions for our short courses and micro-credentials.
Terms and conditions for short courses and micro-credentials
Contact us
If you need any additional help or advice please contact us.