At Massey, we have a proud tradition of taking a practical approach to knowledge. Our students study theory and also get solid experience of putting what they learn into practice.
We run our short courses in the same way. Knowledge is no good without understanding how to use it in the real world. Our experts are both thinkers and doers, and we have close links with all kinds of industries.
Taking our short courses gives you:
- firm grasp of 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.
Our courses are suitable for professional organisations, government institutions and partner universities, in New Zealand and internationally. Our recognised professional development short courses cover many fields of expertise and are an excellent way to build capacity. We can also include sector specialists and industry visits.
Customised courses
If you don't see exactly what you want, we can help. The Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) specialises in creating customised courses to meet the needs of your organisation.
Centre for Professional and Continuing Education
Email us to find out more at: shortcourses@massey.ac.nz
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. 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 Farm Environment Planning
Get a deeper understanding of agriculture and freshwater. Create advanced freshwater farm environment plans for arable, sheep and beef, and dairy farms.
This online course:
- takes around 150 hours
- includes 24 total hours of farm visits
- includes five written assessments.
Take this course if you work in:
- farm environment planning
- nutrient planning
Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management
Stop farming fertilisers damaging the environment. Gain a deeper understanding of the nutrient needs of various agricultural systems. Deepen your knowledge of nutrient cycling and loss pathways in New Zealand‘s farming systems.
This online professional course takes at least 40 hours and includes an exam.
Take this course if you:
- work in nutrient management
- have completed the Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management (SNM) course
- want to get the Nutrient Management Adviser Certificate
- work in New Zealand farming
- work in regulation or policy for New Zealand farming.
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.
This online course:
- takes around 50 hours
- includes oral and written assessments.
Take this course if you work in:
- New Zealand agriculture
- regulation or policy of New Zealand farming.
Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design and Management
Get a deeper understanding of farm dairy effluent (FDE) systems. Understand design, management and auditing of FDE.
This course is a mix of online and in-person study, with:
- three days of lectures, tutorials, case studies and discussion
- written assessments.
Take this course if you work in:
- dairy farm management
- regulation and governance of dairy farms
- any area of FDE systems.
Intermediate Farm Environment Planning
Focus on reducing farming’s impact on freshwater quality. Produce basic freshwater farm environment plans for arable, sheep and beef, and dairy farms.
This online course takes around 100 hours of study and includes two written assessments.
Take this course if you work in:
- dairy farm management
- regulation and governance of dairy farms
- any area of FDE systems.
Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management
Know how to assess the nutrient needs of a range of agricultural systems. Discover how to take into account best practices in environmental protection when planning fertiliser usage.
This online professional course takes at least 40 hours and includes an exam.
Take this course if you:
- work in nutrient management
- want to get the Nutrient Management Adviser Certificate
- work in New Zealand farming
- work in regulation or policy of New Zealand farming.
Learn about New Zealand’s agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Gain the skills to measure agricultural GHG emissions. Get the policy and practical knowledge to advise farmers on reducing GHG.
This online course takes around 65 hours of study and includes a written exam.
Take this course if you work in New Zealand farming.
Understanding Herbicides
Choose the best weedkiller for the job. Understand the different kinds of weedkillers in New Zealand. Learn how to mix and use herbicides to kill weeds while protecting crops.
This professional course takes place at our Manawatū campus in Palmerston North over three days, and includes an exam.
Take this course if you work in:
- the herbicide industry
- New Zealand agriculture or horticulture
- regulation or policy of New Zealand farming
- a job where you need to use herbicides.
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)
Human Factors for RPAS Professionals
Learn how to safely take part in and manage Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in multi-crew operations, night operations and large, high-risk complex operations.
This professional course is online only, with an online test.
Take this course if you are:
- a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Part 102 operator
- an RPAS operator taking part in complex operations
- a manager of a complex operation
- a regulator of health and safety and other regulatory compliance for organisations that run complex RPAS operations
- applying for or renewing an operational competency assessment (OCA).
Learn how to use your Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) safely and within the law in this two-part professional course. RPAS are also called drones and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Understand the law and safety processes for RPAS and put your knowledge into practice with industry experts.
Take this course if you operate RPAS and:
- have little or no aviation experience
- want to deepen your understanding of RPAS in aviation
- want to apply for CAA PART 102 certification.
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 Business Studies
Meet the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services in New Zealand. Study the Financial Services pathway in the Certificate in Business Studies and get practical skills and specialist knowledge.
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 and Directorship
Take your management skills to the next level and get ready for the board. Understand and practise how to be an effective and able director. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of directors and trustees, including managing finances and risk .
Our practical courses help you be a better director, even if you're already on the board.
We run professional development courses only for a group of directors and future directors in an organisation. We customise courses to the needs of your company.
Manager Acceleration Programme (MAP)
Develop your skills in leadership, project management and problem analysis. Understand the operational and financial side of business and learn how to improve processes. Communicate effectively, lead your team better and engage with customers.
We run this professional development course only for a group of managers in an organisation. We tailor the course to the needs of your company and your new and middle managers.
Data analysis
Understanding how to analyse data is becoming more important as computer technology underlies more of what we do in the world. Get a good start in data analysis in this professional development course from our Statistical Consultancy Service in the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.
Introduction to RStudio
Analyse data and graphics with this free software. Discover how to make the best use of R and RStudio’s flexibility and power in standard and non-standard analysis, and especially in statistical computing.
Learn from Massey University’s Statistical Consultancy Service in this two-day workshop. We run this continuing professional development (CPD) course on our Manawatū campus in Palmerston North.
Take this course if you work:
- in data analysis
- as a statistician
- as a researcher at Massey
- in research outside Massey.
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 and Advanced Technology.
Brewing Beer
Get a thorough introduction to brewing beer in Massey's state-of-the-art micro-brewery over two days. Learn the theory of making good beers and get hands-on to design two beers of your own.
Evaluating Consumer Response
Learn about the why, who, what, where and when of consumer product testing. Discover the theory and practice of testing food products with consumers, including qualitative and quantitative techniques. This interactive course complements the Introduction to Sensory Evaluation course.
This introductory one-day course is held at our Manawatū campus in Palmerston North.
Take this course if you work in food industry areas such as:
- sensory testing
- consumer testing
- market research
- quality assurance
- product development in the food industry.
Understand your consumers better with this basic introduction to sensory and consumer science for the food industry. Learn about best practice and how to use testing to develop successful food products.
Take this course if you:
- work in marketing, product development or quality assurance in the food industry
- have completed the Introduction to Sensory Evaluation course.
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
Discover how to measure the sensory attributes of food in this interactive course. Learn about the theory of evaluating food using sensory tests and practise what you’ve learned. You can take the course online or in one day at our Manawatū campus in Palmerston North.
Take this course if you work in sensory testing, consumer testing, quality assurance and product development in 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.
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
Learn about using sensory evaluation in quality assurance in the food industry. Study the theory of sensory quality control (QC) and see how it works in practice in this interactive course.
Take this one-day course if you:
- work in food quality assurance in the food industry
- work in food technology
- are a sensory specialist
- have completed the Introduction to Sensory Evaluation course.
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).
Money Smarts @ Work
Reach your goals in life with this quick and easy short course about managing your money, offered with industry groups. Understand budgeting and saving, and learn how to manage debt and protect what matters to you.
Gain the tools, knowledge and confidence to educate your communities in personal financial management, enhance their financial capability and make a difference to their financial wellbeing with this micro-credential.
This micro-credential will develop your confidence and give you the tools and knowledge to comply effectively with the AML/CFT Act within the scope of your own business.
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.
Get personalised feedback on your draft manuscript. Learn how to respond to reviewers’ comments and the stages of writing for scholarly publications.
You can expect to spend over 50 hours of work on this course, mainly revising your own manuscript. Choose either the 12-week course or the more intensive 6-week course.
Take this course if you have a draft manuscript of 5,000 to 8,000 words and are a:
- postgraduate student
- postdoctoral researcher
- early-career scholar.
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
Psychosocial Response and Recovery
This is a series of two short courses designed for those who want to learn about psychosocial response and recovery and how to provide support to practitioners and communities.
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.
Help all your students enjoy mathematics and reach high standards. Understand the research and theory behind mathematical inquiry learning communities and learn how to put it into practice in your school.
You can take this course in person or online.
Take this course if you:
- are a teacher
- work in school leadership or management.
Contact us
Get in touch about any short courses or if you would like a customised course for your organisation.
Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE)
- Location
Postal address
Centre for Professional and Continuing Education
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North 4442
New Zealand