New Zealand Certificate in Music (Level 4)

Locations and dates

Nelson:

23 February 2026
Study options

Full-time and part-time study options available
Length

34 teaching weeks plus 6 weeks of study break
Total credits

120
Fees

2026: $7,898 plus $350 Student Services Fee

A Student Service Fee applies (2025; $2.17 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.

N.B. The 2026 SSF final fee is currently subject to consultation with learners.
National qualification code

NZ3418

Start your career in music here...

Discover your future as a musician, sound engineer, songwriter, music producer, teacher or sound technician with this one-year programme.

Or you can also pathway from this one year qualification onto the second year of the New Zealand Diploma in Music.

State of the art facilities

You will have the opportunity to organise and perform with fellow students in our Johnny Cash performance theatre.

Music students have exclusive use of our recording studios.

Study alongside other creative industries students from Arts, Media, Interior Design and Creative Writing, in our purpose-built Creative Industries building on Nile Street.

What will I learn?

Sound Production

These courses are designed to prepare you for live and studio sound production.

In MUS401 Sound Production Fundamentals you will explore a range of audio techniques and develop practical skills for elementary recorded and live music sound production.
In MUS402 Live and Studio Sound Production Techniques you will apply essential audio techniques and demonstrate practical skills in recorded and live sound production.

Music Studies

These courses are designed to enable your to learn about music, to write and arrange music and to develop musicianship.

In MUS403 Exploring Music Through Song Writing you will develop your music literacy and your ability to use musical elements to express musical ideas.
In MUS404 Music Literacy for Contemporary Musicians you will increase your music literacy and your ability to use musical elements for expressing ideas in composition, and will use reflective practices to develop their musicianship.

Music Performance

These courses are designed to enable you to build your technical skills, develop attributes for contemporary music performance, increase your knowledge of cultural and industry contexts, and prepare for your own professional practice as contemporary musicians.

In MUS405 Contemporary Music Performance Contexts you will explore a range of contemporary music styles, cultural contexts and issues, and experiment with techniques and processes for communicating musical ideas through performance.
In MUS406 Contemporary Music Performance and Industry Practices you will build your music performance skills and knowledge and develop your understanding of professional practices associated with careers in the music industry.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Literacy

10 NCEA credits at Level 2 or above, made up of credits from the English standards listed in the NZQA literacy requirements for the award of NCEA.

Or equivalent knowledge and skills

Refer to NZQA Literacy and Numeracy(external link).

English language requirements

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level. Those students whose first language is not English should have an international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 5.5 (with at least 5 in each band) issued within the last two years.

Or a qualification considered to be equivalent to the above.

Refer to The NZQA Table of Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Outcomes for International Students(external link).

Other requirements

Evidence may be requested to support an applicant’s motivation and ability to successfully undertake the programme with a reasonable likelihood of success.

Special Entry

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the full entry requirements may be granted admission to the programme on the approval of the Head of Department or delegate if he/she is confident of the applicant’s ability to successfully undertake the programme with a reasonable likelihood of success.

As a Graduate you will be able to...

Read and write music to an elementary level.
Contribute to music composition and arrangements.
Perform music with confidence and ability for an audience.
Demonstrate technical ability on a musical instrument(s).
Use music creation and sound reinforcement technology.
Apply a broad range of research skills to inform own music practice.
Use a range of personal and interpersonal skills to work in the music industry.
Apply understanding of the music industry to develop own career plan.

Contemporary Music Hour on FreshFM

Tune in and listen to original tracks from NMIT Contemporary Music students.

Music students recording live performance

The NMIT Contemporary Music Hour on FreshFM is written and produced by current students on the NZ Certificate and Diploma of Music Programmes.

Tune in to hear tracks produced by NMIT students in the NMIT recording studios, from live performances in the Johnny Cash performance suite and industry/student interviews.

“We have some really great talent on our Contemporary Music programme” says tutor Sam Atkins “the radio show is a great way for students to get hands on experience with live radio as well as show case their work.”

NMIT Contemporary Music Hour(external link) airs every second Saturday night at 8pm and replays the following Tuesday night at 10pm, from early August through to mid October.

Find out more about the NZ Certificate and Diploma in Music at NMIT.

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