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Online programme approval application

This user guide is intended to support online users during the application process for programmes of study or programmes of industry training approval, and training scheme approval.

About the application

The online application form provides detail to enable you to populate the NZQA database.

A full application includes documentation that demonstrates how your application meets the requirements set out in the applicable guidelines.

There are six sections in the application form. You must complete each section in order before progressing to the next, even if zero is inserted. Each section must be fully completed before submitting the application to NZQA for analysis.

Section 1: Contact details
Section 2: Programme overview
Section 3: Assessment standards
Section 4: Qualifications
Section 5: Application documents
Section 6: Comments

At any time, you can delete the application or return to TEO applications. If you return to TEO applications, any sections you have completed will not be lost. You can resume filling out the application later.

The application process

When you submit this application, you will receive an auto-generated email quoting an NZQA reference number. Use this number if you need to email or speak to a member of staff about the application.

You will be notified when your application has been assigned to an evaluator. You should expect this to happen within 10 working days.

You will be invoiced for work on your application at NZQA’s current hourly rate.

Please direct any queries about this application to our Client Services team. Remember to include the NZQA reference number on all correspondence.

Before you get started

Before you begin this application, check you have:

finished the development of the programme; and
the necessary consent to assess for any assessment standards that may be included in the programme, and
made an application for any assessment standards you don’t have consent to assess for.

References

Throughout this guide, these documents are regularly referenced. You should have these handy when filling out your application form. They are:

New Zealand Qualifications Framework (PDF, 606KB) (referred to as the Framework throughout this guide)
Guidelines for applying for approval of programmes leading to New Zealand at levels 1-6 on the NZQF and accreditation of organisations to provide approved programmes (referred to as Guidelines throughout this guide)
Guidelines for applying for approval of a training scheme or a micro-credential

Navigation hints

Click the Return to application overview link to leave the section you are in and return to the application summary screen.

Click the Return to TEO applications link to leave the application and return to your TEO applications summary page. Any sections you may have completed will be saved and you can resume filling out the application later.

Complete all fields marked with an asterisk (*), as these fields are mandatory.

Filling out the form

Section 1:

Contact details

Enter the name of the key contact person for this application.

If NZQA requires more information, this is the person they will contact. An email address is required because auto-generated communications will be sent there.

Section 2:

Programme overview

Enter the details of the programme being applied for. These details may be amended throughout the application process and will provide a record of the approved programme.

Title: The title of the programme must provide an accurate indication of the subject area. Refer to Sections 2 and 3 of the Guidelines and the information on designators and qualifiers.

Type: For an explanation of the types of programme, see Section 5 of the Framework.

Level: If the programme does not lead to National or New Zealand qualification, you can check the level in Section 4 of the Framework.

NZQF and non-NZQF credits: When filling out this section, one credit represents 10 notional hours of learning.

Aim: The aim should be appropriate to the nature and level of the qualification to which the programme leads. See Sections 2 and 3 of the Guidelines for more information.

Content: In this section, you should describe the content of the programme. This could include component titles or similar.

Outcome: The programme outcome should summarise the learning of the programme. See Sections 2 and 3 of the Guidelines for more information.

Entry requirements: Entry requirements should be appropriate to the level of study. See Sections 2 and 3 of the Guidelines for more information.

At the end of this section there is a choice of three boxes that can be checked. These are optional and should only be checked if the proposed programme leads to one of the registration types.

Section 3:

Assessment standards

All assessments require standards. In this section, the information required relates to assessment standards or New Zealand Diploma in Business (NZDipBus) prescriptions only. Searches for NZDipBus prescriptions can only be made by prescription title. If the programme is local, include further information about the assessment in the programme documentation.

Section 4:

Qualifications

This section asks you to identify the qualifications the proposed programme leads to. Qualifications can be New Zealand or National qualifications or a local qualification. Note that any programme under 40 credits will not be considered a qualification.

If the programme relates to a New Zealand or National qualification, all you need to do is search for it on the NZQF. If the programme leads to a local qualification, the process for approval to develop, followed by approval to list a new qualification, must have been undertaken.

Go back to the programme overview section to populate the information about content, outcome and entry. These details may be amended throughout the application process.

Section 5:

Programme documents

You must supply the two types of documents mentioned below. These documents must demonstrate that your application meets the relevant rules. The documents are essential before an analysis can be made.

1. Programme structure

You must provide a document that covers the makeup of the programme (i.e. units, lessons, modules, assessments) and the topics covered in each component. It should also provide an outline of the programme delivery, showing how much time is spent (hours per day, or hours per week) covering the programme material.

2. Supporting evidence

Please also attach any other evidence demonstrating that you meet the rules for programme approval. Suitable documents include a student handbook, programme brochure, letters of support, etc.

Section 6:

Comments

Please add any comments about the programme or process here.

Submitting your application

Before submitting your application you will be asked to review the full application form. Please note that all sections of the application form will appear even if they are not applicable to the application to be submitted.

You are now ready to submit your application. Before you do, check:

the two types of documents requested in Section 5 have been attached to your application or are ready to be posted to NZQA; and
you have consent to asess for any assessment standards that are included in the programme.

Finished!

When you click Submit Application, your application will appear in the TEO applications table. You can View your completed application, or Withdraw your completed application until an outcome has been reached.