Health & Wellbeing
Enrolments in Southern Institute of Technology's postgraduate nursing programmes have jumped around 85 percent since 2020, and the people behind the growth say it shows no sign of slowing.
Postgraduate Programme Manager Jane Elder has been at SIT's School of Nursing since 2019 and took on the postgraduate role at the start of 2026. She says the increase is the strongest she's seen.
"We've seen a huge increase in numbers. Our postgraduate nursing enrolments have grown by around 85% since 2020, which shows just how strongly nurses are engaging with postgraduate education."
Flexibility is the main drawcard. Nearly all papers are delivered online or through HyFlex learning, letting nurses fit study around shifts, families and everything else.
"I think a big thing for students is the flexibility that we offer. All of them are either online or HyFlex and so it gives students that flexibility to be able to work it into their work life, family life and then study."
SIT's Zero Fees Scheme is doing a lot of heavy lifting too, particularly for nurses who don't receive health workforce funding. "Zero fees is definitely something that's quite a big driver. Especially if they don't get health workforce funding."
The programmes draw students from around the country — Marlborough, Manawatū and Auckland among them — with word of mouth doing much of the recruiting. "Anecdotally, talking to students, they know someone who has studied on the programme and they really enjoyed it," Elder said. "We do see at times pockets of students, such as a group who work in the surgical ward, they might all be doing the programme together; it's also that collegial element, the support of studying together as well."
She's also clear-eyed about why postgraduate study matters professionally. Registration as a nurse requires ongoing learning and evidence of it. "There is, in terms of our registration as nurses, a need to keep studying and we need to provide evidence of that. Postgraduate studies are a really good, quantifiable way of showing that you are meeting your competencies."
The suite of qualifications includes a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in the Art and Science of Healthcare, and a Master of Nursing Science introduced this year. Students can staircase through them one paper at a time.
"…I think nursing has changed now in that once you finish your degree, it's not the end point. It's almost the starting point for learning more and for specialising. I think nurses are naturally curious people as well. They want to find out more."
Karyn Madden, who leads the School of Nursing and manages the master's programme, says the first cohort is coming in strong. "The numbers are good for a first-year intake. We have quite a wide variety of students, from as far north as Auckland and Hamilton."
The master's is also under the Zero Fees Scheme. "It creates equitable access to higher learning, by reducing financial barriers," Madden said. Students who already hold a postgraduate diploma are just two papers away from completing it. "It's a very attractive package: zero fees, flexible learning and they've only got two more papers to do."
Registered nurse Susan Symon is the kind of story that makes the statistics real. She started with a single paper — Health Management — not expecting much. "I really enjoyed it. I'm all into making the workplace better. I surprised myself; I passed."
Then came a breast cancer diagnosis. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy. She thought it meant the end of her studies. Madden disagreed. "Karyn said 'you can do this. I'm going to extend all your due dates till the end of the year.'" Symon kept going, finished her postgraduate certificate, completed two more papers, and ended 2025 cancer free and holding a postgraduate diploma.
She wasn't planning to continue to the master's. "I didn't feel I was academic enough to complete it." But Madden had a word. "She said, 'If you can complete your post grad during cancer treatment and chemo, just imagine what you can do now. You are not climbing Everest; you are climbing Bluff Hill with lots of support and guidance.'"
Symon is now enrolled in the master's. Her research will likely focus on a recent roster change at her workplace — "the good, the bad, and the data." Her daughter Hannah is training to be a nurse at SIT.
"I want my daughter to dream big in nursing so that she can be anything she wants to be. When I trained, further education wasn't encouraged. Nursing has changed and you must keep studying to stay ahead of the next generation."
Madden is holding a free online information evening for anyone considering the master's programme on September 21 at 7pm via Microsoft Teams. Meeting ID: 482 726 834 638 835, passcode: J7zw9Fj2.