Free Community Education
Increase your skills and expand your knowledge for free!
UCOL's free adult community education (ACE) programmes offer community-based education, foundation skills, and pathways into other learning opportunities that meet our communities' learning needs.
Foundation Skills
Begin your foundation skills journey with UCOL's free adult community education programmes,
Digital Literacy
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North
10 weeks part-time.
Gain confidence in a digital world – understand modern technologies and use them effectively and safely.
Tertiary Study Skills
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui
10 weeks part-time.
Whanganui - Sep 2026
Build confidence through time management skills, academic reading and writing, numeracy for career pathways, and utilising technology for your tertiary study.
Personal Budgets and Financial Literacy
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North
10 weeks part-time.
Create your own budget, and develop an awareness of personal finance terms, resources, and opportunities.
Communication: Literacy for Life, Work & Study
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North
10 weeks part-time.
Develop literacy skills to meet (or exceed) Step 4 of the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (LNAAT)
Numeracy Skills
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North
10 weeks part-time.
Develop numeracy skills to meet (or exceed) Step 5 of the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (LNAAT)
Te Reo Māori
Immerse yourself in UCOL’s Te Reo Māori programmes and gain skills in the Māori language and customs (te reo and tikanga), reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Te Reo Māori for Beginners
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Horowhenua in Levin, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton
9-10 weeks part-time.
Whanganui - TBC
Masterton - Jul & Oct 2026
Levin - Jul 2026
Eager to strengthen your cultural understanding of Te Reo Māori, or simply curious to begin your reo journey? This beginner‑friendly course is the perfect first step!
Te Reo Māori Intermediate
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton, Te Runanga O Ngā Wairiki - Ngāti Apa – Marton
10 weeks part-time.
Masterton - Jul & Oct 2026
Keen to keep learning, growing, and connecting with your understanding and delivery of te reo Māori? This course will guide you forward on your haerenga reo with confidence and pride.
Computing & Microsoft Basics
Whether you need a refresher course or you're wanting to learn new computing skills, these free courses will leave you confident and ready to study or work smarter.
Introduction to Computing
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui
Complete 80 hours of study with flexible days and times.
Palmerston North and Whanganui
Enrolments open until 20 November 2026
Get confident with computers for free!
Introduction to Microsoft Word
Complete 40 hours of study with flexible days and times.
Palmerston North and Whanganui
Enrolments open until 20 November 2026
Turn ideas into polished pages! Learn the essentials of Microsoft Word processing for free!
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Complete 40 hours of study with flexible days and times.
Palmerston North and Whanganui
Enrolments open until 20 November 2026
Take control of data and boost your productivity - unlock the power of Microsoft Excel for free!
Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint
Complete 40 hours of study with flexible days and times.
Palmerston North and Whanganui
Enrolments open until 20 November 2026
Design professional, eye-catching presentations – learn how to master Microsoft PowerPoint for free!
Free Sign Language Courses
New Zealand Sign Language is an official language of New Zealand and used by our Deaf community. This interactive language is fun to learn.
Introduction to Sign Language
10 weeks part-time.
Learn to communicate with Deaf people
Conversational Sign Language
Wanting to communicate confidently using New Zealand Sign Language? This course is a great first step into the rich, expressive world of NZSL!
Sign in the Workplace
10 weeks part-time.
Want to make your workplace more inclusive and communicate better with Deaf colleagues or customers? Learn the essentials of New Zealand Sign Language for real workplace situations.
Immersion Sign Language
10 weeks part-time.
2026 dates TBC
Keen to enhance your learning of New Zealand Sign Language? This course will help deepen your skills, building real confidence using NZSL in everyday conversations.
Creative
Dip your toe in with our free community creative programmes before taking the leap into full-time study.
Introduction to Creative Media
8 weeks part-time
Whanganui - TBC
Learn new techniques and showcase your creative talents through the making of your own zine!