U-Skills Academy 1 Day

Academy provides secondary school learners the opportunity to attend the UCOL one day per week developing industry relevant skills.


Academy programmes are designed for year 11 - 13 high school students to guide them through a vocational pathway. Study at UCOL while at school and earn NCEA credits - one day per week over three terms.

Construction & Infrastructure

A young person working on a skill saw in a workshop at UCOL

U-Skills Academy Construction


Level 2 & 3
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton, Ōtaki

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Level 2, 26 Credits

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Tuesdays

Whanganui - Fridays

Level 2, 25 Credits

Delivery day:

Ōtaki - Wednesdays

Level 3, 22 Credits

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Mondays

Whanganui - Fridays

Masterton - Thursdays

Ōtaki - Fridays


Discover if carpentry is the right career path for you while still in secondary school!

U-Skills Academy Introduction to Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying


Level 2

UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

1 Day per week, for 33 weeks

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Ending: Week of 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Thursday


Are you looking for an industry with great job opportunities? The UCOL Academy Introduction to Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying programme will provide you with the foundation skills you’ll need to get started in this busy industry.

A student working on a design of a building using paper and scale

U-Skills Academy Applied Construction Design


Level 3
​UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Friday


Are you interested in buildings and architectures? Discover if construction design is your calling!

Creative Industries

A UCOL design student presenting using the smart digital screen

U-Skills Academy Gamification (Design & Development)


Level 3
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Tuesdays

Whanganui - Fridays


Like gaming and keen to that passion into a career? Your journey into game development starts here!

Manufacturing & Technology

A UCOL lecturer showing a student how to mix paint in a paint booth at UCOL Te Pūkenga paint and panel workshop

U-Skills Academy Collision Repair


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

1 day a week

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Fridays


Interested in learning how to repair damaged cars? Discover if a career in automotive collision repair is right for you and study while still in secondary school.

A UCOL lecturer and learners looking parts of a car at a workshop at UCOL.

U-Skills Academy Automotive


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Horowhenua in Levin, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

1 day a week

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Mondays and Tuesdays

Whanganui - Thursdays

Masterton - Thursdays

Levin - Wednesdays


Interested in the fields of automotive mechanics, engine servicing or auto electrical? Discover if a career in the automotive industry is right for you and study while still in secondary school.

A student drawing on a paper using a stensil

U-Skills Academy Mechanical Engineering


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Thursdays

Whanganui - Fridays

Masterton - Thursdays


Discover if a career in machining, welding or fabrication is right for you, while still in secondary school!

A laptop showing half of the screen and the keyboard

U-Skills Academy ICT Innovation (Level 3)


Level 3
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Friday


Take your ICT skills to the next level with software programming, and study while still in school!

U-Skills Academy Foundation Electrical Engineering


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmeston North, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton, UCOL Whanganui
Feb 2026

Discover if a career in electrical engineering is right for you, while still in secondary school!

Primary Industries

View of Mt. Ruapehu and Ngauruahoe from Mt. Taranaki

U-Skills Academy Certificate in Introductory Conservation (Te Kura Tapere)


Level 3

Horowhenua

2026 dates TBC

Delivery day TBC


Enjoy nature and keen to conserve it? Step into the wild and grow your knowledge about nature!

Service Industries

Plated meals ready to be served in UCOL restaurant.

U-Skills Academy Cafe Skills


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Friday


Keen to discover the thrill of hospitality! Learn what it takes thrive in this industry and open doors to endless opportunities!

A UCOL cookery learner platting a dish in the kitchen

U-Skills Academy Cookery


Level 3
UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Thursday


Learn cooking and hospitality basics and study while still in secondary school!

Close-up of clippers and shaving brush

U-Skills Academy Barbering


Level 2

UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Mondays and Tuesdays

Masterton - Fridays


Passionate about styling hair? Take the first step to start shaping a career as a professional barber!

A UCOL student hairdresser washing a client's hair

U-Skills Academy Hair, Beauty & Retail


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

1 day per week

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Fridays

Whanganui - Thursdays

Masterton - Fridays


Discover if the hairdressing and beauty industry is the right career pathway for you and study while still in secondary school.

Two guys in a business meeting.

U-Skills Academy Business Enterprise


Level 3
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day: Thursday


​Find out what it takes to succeed as a business entrepreneur and study while still in school.

U-Skills Academy New Zealand Police Pathway


Level 3

UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

33 weeks

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Mondays

Whanganui - Tuesdays

Masterton - Mondays


Are you interested in serving the community? The UCOL Academy New Zealand Police Pathway will provide you with knowledge about police and policing in New Zealand.

U-Skills Academy Defence Pathways


Level 2

UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North and Otaki

33 weeks

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery days:

Palmerston North - Fridays

Otaki - Thursdays


Are you considering a career in the New Zealand Defence Force? U-Skills Defence Pathways will provide you the knowledge, skills and confidence to explore the many options available and how to get there.

Social & Community Services

An early childhood class where students are interacting with the teacher

U-Skills Academy Introduction to Early Childhood


Level 2
UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North, UCOL Whanganui, UCOL Wairarapa in Masterton

Starting: Week of 09 Feb 2026

Finishing: Week ending 25 Sep 2026

Delivery day:

Palmerston North and Wairarapa - Monday

Whanganui - Friday


Get ready to spark your passion for working with tamariki! Discover if a career in child development, health and wellbeing is right for you, while still in secondary school