Price
Domestic learners
$423* per 5 point course for domestic learners
International learners
$2,080* per 5 point course for international learners
*Fees outlined are based on the 2025 fee schedule and are subject to revision each year. Prices include GST where applicable.
Qualification
Digital badges for each course
5 points per course
Duration
Nine-week courses, requiring 50 hours of learning each.
Entry times
29 September 2025
2 February 2026
27 April 2026
13 July 2026
Overview
Developed with UC's Electric Power Engineering (EPE) Centre, our online Sustainable Transition courses equip you with the knowledge & practical skills you need to lead carbon downshift in your organisation or community.
This flexible series of sustainability courses offer a new way of thinking — one that moves beyond compliance and carbon accounting to address the root causes of unsustainable systems. You’ll explore the role energy plays in the climate crisis and gain the tools to design and implement impactful, real-world solutions.
At the heart of the series is the Interdisciplinary Transition Innovation, Management and Engineering (InTIME©) methodology. This approach helps you unpack complex challenges, shift your perspective away from the status quo, and identify high-impact opportunities for sustainable transformation. You'll learn how to evaluate transition pathways, consider economic and systemic viability, and make strategic decisions grounded in both data and context.
By the end of the series, you’ll have built confidence in your ability to lead transition projects, influence decision-making, and apply new frameworks for innovation. Each course builds on the last, from foundational concepts to hands-on project work with expert support. You’ll also earn digital badges and academic credit, along with the mindset, methods, and momentum to lead the sustainable transition where it matters most — on the ground.
Requirements
Each sustainablility course is equivalent to Level 8 postgraduate study therefore applicants must meet the entry criteria as approved by NZQA, and have;
- A Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, a Bachelor of Science with Honours, or other qualifications of an equivalent standard with a GPA of at least 4 in your 300-level and higher courses
- OR relevant academic or professional experience equivalent to the above qualification. Learners will be asked to demonstrate equivalent professional experience, which can include paid or voluntary work. If you’d like to check if you have the equivalent professional experience you can email us at info@uconline.ac.nz.
Courses are taught in English and therefore learners should be confident reading, writing and listening in English.
Structure
Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments.
Our transition courses each take nine weeks to complete, and you’ll study approximately 6 hours per week during that time. Study time includes taking in course material, reflection time and writing assessments.
Optional sycnhronous (live online) sessions are also held every fortnight, giving you the chance to engage in real-time discussions with course facilitators and fellow learners.
Time commitment
Unless otherwise stated, Tuihono UC | UC Online learners study across terms, rather than semesters. We have four terms per year which consist of nine-weeks of study (including a one-week study break), followed by a two-week period of marking and feedback.
Upcoming term dates
Our current learning dates can be found below (please note: these dates exclude our two-week period of marking and feedback).
- 29 September - 30 November 2025
- Study break: 27 October - 2 November 2025
- 2 February – 5 April 2026
- Study break: 2 – 8 March 2026
- 27 April - 28 June 2026
- Study break: 25 – 31 May 2026
- 13 July - 13 September 2026
- Study break: 1 – 16 August 2026
- 28 September - 29 November 2026
- Study break: 26 October - 1 November 2026
Please note: these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. .
Principles

Establish the groundwork you need to move your organisation or community towards net zero. Gain a systemic understanding of the climate and resource crises, and begin building the mindset and foundational knowledge needed to drive authentic, impactful change.
Sustainability course taken: Transition Principles (EPEC601)
Pathways
Assess the current state of your organisation or community and learn to model different pathways to a sustainable future. This course equips you with transition engineering tools to evaluate which pathways are most likely to succeed — so you can make informed, strategic decisions about how to move forward. You'll learn how to think beyond quick fixes, and instead design long-term, practical transitions that work.
Sustainability course taken: Transition Pathways (EPEC602)
Toolkit
Grow your toolkit with transdisciplinary models and methods to address ‘wicked problems’ in real-world contexts. This includes economic modelling, decision matrices, and systems analysis, guided by the InTIME methodology.
Sustainability course taken: Transition Toolkit (EPEC603)
Transition Project
Apply your learning to a challenge in your own workplace or community, with expert support from our sustainability experts. This hands-on project will help you shift from knowledge to action, and start leading meaningful change from within.
Sustainability course taken: Transition Project (EPEC604)
What you'll study
Our sustinable transition courses give you the skills you need to implement transition engineering principles in your community or organisation, lowering carbon emissions and working towards net zero. Each sustainability course is worth 5 points at NZQF level 8.
Stay updated
If you’re keen to know more about our sustainability courses, stay updated on when enrolments open or ask a question, please sign up for updates below.
Cap & minimum enrolment threshold: a minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.