Price
Domestic learners
$2,494* per 30 point course
International learners
$11,362* per 30 point course
*Fees outlined are based on the 2026 fee schedule and are subject to revision each year. Prices include GST where applicable. Non-tuition fees, such as the Student Services Levy (SSL), will also apply.
Qualification
PGCertProfSup
60 points
Duration
1 year part-time
Learn online from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand, combined with up to four days onsite in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Entry times
13 July 2026
February 2027
July 2027
2028
Overview
Professional supervision plays a vital role in supporting safe, ethical, and effective practice. It provides a structured space for reflection, learning, accountability, and professional growth, benefiting practitioners, organisations, and the communities they serve.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision equips you with the theory, tools, and practical skills to deliver high-quality supervision to individuals or teams. You’ll develop confidence in guiding reflective practice, navigating ethical challenges, and supporting professional development in diverse and high-pressure work environments.
This programme is particularly suited to professionals already working in health, education or social services who are supervising (or planning to supervise) staff as part of mentoring, certification, or workforce development. Professional supervision is also increasingly valued in sectors such as business, engineering, and law as a way to enhance professional development, ethical practice, and employee wellbeing. Gain academic expertise that supports your development as a professional supervisor through flexible online study.
Learn online from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand, combined with up to four days onsite in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Graduates can go onto apply for UC's fully on-campus Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Supervision (making you an advanced practitioner and leader in the field of supervision).
Requirements
To ensure that our learners have the necessary background and experience to succeed, you must have completed an Aotearoa New Zealand bachelor's degree, or equivalent, with a grade average of B or higher. Preference will be given to applicants who have at least 3 years of professional experience in their relevant discipline.
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
Even if you don’t meet these requirements, we encourage you to apply. Every application will be reviewed before approval by the Amo Matua Te Kaupeka Oranga | Executive Dean of Health, or delegate.
Unsure about your suitability?
As part of our application process, your eligibility will be assessed by our health academic team to make sure that your academic and/or professional background meets the entry criteria. Unfortunately our Tuihono UC | UC Online team cannot confirm your eligibility before your application is submitted, beyond referring you to the requirements above. We are happy to help answer any general questions you have about the programme or online learning, however. You can get in touch with us here.
Course requirements
There may be up to 4 days of in-person intensives at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. This will be confirmed before learning begins on 13 July — stay updated.
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.
Structure
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision can be studied part-time over 1 year and must be completed within 2 years.
Time commitment
Learners complete two 30-point courses across two semesters, requiring approximately 18.5 hours of study per week. Study time includes taking in course material, reflection time and writing assignments.
Upcoming dates
Specific learning dates for this programme can be found below (please note: these dates exclude our period of marking and feedback).
- 13 July – 15 November 2026
- Semester two study break and in-person intensives to be confirmed with enrolled learners
Please note: these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.
What you'll study
You'll study two NZQF level 8 postgraduate courses for the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision.
Description
This course will facilitate students to develop foundational knowledge, skills, and principles essential for effective professional supervision. Students will be introduced to key theories, models, and functions of supervision, and will explore how supervision supports professional growth, accountability, and wellbeing across a variety of disciplines and settings. The course will emphasise the importance of critical thinking, self-reflection, and cultural responsiveness in supervision practice. Students will examine supervisory relationships, roles, and boundaries, and consider ethical and legal responsibilities relevant to their professional context.
Learning outcomes
- Critically examine evidence-based theories, models and frameworks relevant to the context of professional supervision.
- Critically examine the role and application of legal and ethical frameworks in professional supervision contexts.
- Develop knowledge and practical skills in order to facilitate effective supervisory relationships
- Develop and articulate a philosophy of professional supervision with reference to a specific practice context
- Articulate and apply the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in culturally responsive supervision practice
Description
This course provides students with the opportunity to deepen their theoretical understanding and practical application of professional supervision across a range of professional and cultural contexts. Students will critically engage with supervision models, frameworks, and approaches relevant to health, education, social services, and community practice. They will develop and apply an ethical, theoretically coherent and culturally responsive model of supervision practice relevant to their own professional context.
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced skills in professional supervision related to reflective practice, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and transactional processes
- Reflexively analyze effective supervisory relationships which enable supervisees to develop ethical problem-solving for professional practice issues.
- Critically examine complex problems that arise within supervisory contexts and identify a range of approaches to promote effective, ethical and safe responses.
- Critically integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into professional supervision practices, promoting equity and bicultural responsiveness
- Critically reflect on how supervisory relationships and session content influence personal wellbeing, identifying impacts and strategies to enhance overall supervisee mental and emotional wellbeing.
Our people
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision programme is coordinated by Associate Professor Shanee Barraclough, with contributions from Dr Andrew Frost other industry professionals and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury academics.
Associate Professor Shanee Barraclough
Programme Coordinator | University of Canterbury
Shanee is an Associate Professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC). Her teaching and research are in the field of counselling and counsellor education. She explores emerging counsellor identities, pedagogy of counsellor education, and social constructionist and post-structural approaches to counselling, including Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy.
Prior to working at UC, she worked as a psychologist and counsellor in New Zealand and the UK, mainly with children and families experiencing domestic violence, trauma, and the effects of the Canterbury earthquake sequence.
Dr Andrew Frost
Independent clinical supervisor, subject matter expert, and trainer
Andrew is an academic, professional supervisor, trainer, educator, and consultant, with some 35 years of experience working with individuals, groups, and therapeutic communities. Over this time, he has practised, taught, researched, and published in social work and a range of people-serving sectors, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and in Australia.
His specialist areas include professional supervision, group practice, family violence, sexual violence, offender rehabilitation, and child protection. Andrew has held subject-matter expert roles across both academic and service provider organisations, along with leadership and management roles in therapeutic facilities, tertiary institutes, and research centres.
Stay updated
If you’re keen to know more, 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.
FAQ
The Tuihono UC | UC Online Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision is a one-year part-time programme designed for experienced professionals who want to supervise others more effectively. This includes people working in counselling, social work, teaching, nursing, allied health, community development, and related fields. It may also suit professionals in other sectors where reflective practice, ethical decision-making, and staff wellbeing are increasingly important.
Bringing together the latest industry-informed learning applicable to your life and career, the Tuihono UC Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision gives you the same quality education as other university programmes with the flexibility of online learning.
This includes 24/7 access, academic advice and technical support, giving you the support to study at your pace.
No. While many students will already be supervising others, the programme is also suitable for professionals preparing to step into a supervision role or wanting formal training to strengthen their current practice.
Studying online allows for flexibility in completing coursework, and Tuihono UC’s programme provides learners with the same quality education and resources as other university programmes.
The programme can be completed in one year of part-time study, and must be completed within two years.
The programme is delivered with a majority of coursework online, using a range of technologies including weekly video conferencing, online discussion forums, and interactive learning experiences.
There may be an element of in-person learning (up to four days) required at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. We will confirm this before learning begins on 13 July — stay updated.
This qualification supports roles where supervising, mentoring, or supporting others is part of professional practice. Graduates may work as supervisors in health, social services, education, and allied professions, or provide contracted supervision across organisations and sectors.
Depending on the requirements of your professional registration body, this postgraduate certificate can give you the academic skills you need to become an accredited supervisor.
Yes. Graduates may establish themselves as independent professional supervisors, offering contracted services to individuals, teams, or organisations, or contribute to workforce development through training, mentoring, and consultancy roles.
Depending on the requirements of your accreditation organisation, the postgraduate certificate can provide the academic background you need to become a registered professional supervisor.
If you register for updates about this programme, we'll be in touch when we have news to share about entry times and enrolment. You can also contact us directly at info@uconline.ac.nz.
Learners have access to the same support services as on-campus students, including academic advising, technical support, and library resources. There are also great resources for both Waitaha Canterbury based and remote learners at the UC RecCentre. Learn more here.
Learners also have the support of our Tuihono UC Learner Experience team.
The overall cost of tuition fees per 30-point course based on the 2026 fee schedule:
- for domestic learners is $2,494* incl GST
- for international learners is $11,362* plus GST if applicable.
Total programme investment for the 60 point programme based on the 2026 fee schedule:
- for domestic learners is $4,988* incl GST
- for international learners is $22,724* plus GST if applicable.
*Please note that the fees are charged on a per year basis and the amount charged reflects the number of courses/points enrolled in the current year. These are based on the 2026 fee structure and subject to revision – you can learn more about UC's Tuition fee structure here.
Student Services Levy costs
Each year university students around Aotearoa New Zealand are charged a Student Services Levy (SSL) in addition to their tuition fees. All the SSL money collected can only be used for the benefit of students - never for academic or administrative costs.
The SSL is automatically calculated on how many points you enrol in per academic year, capped at a maximum of 150 points. Tuihono UC | UC Online learners are charged a reduced SSL rate, which is 20% of the usual on-campus student levy. This is calculated as $2.06 per academic point in 2026 . You can learn more about the Student Services Levy here, and more about UC Support Services here.
There are a range of options you can use to finance your study, which you can learn more about here.
Applications are made online through our Tuihono UC | UC Online website – view open enrolments and/or expressions of interest for when enrolments open.
Whether you need advice finding the right course for you or support with the enrolment process, we’re here to help! Contact our enrolment support team for course information, technical help and enrolment support.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision is a standalone professionally relevant qualification but is also a good pathway for further study.
People interested in furthering their knowledge can apply to continue learning through UC’s on-campus Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Supervision (making you an advanced practitioner and leader in the field of supervision).
You can also explore UC’s full range of postgraduate health and professional development options.
We are also developing our online offerings - if you'd like to hear about our latest news and offers, join our mailing list.
Yes, once you've successfully completed the postgraduate certificate, you can apply to credit 60 points towards a relevant further qualification, such as our on-campus Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Supervision (making you an advanced practitioner and leader in the field of supervision). Crediting academic points is subject to the discretion of the relevant University of Canterbury faculty Dean. Read the full requirements in the UC general conditions for credit regulations.
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