About Otago Secondary-Tertiary College

The Otago Secondary-Tertiary College (OSTC) was previously known as Trades Academy in Central Otago

Otago Secondary-Tertiary College (OSTC) is a training college which gives secondary school students a head start to achieving career-based qualifications while still at school. 

If you’re a Year 11-13 Otago secondary school student you may be able to combine study at Otago Polytechnic with studies towards your NCEA at school.

OSTC is a partnership between Otago Polytechnic and secondary schools in the Otago region. Through this college you will gain course credits from Otago Polytechnic.

Download the 2017 Otago Secondary Tertiary College Programme Guide.

We are perfect for students who:

• Want an alternative to traditional secondary and tertiary education
• Are looking for something hands-on, practical and relevant to an industry or profession
• Want a qualification that gives you skills and strengths employers are looking for
• Want to obtain NCEA credits for real-world career training.

Entry criteria 

• You must be a Year 11-13 secondary school student attending a high school anywhere in Otago
• You must be motivated
• You need to be keen to pursue a career pathway related to the programme
• Your school must support your application
• Ideally you should have achieved NCEA Level 1 including English and Maths or be working towards it (however exceptions may be made in some circumstances).

For more information and our Health and Safety rules, please download the OSTC brochure.

What can I study?

Your programme will be one subject of your NCEA. You will attend Otago Polytechnic in Cromwell or Dunedin one day a week to study your vocational qualification, and attend school the rest of the week.

Your study options include:

• Agriculture (Central)
• Automotive (Motor Industry) (Dunedin & Central)
• Building, Construction and Allied Trades (Dunedin & Central)
• Cookery (Dunedin & Central)
• Health, Disability & Aged Care (Dunedin)
• Hospitality (Central)

For specific information relating to each programme, please download the Otago Secondary-Tertiary College brochure. This also includes information about scholarship opportunities.

Funding information

In most instances, study at Otago Secondary-Tertiary College will be fully funded, with no cost to the student or secondary school. However, please note that Otago Secondary-Tertiary College is only funded for a limited number of places. Additional places may be offered, however  your school will be charged a fee. Please clarify any costs with your school.

I would like to study at OSTC. What do I do now?

Students and families should contact your schools career advisor in the first instance.

Our OSTC contact at Otago Polytechnic is: 

Andy Kilsby
Otago Secondary-Tertiary College Operations Manager
Central Otago campus 
027 572 7382

Andy.Kilsby@op.ac.nz

It is also recommended that students and families contact the appropriate school careers advisor. In Queenstown Lakes these are:

Kate Borrie
Cromwell College
Barry Avenue, Cromwell
+64 3 445 1121

Chris Page
Dunstan High School
 Enterprise Street, Alexandra
+64 3 448 8595

Heather Watt
Mount Aspiring College
Plantation Road, Wanaka
+64 3 443 9901

Bronwyn Gardiner
Wakatipu High School
68 Fryer Street, Queenstown 
+64 3 442 7370

Lynda Pascoe
Roxburgh Area School
Scotland Street, Roxburgh
+64 3 446 8460

Alec Campbell
Maniototo Area School
15 Caulfield Street, Ranfurly
+64 3 444 9341

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