Bachelor of Viticulture

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

The course:

EIT's Bachelor of Viticulture has a strong emphasis on the sciences, technical and management aspects of grapegrowing and winemaking.

The course is for people who want a specialised degree in science, viticulture/horticulture and wine production. Students wanting a specialised wine degree can combine it with a Bachelor of Wine Science.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Viticulture can find jobs in viticulture, quality control, research and development, vineyard management, contracting, wine brewing and food processing, with employers in the public and private sectors.

The course involves three years' full-time study, or six years part-time, at the institute's Taradale campus, but there is considerable time off-campus for field trips, excursions and industry visits.

Some course work is extramural from the Charles Sturt University in Australia, so the 20 hours of structured study a week are matched by around the same amount of time spent in individual study.

Study of the practical skills of modern viticulture include site selection, pruning, canopy management, irrigation, pest and disease identification and control, soil management, vine propagation and vine improvement. Students gain practical experience on vineyards in both the North and South Islands.

The theory studied includes botany, viticulture, chemistry, soil science, wine science, microbiology, statistics, wine evaluation, plant physiology, horticultural engineering, agribusiness and soil management.

Students are assessed on projects and/or assignments, in exercises and by examination.

The course is recognised within the New Zealand winegrowing industry, is NZQA-registered and supported by Charles Sturt University. It also has recognition in Britain.

Cross-credit arrangements with Massey University, Charles Sturt University and the Auckland University of Technology mean graduates can go on to higher degrees from those institutions.

Students are normally required to have passes in three bursary subjects. They also need a good grounding in chemistry, and a background in physics and maths is helpful. The institute has discretion to allow special admissions for applicants who do not meet the criteria but show evidence of an ability to succeed - such as maturity, life experience, work experience or other study.

EIT offers a bridging chemistry programme by correspondence for people who need a refresher.

Student fees are around $3380 a year for the course, which usually has about 20 places. The next intake will be in February and enrolments are accepted up to the starting date of February 16, subject to numbers.

What past students think

Jason Mathers, 32

assistant manager

Dobel Estate

Napier

Graduated 2000


"I grew up in Havelock North, in town. I was travelling and picking bananas in South Africa when I decided I liked working outside. I like the lifestyle.

"I did the course because I wanted to work outside. It wasn't because this is a wine district.

"I liked the extramural work from Charles Sturt University because it gave you time to do it. I could work part-time and earn some cash.

"The course taught me what I need for this job and I'd recommend it. But it could have a bit more on spray programmes - I've had to learn that [on the job]. I've had other jobs before this one - I've been here four months. It's mainly managing staff - up to 30 at harvesting - and vineyard work.

"Other graduates are also in managerial positions around here - it's meant there is a good network among us."

What employers think

Kent Budgen

manager

Dobel Estate

Napier


"The Bachelor of Viticulture is a very beneficial course. We've had quite a lot of former students working here, and the course gives them a good grounding.

"We work closely with EIT, which is definitely valued by the industry.

"Jason is intelligent and he brought a lot of knowledge with him, which has been good.

"It's good that the course is local - local students learn in the local environment.

"Things are different in other areas with different varietals."

The qualification

Bachelor of Viticulture

Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale, Hawkes Bay

Phone: (06) 974-8000