The New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3) targets ESL (English as a Second Language) learners who intend to participate in further mainstream education in New Zealand. The programme aims to provide learners with the language skills and knowledge necessary to communicate in a range of academic situations, in order to succeed in further academic programmes from the National Qualifications Framework (Level 4 or above).

The course is equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) low B2.

The programme will focus on the development of the four language skills — reading, writing, speaking, and listening — in an academic context. Each of these skills will be taught and developed in conjunction with each other, along with the learning of lexical and grammatical structures.

Lessons are delivered in a face-to-face classroom environment and incorporate a wide range of methods, including role plays, educational outings, individual, pair and group work, discussion, games, project-based learning, task-based learning, and media-based learning.

This programme leads on to the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4).