It is one of New Zealand's largest institutions of technology, with 12,579 enrolees in 2021, contributing to a total of 4,768 Equivalent Full-Time students (EFTs), 3,989 domestic, 933 International.

The scheme, which is open to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, sees students save thousands of dollars on the cost of their tertiary education.

[2] SIT offers over 200 programs in a range of academic, technical, and professional subjects at postgraduate, graduate, bachelor, diploma, and certificate levels.

SIT Downtown is situated in the centre of Invercargill's business district and is home to new media and arts programs.

In 2012, SIT completed a NZ$5.5 million redevelopment of the trades and technology teaching and learning areas which included a new Industry Training Center.

The Queenstown campus operates from a new facility in the Remarkables Park retail and commercial development area in Frankton.

The campus offers business, administration, computing, hospitality, tourism, sports, beauty therapy, and hairdressing programs.

The campus offers specialised training in a number of areas including carpentry, electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning, roofing, automotive, sports, and mental health support.

The Telford (Balclutha) campus extends over 921 hectares of farmland with halls of residence and facilities, technical workshops (machinery, carpentry, and welding), classrooms, and livestock units.

MAINZ offers a range of programs designed with the music industry in mind including Music Performance, Audio Engineering/Production, DJ, and Event Management In 2003, two years after the launch of the Zero Fees Scheme, SIT launched its flexible mixed-mode delivery (or distance education) faculty, SIT2LRN.

Initially, SIT offered just one academic qualification – a Diploma in Tourism and Hotel Management – and attracted an online student body of just 22.

[7] The Zero Fees Scheme delivers significant savings for students who study at SIT compared with other tertiary institutions.

The scheme saw community funders contribute $7.2 million over three years to effectively pay students’ tuition fees.

The Vault Café is used as a real-life training environment where students prepare and present food and coffee to the public on a regular basis throughout the year.

SIT runs an applied research program designed to support the development of its community and New Zealand industry.

This includes the provision of weekly music and drama performances in the theatre by SIT students, and the annual Kids’ Concert for approximately 2,500 children.

SIT's international strategy was adopted as an explicit attempt to address labour shortages in Southland.