Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management
A perfect start for you if you want to improve your ability, skills and confidence in management. You will gain knowledge to manage complex organisations and conduct research for small-scale professional projects, and match your learning with the employment opportunities you want. This programme could also lead into our advanced postgraduate qualifications.
Domestic
About the programme
The demand for management roles is expected to grow quickly over the next ten years.
There is also an increasing demand for people within these roles to hold higher level qualifications. So, a postgraduate qualification will give you a competitive advantage.
This programme will improve your management ability with course options such as Project Management, Analytics for Managers and Financial Decision Making. You begin with two compulsory courses - Capabilities for Managers, and Research and Enquiry - and then choose another two electives.
The flexibility of this qualification allows you to match your learning with particular employment opportunities you may have identified.
Studying part-time
We know full-time study isn't always possible. We offer this programme with part-time options - talk to us about what would suit you best!
International
Auckland (international students only)
April
July
October
About the programme
The demand for management roles is expected to grow quickly over the next ten years.
There is also an increasing demand for people within these roles to hold higher level qualifications. So, a postgraduate qualification will give you a competitive advantage.
This programme will improve your management ability with course options such as Project Management, Analytics for Managers and Financial Decision Making. You begin with two compulsory courses - Capabilities for Managers, and Research and Enquiry - and then choose another two electives.
The flexibility of this qualification allows you to match your learning with particular employment opportunities you may have identified.
Delivery and start dates
This programme has two different delivery options.
In Auckland, this programme is offered on campus by Future Skills Academy due to a sub-contract arrangement with Otago Polytechnic. It has intakes in February, April July and October.
At our Dunedin Campus, this programme has an intake in February.
What You Study
Courses (for Dunedin programme)
The programme includes four 15-credit courses. You will study two compulsory courses - Capabilities for Managers and Research and Enquiry - and then two elective courses chosen from the list below.
Compulsory
| Course name | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Capabilities for Managers |
15 |
Gain a critical awareness of the skills needed to manage complex organisations. |
|
Research and Enquiry |
15 |
Achieve the skills you need to undertake small-scale professional projects within organisations. |
Electives
| Elective name | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Financial Decision Making |
15
|
Learn how to apply the concepts, theory and analytical techniques of finance to investment, financing and dividend decisions of a firm. |
|
Project Management |
15 |
Learn how to develop critical analysis and application skills in project management. |
|
Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
15 |
Learn how to analyse the processes associated with managing entrepreneurship and innovation within both new ventures and existing firms and to assess the significant issues associated with utilising these managerial concepts to optimise organisational performance. |
|
Managing Change and Adversity |
15 |
Critically analyse the processes associated with achieving organisational growth, effective management of change and the implementation of actions to respond to adversity, including how iwi/Māori organisations have managed post-settlement growth. |
|
Applied Human Resource Management |
15 |
Gain the skills needed for management of human resources within contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand organisations. |
Courses (for Auckland)
The programme includes four 15-credit courses. You will study two compulsory courses - Capabilities for Managers and Research and Enquiry - and then two elective courses chosen from the list below.
Compulsory
| Course name | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Capabilities for Managers |
15 |
Gain a critical awareness of the skills needed to manage complex organisations. |
| Research and Enquiry | 15 |
Achieve the skills you need to undertake small-scale professional projects within organisations. |
Electives
| Elective name | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Financial Decision Making |
15 |
Learn how to apply the concepts, theory and analytical techniques of finance to investment, financing and dividend decisions of a firm. |
|
Project Management |
15 |
Learn how to develop critical analysis and application skills in project management. |
|
Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
15 |
Learn how to analyse the processes associated with managing entrepreneurship and innovation within both new ventures and existing firms and to assess the significant issues associated with utilising these managerial concepts to optimise organisational performance. |
|
Managing for Sustainability |
15 |
Develop your sustainable practice capabilities and apply these capabilities to a variety of applied settings as a sustainable practice manager. |
|
Marketing in a Digital Age |
15 |
Gain the marketing management capabilities necessary to organise and manage for growth and profitability in a digital age. |
|
Business Solutions Architecture |
15 |
Become equipped with an in-depth understanding of the concepts and procedures used in enterprise analysis, design, planning, and implementation, for the successful development and execution of organisational strategy. |
|
Information Security |
15 |
Assess the implications of information security and cybercrime trends, and evaluate security technologies and procedures in order to design appropriate information security structures for organisations. |
|
Interaction Design |
15 |
Define the structure and behaviour of interactive products and services. |
|
Software Engineering Methodologies |
15 |
Apply structured and agile software development principles, and learn how to negotiate between them in different contexts. |
|
Software Quality Assurance |
15 |
Learn how to investigate, critically evaluate, recommend and apply software quality assurance programmes in organisations. |
|
Analytics for Managers |
15 |
Achieve the skills needed to critically evaluate data for decision making within applied management. |
|
Applied Human Resource Management |
15 |
Gain the skills needed for management of human resources within contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand organisations |
Further study options
This qualification will prepare you for further postgraduate study at Otago Polytechnic where you can specialise in either Business Management or Business Information Systems.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management (Business Management)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management (Business Information Systems)
- Master of Applied Management (Business Management)
- Master of Applied Management (Business Information Systems)
Alternatively, you could seek employment in a management-related role.
Workload
Your workload
It is expected that you will study for 37.5 hours per week, including a minimum of 8 hours per week in structured direct learning, some hours in an applied workplace or learning environment and up to 27 hours per week in self-directed study.
Studying on campus
You'll learn using an online learning platform called Moodle. This means that, no matter where you are, you have easy access to all your course content. You also have access to Office 365, including Microsoft Teams, which you can use as part of your interaction with lecturers and classmates.
Entry
Entry requirements
Minimum academic entry requirements are:
- A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related discipline, OR
- A combination of academic qualifications and relevant skills and knowledge acquired through work or professional experience that is deemed equivalent to the above.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
Selection criteria
Where there are more applicants than places available, applicants will be selected on the basis of the best academic records and their admission recommended to the AIC Director (Learning and Teaching) in Auckland or Programme Leader in Dunedin who will approve the final selection.
Pathways into this programme
You may have completed an undergraduate degree in a different discipline and be working in a management role. There are no specific foundation/bridging programmes in Applied Management for this qualification.
If you need to improve your English to apply for this programme, you could apply for the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5) which we offer at our Auckland International Campus.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning including cross-credit or credit transfer is available for up to 45 credits in this programme.
AM801002 Capabilities for Managers is not available for credit recognition.
Advanced standing is not available for this programme.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Tuition fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied.
Studylink
Domestic full-time students can apply for a student loan through Studylink.
Some support may be available for domestic part-time students if this programme offers a part-time study option.
Apply at the same time as you apply for your course (you can withdraw your application anytime).
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
The international tuition fee does not include your Student Levy. This will be calculated when you enrol with us.
Click below to find out more about the Student Levy costs and services provided.
Fees Free
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.
For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.
Study Grants for international students
We have a range of Study Grants to support our international students.
