Graduate Diploma in Applied Management (Auckland or Central Otago - international students only)

• A bachelor's degree in any discipline OR equivalent skills/experience.
• You may NOT enrol in a major that you have already studied at undergraduate level.  
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure they meet the entry requirements. Click here for equivalent academic entry requirements by country. 

All students (international and domestic) for whom English is not a first language:

• must demonstrate English Language skills with an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 6.0, with no band score lower than 5.5 OR
• must provide acceptable alternative evidence of English language proficiency depending on the visa decline rate of the country you are from. See here for acceptable evidence and visa decline rates by country.

Please note: All scores must be achieved in a single test completed in the preceding two years. You cannot combine scores from multiple tests. If you have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance you are not required to provide evidence of English Language skills. 

You must supply certified copies of proof of identify, academic records and proof of residency (where appropriate).

Eligible applicants will be accepted as received.

You should allow $80-$150 per paper for required text books. This will be approximately $500 per year.

There are two different pathways for completing this programme.

First, you need to choose between the Industry Project option and the Coursework option. The Industry Project has a more significant project focus while the coursework has a more academic focus.

We then recommend that you choose from the following paths of study: Business Transformation and Change, Strategic Management or Business Sustainability. 

Level 6 courses 

Improving Organisational Performance

Learn to contribute to a team which conceptualises, investigates and proposes feasible solutions to improve organisational performance.

Project Management

Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of project management and apply project management skills, tools and techniques, as a project team member or project manager.

Leadership in Action

Develop an understanding of applied concepts and principles of leadership and create a personal development plan to advance their leadership capabilities.

Entrepreneurship

Gain an understanding of the key resources, skills, techniques, attitudes and personal ethics required to operate successfully as an entrepreneur. 

Level 7 courses 

Contemporary Issues in Organisations

Learn how to critically examine, analyse and evaluate contemporary dynamic issues reflected in a specific industry within the last two years.

Organisational Research Design

Develop the ability to conceptualise and scope an investigation in order to research an organisational challenge or opportunity.

Business Transformation and Change

Discover how to participate effectively in situations of change within organisations.

Strategic Management

Learn how to apply critical thinking to strategic concepts and practices in a rapidly changing environment.

Implementing Sustainable Practice

Discover how to lead the evaluation and practical implementation of sustainability approaches to various aspects of organisational processes, procedures, products and planning.

Managing Innovation and Change

Learn how to think creatively and to critically evaluate the challenge of leadership and management needs as a company grows from start up to longevity.

Applied Management Mini Project A

Undertake an advanced project (as an individual or within a group) which focuses in depth on the integration of theory and practice as it applies to a particular aspect of management in an authentic workplace.

Please note: the size of the project will be negotiated with your Applied Management Project Supervisor.

Industry Project

Undertake an advanced project (as an individual or within a group) which focuses in depth on the integration of theory and practice as it applies to a particular aspect of management in an authentic workplace.

Please note: the size of the project will be negotiated with your Applied Management Project Supervisor. 

You may be able to select other courses from our Bachelor of Applied Management on request. 

In Central Otago, the programme is composed of a fixed schedule of study.

Managerial Decision Processes
(Level 6, 15 Credits)

Develop the ability to contribute to a team which conceptualises, investigates and proposes feasible solutions to resolve organisational challenges.

Market Development and Sales
(Level 6, 15 Credits)

Understand and apply:

• the principles and practices of personal selling
• the importance of personal selling to organisational performance
• personal selling and sales people in New Zealand
• competencies needed to successfully manage the sales function, and
• various systems and processes that support it.

Information for Managerial Use
(Level 6, 15 Credits)

Develop the ability to acquire, analyse and use business intelligence, information and data from various reliable sources to aid in managerial decision-making.

Implementing sustainable practice
(Level 7, 15 Credits)

Understand the mechanisms of social change and gain the skills required to implement a social/environmental action.

Organisational Research Design
(15 Credits)

Develop the ability to conceptualise and scope an investigation in order to research an organisational challenge or opportunity.

Contemporary Issues in Organisations
(Level 7, 15 Credits)

Learn how to critically examine, analyse and evaluate contemporary dynamic issues reflected in a specific industry within the last two years.

Industry Project
(Level 7, 45 Credits) 

Your programme of study will generally include lectures and seminars/ tutorials. You will be expected to contribute at least 20 hours per week of your own time in self-directed study to allow for successful completion of the qualification.Your workload

If studying at our Auckland International Campus 

You will be expected to spend about 38 hours per week (or 300 hours per study block) on your course work. This includes both scheduled class time and self-directed study. Some of these hours may be spent in a workplace gaining hands-on experience and developing important industry and business connections.

Progress into higher levels of learning and enhance your employment potential with postgraduate study in Management.  

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful. 

While every effort is made to ensure that this sheet is accurate, Otago Polytechnic reserves the right to amend, alter or withdraw any of the contained information. The fees shown in this document are indicative ONLY. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change and are dependent on the development and implementation of Government policies. Please note that additional fees may from time to time be required for external examination, NZQA fees and/or additional material fees.