Graduate Diploma in Applied Management - Auckland or Central Otago delivery

• 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.

You will study three papers at level 6, including two compulsory papers and one elective, and three papers at level 7, including one compuslory paper and two electives.

Level 6 - Compulsory papers

Applied Management

Students will develop competency through applying management concepts.

Research Methodology

To introduce students to the key analytical tools used within business and the implications for managerial decisions. Students will learn to apply appropriate research methodologies to identify and solve a business related problem.

Level 6 - Elective papers (choose one)

Entrepreneurship

Students will acquire a broad overview of the principles, theories and practice of entrepreneurship and analyse the significance of entrepreneurial activity to economic well-being. They will explore the key resources, skills, techniques, attitudes and ethics required to operate successfully in an entrepreneurial environment. Students will also examine the role of governments and other regulatory bodies in fostering entrepreneurial activity.

Market Development and Sales

To enable students to 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.

Accounting Practices (this is a Level 5 paper)

Students will record and process financial transactions and prepare financial statements and cash budgets for entities in accordance with current accounting practices.

Services Marketing Management

Students will understand the roles, functions and application of services marketing management within contemporary New Zealand organisations. They will explore the key resources, skills, techniques, attitudes and ethics required to operate successfully in a range of service environments.

Principles of Leadership

Study leadership concepts and apply principles of leadership. Students will create a personal plan to develop leadership capabilities.

Human Resources

Learn about the roles, functions and application of human resource management within contemporary New Zealand organisations. Among other things, you will create an effective recruitment and selection strategy, develop a formal induction programme, and learn about performance and rewards management. 

Event Planning and Management

This fast-paced industry requires vibrant, organised and dedicated people and there is a growing demand for qualified event management practitioners both here and overseas. Careers exist in event planning and management, conference management, sponsorship and fundraising, and the hospitality and entertainment industries. Study courses such as Event Marketing and Sponsorship and Project Management.

Level 7 - Compulsory paper

Industry Project (The workload of this paper is equivalent to that of three papers)

You will also complete a 200-hour industry project, gaining hands-on experience and developing important industry and business connections. For this project, you may focus on an area of specific interest to you such as strategic management, human resource management, sales and marketing or hotel and tourism management.

Level 7 - Elective papers (choose any two)

Strategic Management

Focus on the strategic nature of business management through an applied approach. Ideal if you wish to develop a portable set of management experiences applicable to a wide range of industries. Study courses such as Services Marketing Management and Business and Society.

Business Transformation and Change

Build your knowledge of business/ performance excellence concepts and issues, acquire practical skills in processes and tools for improvement, and explore how they can be applied effectively within real-world contexts. Study courses such as Principles of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour.

Implementing Sustainable Practice

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

International Marketing

Gain an understanding of marketing from an international perspective. Learn about how increased access to new markets increases opportunities and threats that marketers face in the gloabl context. Understand cultural issues and learn to communicate effectively to different target audiences. Examine a range of case studies from varied countries to analyse trends and marketing issues in an international context and see theoretical frameworks and theories in action.

Managing for Growth

Learn to critically evaluate the challenges of managing chnage in organisations that aspire to pursue high growth, innovation, globalisation and/or entrepreneurial strategies. Understand key concepts including the impact and imprint of the owner/key executive on the company, and the development of cross-functional systems that lead to sustainable growth.

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

Managerial Decision Processes (CX663611 Level 6 - 15 Credits)
This course will develop learners to be able to contribute to a team, which conceptualises, investigates and proposes feasible solutions to resolve organisational challenges.

Market Development and Sales (CX66012 Level 6 - 15 Credits)
To enable students to 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 (CX660021 Level 6 - 15 Credits)
The purpose of this course is to develop learners who are able to acquire, analyse and use business intelligence, information and data from various reliable sources to aid in managerial decision-making.

Implementing sustainable practice (CX770027B Level 7 - 15 Credits)
Understand the mechanisms of social change, and gain action competence skills required to implement a social/environmental action.

Contemporary Issues in Organisations (CX700401 Level 7 - 15 Credits)
To critically examine, analyse and evaluate contemporary dynamic issues reflected in a specific industry within the last two years.

Industry Project (CX770011 Level 7 - 45 Credits)

Total 120 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.

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.