Master of Applied Management (Business Management)

This qualification prepares you for further postgraduate study. Alternatively, it also prepares you to advance your career or enhance your own organisation.

Minimum entry requirements are:

• A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related discipline with a grade average at Level 7/8 of B- or higher, OR
• A combination of academic qualifications and relevant skills and knowledge acquired through work or professional experience that is deemed equivalent to the above.
• International applicants must demonstrate that they have equivalent academic qualifications and experience. Click here for your country's equivalent academic entry requirements.  
• 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).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

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 OPAIC Director, Learning and Teaching in Auckland or the Programme Leader in Dunedin who will approve the final selection.

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. Where English proficiency does not meet the required IELTS level, you may pathway to this qualification by completing the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) which is available at Otago Polytechnic.

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.

Your offshore online study journey will begin with an online Orientation. This session will cover introductions to staff, tips for academic success, and wellbeing information, among other things.

All courses offered at OPAIC use Moodle, which is an online learning management system (LMS). The use of the Moodle LMS means that students, no matter where they are, have ready access to all their course content.

All students have access to Microsoft Teams, where you will be able to collaborate with your classmates and work on certain tasks that have been designed by the lecturers.

Students get access to Office 365, including Teams, which they can use as part of their online interaction with lecturers and classmates.

Online students have access to the same services as students on campus. This includes online learning support, which will be available via Microsoft Teams. All online students will also have remote access to our library.

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. For on-campus students, some of these hours may be spent in a workplace gaining hands-on experience and developing important industry and business connections.

The Master of Applied Management has two pathway options. 

1. Professional Project and coursework

Complete the four compulsory courses listed below plus Professional Project (45 credits, Level 9) and five courses at Level 8 and Level 9 (at least two courses must be at Level 9) from the electives list. 

2. Research Thesis

Complete the four compulsory courses listed below plus Research Thesis (120 credits, Level 9). 

The Master of Applied Management has three pathway options. 

1. Coursework

Complete the four compulsory courses listed below plus eight other courses (including at least three Level 9 courses) from the electives list.

2. Professional Project and coursework

Complete the four compulsory courses listed below plus Professional Project (45 credits, Level 9) and five courses at Level 8 and Level 9 (at least two courses must be at Level 9) from the electives list. 

3. Research Thesis

Complete the four compulsory courses listed below plus Research Thesis (120 credits, Level 9). 

Recognition of Prior Learning including cross credit or credit transfer are available for this programme. 

Advanced standing is available for up to 60 credits in this programme through the process of assessment of prior learning. Students may use a combination of formal and informal learning experiences to support their application. 

The following courses are not available for credit recognition:

• AM801002 Capabilities for Managers 
• AM901001 Professional Project 
• AM902001 Research Thesis

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.