Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management (Business Management)

Location

Auckland

This programme is also offered at our Dunedin Campus. Visit op.ac.nz for programme details.

Duration

One year full-time

Delivery

  • On campus in Auckland with face-to-face learning

Credits

120

DescLevel

120

Intakes

February, April, July and October

Apply

Now

    Study breaks content

  • Location
    Intake
    Study breaks
  • Auckland International Campus
    5 February 2024
    24 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
    8 April 2024 - 19 April 2024
    23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
  • Auckland International Campus
    5 February 2024
    24 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
    8 April 2024 - 19 April 2024
    23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
  • Auckland International Campus
    22 April 2024
    23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
    24 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
    9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
  • Auckland International Campus
    22 July 2024
    9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
    23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
    14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
  • Auckland International Campus
    7 October 2024
    14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
    9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
    30 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
  • Dunedin
    26 February 2024
    1 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
    15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
    30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
  • Dunedin
    22 July 2024
  • Auckland International Campus
    10 February 2025
    30 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
    14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
    29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
  • Auckland International Campus
    28 April 2025
    29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
    30 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
    15 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
  • Auckland International Campus
    28 July 2025
    15 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
    29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
    13 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
  • Auckland International Campus
    13 October 2025
    13 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
    15 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
    29 June 2026 - 24 July 2026
  • Dunedin
    17 February 2025
    30 June 2025 - 11 July 2025
    14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
    22 September 2025 - 3 October 2025

Management occupations are projected to grow rapidly over the next ten years leading to an increasing need for management professionals. 

There is also an increasing demand for those professionals to hold higher level qualifications. Applicants for these roles are therefore at a considerable advantage with a postgraduate qualification and there is a strong emphasis within this programme on application of knowledge and development capabilities in business management or business information systems. 

Flexibility within this qualification will also enable aspirations to be matched/targeted to specific employment opportunities.  

Learners will extend and deepen their knowledge and understanding of current management capabilities and issues in a range of applied settings through experiential learning strategies and reflective practice. 

In Auckland, this programme is offered by Future Skills Academy due to a sub-contract arrangement with Otago Polytechnic.

Career or further study options

This qualification will prepare you for further postgraduate study in the Master of Applied Management (Business Management). Alternatively, you could seek employment in a business management or business information systems-related role. 

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.
  • 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:

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

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

Pathways into this programme 

Students 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, students may pathway to this qualification by completing the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) which is available at Otago Polytechnic.

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.

Your workload 

You will be expected to spend about 300 hours per study block on your course work. This includes both scheduled class time and self-directed study. For on-campus student, some of these hours may be spent in a workplace gaining hands-on experience and developing important industry and business connections.

You will study

This programme comprises four compulsory 15-credit courses, plus electives totalling 60 credits (at Level 8 or 9) from the elective list below. 

COMPULSORY    
Course name Course description Credits

Capabilities for Managers

Gain a critical awareness of the skills needed to manage complex organisations

15

Research and Enquiry 

Achieve the skills you need to undertake small-scale professional projects within organisations

15

Analytics for Managers 

Achieve the skills needed to critically evaluate data for decision making within applied management

15

Project Management

Learn how to develop critical analysis and application skills in project management 

15

ELECTIVES    
Elective name Description Credits

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

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

15

Managing for Sustainability 

Develop your sustainable practice capabilities and apply these capabilities to a variety of applied settings as a sustainable practice manager

15

Marketing in a Digital Age 

Gain the marketing management capabilities necessary to organise and manage for growth and profitability in a digital age

15

Financial Decision Making

Learn how to apply the concepts, theory and analytical techniques of finance to investment, financing and dividend decisions of a firm

15

Applied Human Resource Management

Gain the skills needed for management of human resources within contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand organisations

15

Management of Information Systems

To enable students to understand how information systems should be managed in order to assist in the achievement of the strategic goals of organisations

15

Professional Project

Apply the skills and knowledge you have gained during the programme to complete an applied professional project that contributes to professional practice in management within your chosen major

45

Cross-cultural Management

Develop capabilities to evaluate the issues that arise in the leadership of organisations when managers address culturally determined differences in employee values, attitudes and behaviours

15

Corporate Governance and Leadership

Evaluate complex corporate governance and leadership challenges in the context of different ownership structures. This will include governance and leadership models in the context of indigenous organisations and the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi

15

Managing Change and Adversity 

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

15

Recognition of Prior Learning 

Recognition of Prior Learning including cross credit or credit transfer is offered for up to 60 credits in 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. 

AM801002 Capabilities for Managers is not available for credit recognition. 

Intakes:

Course Description Dates
25-AIC-01 Auckland International Campus 10 Feb 2025
25-DUN-FY Dunedin 17 February 2025
25-AIC-02 Auckland International Campus 28 Apr 2025
25-AIC-03 Auckland International Campus 28 Jul 2025
25-AIC-04 Auckland International Campus 13 Oct 2025