Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management

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Locations and dates

Nelson:

23 February 2026

20 July 2026
Length

Full time: 17 teaching weeks plus 2 weeks of study break. Online part-time options available onshore or offshore.
Total credits

60
Fees

2025: $4,264 plus $132 Student Services Levy

A Compulsory Student Services Levy applies (2025; $2.17 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.
National qualification code

3786

Get started with postgraduate study to propel your career!

Medium 2 Column 1470x980px Cert Applied Management

Enhance your applied management skills with our Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management. This programme comprises four advanced management courses designed to provide an in-depth focus on key aspects of management. You’ll explore emerging trends, implement effective business strategies with a user-centred approach, and harness technology-informed management techniques. Additionally, you'll develop the skills needed to manage talent and foster a strong organisational culture.

The aim of this programme is to provide the opportunity for learners to build a sound foundation of applied management skills and knowledge relevant to anyone in a managerial role, whether they are self-employed, or working for a business entity or a public, private or not-for-profit organisation. These advanced management courses are designed to give you broad expertise in applied management and are recommended for people who are currently working in a management role and want to increase their skills.

Effective management addresses the needs of people, processes, and technology. NMIT leads the way by embedding essential employable skills in its curriculum, including advanced communication, collaboration, intellectual analysis, and critical thinking.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management is part of the advanced management courses of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management and Master of Applied Management. Once completed, graduates can then enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma and/or Master of Applied Management in a scaffolding programme of study

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor’s degree

Relevant skills and knowledge acquired through appropriate work or professional experience.

Alternative requirements

Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic entry requirements, but who can demonstrate acquired skills for postgraduate tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternative entry by the Curriculum Manager (or delegate)

English language requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants will need to provide a result from a test or qualification listed as an acceptable alternative by NZQA English Proficiency Outcomes(external link)

IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.0 in each band),

Note: Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, may contact NMIT for an assessment

Interview

Applicants may be interviewed to assess their suitability for the programme.

Programme structure

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management is completed over one semester full time or long for part time and requires the completion of 60 credits of advanced management courses.  

Advanced Management Course

Compulsory 60 credits

MGT801 Critical Issues in Management 
MGT802 Design Thinking and Innovative Entrepreneurship 
MGT803 Managing in a Digital World 
MGT804 Leadership and Managing Talent

Study pathway

The Postgraduate Certificate is the advanced management courses of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management and Master of Applied management.

Students can choose to enrol in the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Management and progress to either the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management or Master of Applied Management. This pathway is best done part time to ensure the correct sequence of courses.

We pride ourselves on the applied nature of our programmes, with teamwork and peer learning being key to embedding the transferable skills you will learn with us. We encourage you to talk to us early about goals of further study so we can develop a study plan with you.

Classes and study hours

This programme is delivered following the 17-week semester model. Each semester, learners complete up to 60 credits of courses. Please note that 60 credits per semester is required to be a full-time learner, if you are enrolled in 1-3 courses a semester you are a part time learner.

When will I attend class? 

A student can expect to attend one, two-hour class each week per course on campus. These classes run between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. 

As a full-time learner (4 courses), you will attend 8 hours of classes per week on campus.

If you wish to be a part time learner we recommend 1 course per semester, this would require 2 hours on campus for a class per week.

In addition to these classes you will have optional regular academic and research workshops to support you learning.

How much time do I need to spend studying each semester? 

As a general indication, for each level 8 (15 credit) course, you can expect 150 total learning hours per semester.

30 hours of teaching in a classroom environment 
120 self-directed learning (averaging 7 - 8 hours per week) working through course material and assignments outside of class time using Moodle

Thus, for each 15-credit course, each week, a student can expect 10 hours of study (comprised of 2 hours of classroom teaching and 8 hours of self-directed learning). For a full-time study with 4 courses in a semester, this means 8 hours of face-to-face classroom teaching and 32 hours of self-directed learning per week, for a total of 40 hours.

Required learning tools and skills

You will need to have a laptop or desktop (a laptop is preferred because it is easier to bring to campus) and your preferred method for taking notes in class. You will also require regular access to the internet for self-study activities in addition to the student Wi-Fi on campus.

Every course has a dedicated Moodle page, our education online platform, where learners can access resources and assessment instruction, submit assessments, and communicate with their tutor via forums. Learners also have access to Office365 and the NMIT library catalogue (print, ebooks, research databases).

As a Postgraduate learner, you will be required to use APA7 referencing, navigate research databases, and academic writing. Our Library Learner Services regularly run workshops throughout the programme to support learners in developing and refining these skills in preparation for the thesis.

Learners will also be required to read widely in academic texts and articles to complete assessments. Our Library Learner Services can help learners develop research reading techniques to efficiently read large volumes of academic texts.

Advanced management courses

Our advanced management courses at level 8 will give you versatility in navigating dynamic roles and business environments and prepare you for future study. These courses are compulsory.

Courses in Master programme:
MGT801 Critical Issues in Management (15 credits) Learners will examine emerging trends and confidently debate complex and current managerial issues while seeing them from different perspectives and facilitating an understanding of the interests/priorities of various stakeholders.
Key challenges in 21st-century management, including Treaty of Waitangi implications for businesses and organisations Influence of globalisation, technology development, demographic and climate changes on management in international and national contexts	Detect important trends in the economy, market, and customer needs, wants, and preferences. Controversies and dilemmas of contemporary management thinking and practice.
MGT802 Design Thinking and Innovative Entrepreneurship (15 credits) In this course, learners will integrate innovation and design thinking into a multidisciplinary decision-making process and employ business strategies with an effective user-centred approach. They will develop products and services within the context of challenges such as inclusion, sustainability, diversity, and the drive to create successful and meaningful organisations.
Fundamentals of innovation and design thinking to improve business and organisational performance. Framework for building an environment that fosters innovation and creativity Improving innovation in new ideas, business models, and processes	Tools, such as visualisation, mapping, and storytelling, to create innovative solutions. Design thinking process and its phases within entrepreneurialism.
MGT803 Managing in a Digital World (15 credits) Learners will be able to operate effectively with technology-informed management. Learners will be assisted in formulating new opportunities and strategies, process innovation, and in applying various digital tools to improve management in marketing and communication.
Digitally capable managers and their emerging skills Technology-based communication New markets and online business opportunities/challenges	Digital marketing and its core components Internet and its impact on management Big data and working with information Outsourcing and offshoring
MGT804 Leadership and Managing Talent (15 credits) Learners can manage people, organisations, and themselves to build sustainable competitive advantage for selected business/professional practices. They will develop skills to manage talent effectively and to create a positive organisational culture. They will also implement systems to support the cultural relevance and ethical and sustainable achievement of organisational goals in line with their values, vision and mission.
Indicative Curriculum: Personal and organisational performance that supports long-term sustainability. Aligning personal objectives with the needs of an organisation and its cultural relevance. Talent identification, talent assessment, talent development	Leadership based on values and leading by example. Management via coaching, mentoring and facilitating development. Processes and systems enabling sustainable development within organisations.

Graduate outcomes

A graduate of the Postgraduate Certificate of Applied Management will be well prepared to contribute to the effectiveness of an organisation through the application of advanced specialised knowledge, skills, problem-solving ability, critical awareness and research capability.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

Apply advanced knowledge of management issues and design solutions for a contemporary environment or a range of environments.
Employ innovative management approaches and leadership in complex contexts.
Apply advanced knowledge of management to problem solving.
Engage in rigorous analysis and critical thinking about complex management issues across a wide range of sectors, industry areas, businesses and organisations.

Career opportunities

Graduates will find career opportunities in a wide variety of sectors including the public, private and not for profit sectors.  This includes managerial responsibilities and leadership roles in whether they are self-employed or working for a business entity or a public, private or not for profit organisation. Research-related roles including consultancy and advisory positions in a wide range of business and industry-specialised areas both domestically and internationally.

Potential roles after graduation include:

Trainer
Business Analyst
Project Manager
Management Consultant
Retail Manager
Supply Chain Coordinator
Office Manager
Operations Coordinator

Recognition of Academic Credit (RAC)

Evidence of previous study or extensive work experience can be used to apply for recognition of academic credit (RAC), also known as Recognition of prior Learning (RPL) or Cross credit (CC) potentially allowing you to skip courses which you can show you hold the required skills and knowledge for already.

If you think you may be eligible for Recognition of Academic Credit (RAC), contact us about making an appointment to discuss this with our Student Learning Advisor. It is useful to bring along documentation such as:

Previous academic transcripts
Course Descriptors or Syllabus, including Learning Outcomes
Curriculum vitae and work history

The Student Learning Advisor will help you assess your eligibility for Recognition of Academic Credit, and advise you on what further evidence you may need to provide and fees. It is recommended the RAC processes is started a minimum of eight weeks prior to the course start date to ensure time for assessment and processing.

Find out more about the NMIT Policies and Procedures(external link) around Recognition of Academic Credit.

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