About Postgraduate Diploma In Business Enterprise in Southern Institute of Technology

This programme is designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to start their own business as well as those who want to learn about entrepreneurship, innovation and business enterprise management in an existing business. Students in the programme will not only be focused on creating new business ventures, but will also have a willingness and commitment to learn about new enterprise creation and development from theoretical and research based perspectives. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates are able to work collaboratively and constructively as entrepreneurs with a range of people, situations and locales.  Graduates bring a highly-focused approach to independent investigation and research, and to innovative ideologies and practices.  Graduates have expertise in six key areas of business operation: business enterprise management; entrepreneurship and innovation; marketing for business enterprise operations; financing enterprise; human resource management in innovation; and enterprise information communications technology, which are further advanced through a paper in research methodology and a one-year research dissertation in business enterprise.  Graduates will be able to work as self-employed practitioners, or pursue national and international professional careers with commercial bodies and agencies. 

Satisfactory Completion

Every candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise is required to follow to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies, a programme of study for a minimum period of one and a half years.  The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 186 credits.

Every candidate is required to: Pass six papers totalling 60 credits. Attend the research methodology classes (six credits) and have an approved research proposal. Pass the research dissertation (120 credits).

Application by Academic Qualification

Applicants in this category will have either graduated with a degree or honours degree in any discipline from a New Zealand tertiary institution accredited to offer qualifications at this level, or graduated with a degree from an overseas tertiary institution, deemed by the Faculty of New Media, Arts and Business Board of Studies to be of equivalent standing.

Special Application

Notwithstanding the above application criteria, in exceptional circumstances an applicant who does not hold a prescribed tertiary qualification may be eligible for special application to the programme if he or she can demonstrate knowledge and skills equivalent to a Bachelor level graduate, and can provide evidence of relevant work experience. Applicants seeking entry under this criterion must also be able to demonstrate that they have the aptitude, commitment and personal skills that suggest the likelihood of successful course completion. In some cases the applicant may have to complete an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare students for the required academic standard for entry. 

Additional Criteria

In addition, the following requirements apply to all applicants:

Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation.

Applicants are asked to make a confidential declaration as to whether or not they have prior criminal convictions. They are advised at the time of the request for information that a prior conviction may not necessarily exclude them from applying.

Language Requirements

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate of at least 80 percent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having passed an NZQA approved English Proficiency Assessment, or one of the following tests of English language competence in accordance with the NZQA rules below:

• IELTS test – Academic score of 6.5, with no band score lower than 6
• TOEFL Paper-based test (pBT) – Score of 590 (with an essay score of 5.5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) – Score of 79 (with a writing score of 21)
• University of Cambridge English Examinations – CAE or CPE with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill.
• NZCEL – Level 5 with the Academic endorsement
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PtoE (Academic) score of 58
• City and Guilds IESOL – C1 Expert with a score of 42

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate below 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English must provide evidence that they:

1. Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements or
2. Hold a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America or
3. Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA or
4. Have achieved one of the English Language competence tests  specified  above

Southern Institute of Technology Highlights

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.