Graduate certificates and diplomas
Overview
Graduate qualifications allow you to change subject focus, either within your first degree area or in a completely different area. This can enhance the value of your undergraduate degree, or be a first step to a new career or further study.
Graduate studies typically involve taking advanced undergraduate courses (from 100 to 300-level).
The following graduate qualifications are offered at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury:
- Graduate Certificate in Sport Coaching
- Graduate Diploma in Arts
- Graduate Diploma in Commerce
- Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice
- Graduate Diploma in Journalism
- Graduate Diploma in Māori Language and Pedagogies: Aumiri Pounamu
- Graduate Diploma in Science
- Graduate Diploma in Strategic Communication
- Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood)
- Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary or Secondary)
Entry for graduate certificates and diplomas requires previous studies in a bachelor’s degree, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered to be equivalent. If you gained your qualifications overseas, these will need to be assessed to make sure they are of an equivalent standard.
Some graduate certificates and diplomas have additional requirements. Check the details of your selected qualification to make sure you meet these.
You are also required to meet UC’s English language requirements if English is your additional language.
Find out how to apply for graduate qualifications.
Graduate certificates require 60 points of study and can typically be completed in six months of full-time study or part-time over two years. Credit may often be transferred a graduate diploma.
Graduate diplomas require 120 points of study and can normally be completed in one year of full-time study or part-time over up to four years. Some programmes allow for a longer period of part-time study.
These programmes are generally comprised of both undergraduate and dedicated graduate-level courses.
Successful completion of a graduate certificate will allow you to continue on to graduate diploma study.
Transition from graduate diplomas to other postgraduate degrees varies considerably between the different qualifications. If you think you might be interested in postgraduate study after your diploma, talk to your Postgraduate Coordinator to understand your options.
UC offers a wide range of postgraduate degrees:
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2021 | 120 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,281 - $7,281 |
| 2021 | 120 | Data Science; Ethics; Linguistics; Philosophy (Band 1) | $6,281 |
| 2021 | 120 | Economics; Finance (Band 2) | $6,648 |
| 2021 | 120 | Computer Science; Geography; Psychology (Band 3) | $7,015 |
| 2021 | 120 | Astronomy; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Geology; Medicinal Chemistry; Physics (Band 4) | $7,281 |
| 2021 | 120 | Mathematics; Statistics (Band 9) | $6,306 |
| 2022 | 120 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,388 - $7,405 |
| 2022 | 120 | Data Science; Ethics; Linguistics; Philosophy (Band 1) | $6,388 |
| 2022 | 120 | Economics; Finance (Band 2) | $6,761 |
| 2022 | 120 | Computer Science; Geography; Psychology (Band 3) | $7,134 |
| 2022 | 120 | Astronomy; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Geology; Medicinal Chemistry; Physics (Band 4) | $7,405 |
| 2022 | 120 | Mathematics; Statistics (Band 9) | $6,413 |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) | Fees (NZD) Excl GST |
| 2020 | 120 | Special (Set) Programme Fee | $34,000 | |
| 2021 | 120 | Special (Set) Programme Fee | $35,500 | $30,870 |
| 2022 | 120 | Special (Set) Programme Fee | $36,500 | $31,739 |
