Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
Overview
Postgraduate certificates and diplomas develop higher level understanding and specialist skills. These are normally in the same area as your first degree, and in some instances count prior professional experience in the field for entry.
Postgraduate certificates can offer a specialised professional development opportunity. They can also be an ideal first step towards higher study.
Postgraduate diplomas are longer and more in-depth than the postgraduate certificate and many allow you to undertake an independent project or research.
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury offers a wide variety of postgraduate certificates and diplomas:
Certificates
- Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate in Architectural Engineering
- Postgraduate Certificate in Arts
- Postgraduate Certificate in Business
- Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Engineering
- Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Teaching
- Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Humanities
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering
- Postgraduate Certificate in Geospatial Science and Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate in Information Systems and Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Leadership
- Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care
- Postgraduate Certificate in Product Design
- Postgraduate Certificate in Product Innovation
- Postgraduate Certificate in Science
- Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Teaching
- Postgraduate Certificate in Sport Science
- Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership
- Postgraduate Certificate in Te Reo Māori
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching
- Postgraduate Certificate in Translation and Interpreting
- Postgraduate Certificate in Youth and Community Leadership
Diplomas
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Art Curatorship
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Information Systems
- Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts
- Postgraduate Diploma in Forestry
- Postgraduate Diploma in Geospatial Science and Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences
- Postgraduate Diploma in Hōaka Pounamu | Māori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching
- Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems and Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Te Reo Māori
- Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting
- Postgraduate Diploma in Water Resource Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Leadership
Admission to both postgraduate certificates and diplomas are based on previous studies in a relevant bachelor’s degree, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered to be equivalent. Some of the programmes will consider relevant professional practice as fulfilling this entry requirement. If you gained your qualifications or experience overseas, these will need to be assessed to make sure they are of an equivalent standard.
The primary basis for selection is on your Grade Point Average in your bachelor's degree and your ability to complete postgraduate study, however consideration may also be given to other factors, such as relevant work experience. A good indication of your readiness for postgraduate-level study is the achievement of B grades or better in your final-year undergraduate courses.
Admission is at the discretion of the school or department and additional requirements for entry apply. See the individual requirements for the programme you’re interested in to make sure you meet entry criteria.
You are also required to meet UC’s English language requirements if English is your additional language.
Find out how to apply for postgraduate qualifications.
Postgraduate certificates require 60 points of study and can typically be completed in six months of full-time study or part-time up to two years or more. Credit is usually transferrable to a postgraduate diploma.
Postgraduate diplomas can typically be completed in one year of full-time study or part-time up to two years or more. Some postgraduate diplomas in professional fields, for example teaching and health sciences, can be completed through distance learning, allowing practising workers to upgrade or extend their existing qualifications with minimal on-campus time.
Coursework completed as part of the postgraduate diploma can usually be transferred to a master’s degree.
Postgraduate certificate courses in most cases form part of a postgraduate diploma in the same area. Postgraduate diplomas in turn usually form part of a master’s degree. Check with your school or department Postgraduate Coordinator early to make sure you understand the pathways available to you.
If you have fallen short of the full requirements for direct admission to a master’s degree, a postgraduate diploma can often be used as a stepping stone to prove your academic readiness for research study. Conditional admission to some master’s degrees may be granted on successful completion of a postgraduate diploma. Talk to your Postgraduate Coordinator to determine if this option might be right for you.
UC offers a wide range of higher postgraduate degrees:
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information