The Bachelor of Commerce (Sustainability) at Lincoln University is a 3-year undergraduate commerce degree that combines business and commercial knowledge with environmental, social and economic sustainability. The programme is particularly focused on sustainability in a land-based context and on helping students understand how commercial decisions can protect resources, support people and communities, and create sustainable economic value. Lincoln describes it as a highly prescribed programme, so following the recommended course sequence is important.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Combines commerce and business education with sustainability and environmental perspectives.
• Focuses on the interaction between people, planet and profit.
• Develops knowledge of sustainable commercial activity and value creation.
• Provides a land-focused approach to sustainability, reflecting Lincoln University's specialist land-based focus.
• Develops skills for analysing and reporting the sustainability performance of organisations.
• Covers environmental, social, economic and cultural dimensions of sustainability.
• Includes a bicultural Aotearoa New Zealand perspective.
• Helps students understand how technology, planning and control systems can support sustainable operations.
• Develops the ability to design and support sustainability initiatives at local, national and global levels.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree is highly prescribed and Lincoln recommends starting in Semester 1 so that students can obtain the necessary prerequisites and complete the degree within three years.

Year 1 – Semester 1

• LINC 101 – Land, People and Economies – 15 credits
• ECON 113 – Economies and Markets – 15 credits
• BMGT 116 – Principles of Management – 15 credits
• MGMT 103 – Primary Industry Systems – 15 credits

Year 1 – Semester 2

• COMM 111 – Introductory Statistics – 15 credits
• ERST 201 – Environmental Analysis – 15 credits
• MKTG 115 – Principles of Marketing – 15 credits
• ECOL 103 – Ecology I: New Zealand Ecology and Conservation – 15 credits.

Year 2 – Semester 1

• MAST 104 – Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) – 15 credits
• COMM 112 – Financial Information for Business – 15 credits
• Elective – 15 credits
• Elective – 15 credits

Year 2 – Semester 2

• LINC 201 – Sustainable Futures – 15 credits
• MGMT 203 – Agricultural Systems and Sustainability – 15 credits
• WATR 201 – Freshwater Resources – 15 credits
• COMM 204 – Sustainability Analysis and Actions – 15 credits.

Year 3 – Semester 1

• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability – 15 credits
• LWST 302 – Resource Management Law – 15 credits
• COMM 302 – Sustainability Analysis and Reporting – 15 credits
• BCom (Sustainability) Elective A – 15 credits

Year 3 – Semester 2

• MAST 319 – Te Kaitiakitaka (M?ori Environmental Management) – 15 credits
• BCom (Sustainability) Elective A – 15 credits
• BCom (Sustainability) Elective B – 15 credits
• Elective – 15 credits.

Sustainability Electives

BCom (Sustainability) Elective A requires at least one of:

• ERST 330 – Risk and Resilience – 15 credits
• ERST 340 – Environmental Planning – 15 credits
• ERST 302 – Environmental Policy – 15 credits.

BCom (Sustainability) Elective B requires at least one of:

• ECOL 309 – AgroEcology – 15 credits
• ENSC 301 – Climate Change and Land Use – 15 credits. 

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme's principal specialisation is Sustainability within the Bachelor of Commerce.

The curriculum combines:

• Commerce and business
• Sustainability
• Environmental analysis
• Ecology and conservation
• Agricultural systems
• Freshwater resources
• Resource management
• Sustainability analysis and reporting
• Environmental planning
• Environmental policy
• Risk and resilience
• Agroecology
• Climate change and land use
• Maori environmental management. 

 

Programme Highlights

• 3-year full-time bachelor's degree.
• 360-credit qualification.
• Dedicated Sustainability major.
• Strong combination of business and sustainability.
• Land-focused approach to commercial sustainability.
• Integration of environmental, social and economic sustainability.
• Aotearoa New Zealand bicultural perspective.
• Sustainability analysis and reporting.
• Resource management law.
• Agricultural systems and sustainability.
• Freshwater-resource knowledge.
• M?ori environmental management.
• Elective opportunities in environmental planning, environmental policy, risk and resilience, agroecology and climate change.
• Development of commercial, analytical, planning and sustainability-management skills.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that graduates will be positioned for emerging sustainability roles across sectors, particularly in land-related organisations.

Potential career areas include:

• Sustainability management
• Sustainability analysis
• Sustainability reporting
• Environmental planning
• Environmental policy
• Sustainable business operations
• Resource management
• Corporate sustainability
• Sustainability consulting
• Land-based organisation management
• Agricultural and primary-sector organisations
• Environmental and sustainability coordination
• Business development related to sustainable practices.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The latest Lincoln programme page currently shows 22 February 2027 as the next specific start date.

The programme's most important academic requirement is its prescribed course sequence. Lincoln recommends Semester 1 entry because prerequisite courses must be completed in the appropriate order. A Semester 2 start can change the duration of the degree.

Lincoln's January 2025 programme feature also confirms that the degree has been developed around the practical integration of the three sustainability pillars: society, environment and economy, rather than treating sustainability as only an environmental issue.

For new offshore international applicants, the current Lincoln application deadline for Semester 1 2027 is 1 December 2026.

IPU-specific pathway or partnership information for this programme is not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying this full-time bachelor's degree in New Zealand generally require a Fee Paying Student Visa unless another visa category applies.

Lincoln states that new international students need:

• An Offer of Place from Lincoln University.
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid, normally a fee receipt.
• A valid passport.
• A digital photograph.
• Proof of NZ$20,000 per year for living expenses.
• Evidence of funds for travel home at the end of study, or an air ticket home.
• The visa application fee.
• Medical certificates or a chest X-ray if required.
• A Police Certificate if required.

Lincoln also checks that international students hold appropriate insurance when they arrive.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Costs from NZ$850.
• Can allow a stay of up to 4 years.
• Allows full-time study on the approved course.
• May allow work up to 25 hours per week during study, depending on the conditions attached to the visa.
• May allow full-time work during scheduled holidays, subject to the applicable visa conditions.