Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Parks Management at Lincoln University is an interdisciplinary Level 9 taught master's designed to prepare students for professional and leadership roles in the parks sector. Lincoln describes it as the first programme of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and says it was developed in response to an identified skills shortage in parks management.

Key benefits include:

• Combines social, cultural, environmental and business perspectives relevant to parks management.
• Develops skills in natural-resource management, indigenous planning, outdoor recreation and tourism.
• Covers policy, resource management, law, ecology, conservation, wildlife and climate change.
• Allows students to shape their study around areas such as environmental management, tourism and recreation, and climate change.
• Develops the ability to evaluate parks-management approaches and policies.
• Builds understanding of indigenous perspectives and M?ori resource management.
• Develops business, organisational and environmental-management skills relevant to the parks sector.
• Provides opportunities to connect with parks-sector professionals and industry. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme contains 180 credits.

The current structure includes:

Compulsory courses – 80 credits:

• ERST 630 Environmental Policy and Planning OR LWST 602 Advanced Resource Management and Planning Law
• MAST 603 Mana Kaitiaki (M?ori Resource Management) OR MAST 604 Kaupapa Matua (Advanced M?ori Policy and Planning)
• RECN 626 Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
• ECOL 609 Conservation Biology OR ECOL 612 Wildlife Management

Schedule B – at least 40 credits:

Students select at least two courses from:

• ENSC 601 Advanced Climate Change and Land Use
• ERST 606 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• ERST 621 Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment
• ERST 633 Integrated Environmental Management
• RECN 640 Events and Festivals
• TOUR 603 Tourism Management
• TOUR 604 Tourist Behaviour
• TOUR 611 Food, Wine and Agritourism: Principles and Practice

A further 40 credits are selected from the approved Schedule B/List B options, including business, economics, research and marketing courses.

These include:

• BMGT 618 Advanced Business Strategy OR BMGT 686 Managing Programmes of Change
• COMM 605 Research for Managers OR ECON 615 Applied Research Methods
• COMM 601 Principles of Managerial Economics
• COMM 602 Principles of Accounting and Finance
• COMM 603 Principles of Business Management
• COMM 604 Principles of Marketing
• MKTG 605 Advanced Services Marketing & Management
• MKTG 672 Marketing Strategy
• MKTG 681 Managing Marketing

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme does not appear to have separately named formal majors. Instead, students can tailor their course choices toward areas such as:

• Environmental management
• Tourism and recreation
• Climate change
• Conservation biology
• Wildlife management
• Environmental policy and planning
• M?ori resource management
• Indigenous planning and development
• Resource-management law
• Environmental impact assessment
• Integrated environmental management
• Geographic information systems
• Tourism management
• Visitor and tourist behaviour
• Agritourism
• Business and strategic management

Programme Highlights

• First programme of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, according to Lincoln University.
• Developed in response to an identified skills shortage in the parks sector.
• Interdisciplinary approach combining social, cultural, environmental and business perspectives.
• 180-credit Level 9 master's.
• Full-time completion possible in approximately 12 months from the November intake.
• Approximately 18 months from February or July.
• Options covering conservation, wildlife, environmental policy, tourism, recreation, indigenous planning and business.
• Strong connection with the professional parks sector.
• Opportunities for students to interact with parks-sector professionals through events such as the Parks Leaders Forum Professional Development Day.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that graduates are prepared for mid-to-senior-level roles in parks management. Potential employers include:

• International parks and conservation agencies
• Central government
• Local government
• Iwi authorities
• Other M?ori organisations
• Conservation trusts
• Community organisations
• Private organisations

Potential career areas include:

• Parks management
• National and regional park management
• Conservation management
• Recreation and open-space planning
• Environmental management
• Tourism and visitor management
• Resource management
• Wildlife and biodiversity management
• Environmental policy
• Parks planning
• Community and conservation programme management

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The programme began in late 2023 following a call from the New Zealand Parks Leaders Forum to address a skills shortage in the parks sector.

A significant recent development is that the first four students graduated in May 2026. Lincoln describes the programme as successfully producing graduates who are now applying their skills in the parks and recreation sector.

In April 2026, Lincoln and the Parks Leaders Forum also hosted a professional development day for students, providing presentations, discussions and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

The academic regulations state that the student's 180-credit course of study must be approved by the Academic Board.

Programme availability, course offerings and staffing can change, and Lincoln explicitly advises that programme information is subject to review.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students physically studying at Lincoln University must hold a current and valid New Zealand visa permitting study.

For a new student, Lincoln states that the visa application requires:

• Offer of Place from Lincoln University
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid, normally a fee receipt
• Passport
• Digital photograph
• Proof of funds of NZ$20,000 per year for living expenses
• Evidence of funds for travel to the home country at the end of study, or an air ticket
• Visa application fee

Immigration New Zealand may additionally require:

• Medical certificates or chest X-ray
• Police Certificate
• Additional information where applicable