The Postgraduate Diploma in Parks, Recreation and Tourism is a Level 8 postgraduate qualification at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. It provides advanced study of the interconnected parks, recreation and tourism sectors, including tourist and recreation behaviour, service-provider strategies, policy, economics, environmental influences, planning and business decision-making. The qualification can be completed as a standalone postgraduate award or used as a pathway towards a master's degree.

The IPU website supplied in the request does not publicly specify an IPU-specific pathway, partnership, fee arrangement or additional admission requirements for this Lincoln University programme. Therefore, those details are stated as not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Develop an advanced understanding of parks, recreation and tourism.
• Examine the complexity and interrelationships between these sectors.
• Study the behaviour of tourists and people participating in recreation.
• Understand strategies and methodologies used by tourism and recreation service providers.
• Examine how political, economic and environmental factors influence long-term planning.
• Develop knowledge relevant to planning and development activities across different organisational and geographic levels.
• Gain knowledge that can be applied to recreation development and planning.
• Study in an area with strong connections to industry and external stakeholders.
• Lincoln's tourism area provides opportunities for practical work experience through projects, laboratory work and assignments with private companies.
• The qualification can be taken independently or used to staircase towards master's-level study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

Students must complete 120 credits.

The current programme structure is:

First study semester:

• ERST 601 – Advanced Theory in Resource Studies, 20 credits
• Choice of SOCI 601 or SOCI 602
• Courses selected from the Postgraduate Diploma in Parks, Recreation and Tourism List A

Second study semester:

• Choice of SOCI 601 or SOCI 602
• Courses selected from List A
• Elective

SOCI 601 / SOCI 602:

Students may choose no more than one of these courses, or none:

• SOCI 601 – Social Science Research Methods (Quantitative), 20 credits, Semester 1
• SOCI 602 – Social Science Research Methods (Qualitative), 20 credits, Semester 2

List A requires a minimum of three courses from the following:

Semester 1:

• RECN 604 – Sport, Physical Activity and Fitness, 20 credits
• RECN 640 – Events and Festivals: Contexts and Concepts, 20 credits
• TOUR 603 – Tourism Management, 20 credits

Semester 2:

• MAST 603 – Mana Kaitiaki (M?ori Resource Management), 20 credits
• PSYC 602 – Advanced Social Psychology of Wellbeing, 20 credits
• RECN 626 – Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, 20 credits
• RECN 627 – Advanced Sport and Recreation Management, 20 credits
• TOUR 604 – Tourist Behaviour, 20 credits 

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme focuses primarily on:

• Parks management
• Recreation management
• Tourism management
• Natural-resource recreation and tourism
• Sport and recreation management
• Events and festivals
• Tourist behaviour
• Social science research
• M?ori resource management
• Wellbeing and social psychology
• Resource studies

Programme Highlights

• Level 8 postgraduate qualification.
• 120 credits.
• Normally 1 year full-time.
• Semester 1 and Semester 2 entry.
• Lincoln University Campus.
• Advanced study of parks, recreation and tourism.
• Focus on planning and development.
• Study of tourist and recreation behaviour.
• Examination of political, economic and environmental influences.
• Social science research methods.
• Natural-resource recreation and tourism.
• Sport and recreation management.
• Tourism management.
• Events and festivals.
• M?ori resource management.
• Potential progression towards master's-level study.

Career Outcomes

The programme develops knowledge relevant to planning, development, management and decision-making in the parks, recreation and tourism sectors.

Potential career areas include:

• Tourism management
• Tourism planning
• Recreation management
• Parks management
• Outdoor recreation
• Natural-resource recreation
• Tourism development
• Event and festival management
• Sport and recreation management
• Visitor management
• Policy and planning
• Destination management
• Government and local-authority roles
• Tourism and recreation consultancy
• Research and analysis
• Non-profit and community recreation organisations

International Student Visa Requirements

International students must hold a current, valid visa permitting study in New Zealand at Lincoln University.

For a new international student, Lincoln states that a Student 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 for living expenses of NZ$20,000 per year.
• Evidence of funds for travel to the student's home country at the end of study, or an air ticket to the home country.
• Visa application fee.

Immigration New Zealand may also request:

• Medical certificates or a chest X-ray.
• Police Certificate.
• Additional information where applicable, including if the student will be under 18 when beginning study