Why Study / Key Benefits

The Postgraduate Certificate in Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Lincoln University is a 60-credit postgraduate qualification designed to develop students’ understanding of how political, economic and environmental factors influence planning and business decisions in the parks, recreation and tourism sectors. It also develops the ability to analyse the implications of these factors for related businesses and organisations.

Key benefits include:

• Develop postgraduate-level knowledge of parks, recreation and tourism.
• Understand the interaction between political systems, economic conditions and environmental management.
• Explore tourism, recreation, protected-area management, sport and M?ori resource management.
• Develop analytical and decision-making skills relevant to planning and management.
• Select courses across recreation, tourism, environmental and resource-management disciplines.
• Use the certificate as a standalone qualification or as a pathway towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Master's degree.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme requires 60 credits in total.

Students can select a maximum of three courses from the principal programme list. The structure also permits the selection of either SOCI 601 or SOCI 602 as specified in the programme regulations.

Published course options include:

Semester 1:

• ERST 601 – Advanced Theory in Resource Studies, 20 credits.
• 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.
• RECN 626 – Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, 20 credits.
• RECN 627 – Advanced Sport and Recreation Management, 20 credits.
• TOUR 604 – Tourist Behaviour, 20 credits.

Students therefore have the opportunity to study topics such as:

• Resource studies and environmental management.
• Sport and physical activity.
• Events and festivals.
• Tourism management.
• M?ori resource management.
• Natural-resource recreation and tourism.
• Sport and recreation management.
• Tourist behaviour.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme does not list separate formal specialisations.

Its interdisciplinary areas include:

• Parks management.
• Recreation management.
• Tourism management.
• Sport and recreation.
• Natural-resource recreation.
• Events and festivals.
• Tourist behaviour.
• Environmental and resource management.
• Maori resource management.

Programme Highlights

• Postgraduate Certificate qualification.
• NZQF Level 8.
• 60 credits.
• 0.5 years full-time.
• Part-time study is available.
• Lincoln University Campus.
• Semester 1 and Semester 2 entry.
• Latest published starts: 22 February 2027 and 19 July 2027.
• 2026 international tuition estimate: NZ$19,000 for 60 credits.
• Interdisciplinary combination of parks, recreation, tourism, sport, environmental and resource-management subjects.
• Can be taken as a standalone qualification.
• Can be used to staircase towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Master's degree.

Career Outcomes

The programme can provide knowledge relevant to careers and further study in:

• Tourism management.
• Parks and protected-area management.
• Recreation management.
• Sport and recreation organisations.
• Events and festivals.
• Tourism planning.
• Natural-resource recreation.
• Community recreation.
• Visitor and tourist management.
• Government and public-sector organisations.
• Environmental and resource-management organisations.
• Tourism and recreation businesses.
• Research and further postgraduate study.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying at Lincoln in New Zealand must hold a current and valid visa. Lincoln's current student-visa guidance states that new students need:

• 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.
• Evidence of funds to cover travel to the home country at the end of study, or an air ticket.
• Visa application fee.

Lincoln currently specifies living-funds evidence of NZ$20,000 per year for international students.

Depending on the student's circumstances, Immigration New Zealand may also request:

• Medical certificates or a chest X-ray.
• Police Certificate.
• Additional documentation for students under 18.