The Postgraduate Certificate in Land and Society is a 60-credit postgraduate qualification at Lincoln University focused on the relationship between people, societies and physical/natural environments. The programme develops interdisciplinary understanding of socio-physical phenomena, critical evaluation, communication, and quantitative and qualitative research skills that can be applied to real-world environmental and societal problems. It can be completed as a stand-alone qualification or used as a pathway towards further postgraduate study, including a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s degree.

The IPU programme link supplied in the request is the IPU Master of Global Business page rather than a dedicated page for this Lincoln qualification. Therefore, any IPU-specific partnership, pathway, application process, fee arrangement or additional admission condition is not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Develops an interdisciplinary understanding of how people and societies interact with physical and natural environments.
• Combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.
• Develops critical analysis and evaluation skills.
• Builds quantitative and qualitative research capabilities.
• Develops communication skills for presenting and explaining critical evaluations.
• Applies environmental and social knowledge to theoretical and practical real-world problems.
• Can be taken as a stand-alone postgraduate qualification.
• Can be used to staircase into further postgraduate study, including a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s degree.
• Lincoln's Environmental Management department has expertise across geography, M?ori and Indigenous studies, planning, economics, political studies, ecology and engineering.
• The department has long-standing expertise in environmental policy, planning and management and maintains networks with government, M?ori organisations, private organisations, NGOs and international organisations. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme requires 60 credits and is organised into three course groups. Students select one 20-credit course from each group.

List A – choose one:

• ERST 601 – Advanced Theory in Resource Studies – 20 credits.

List B – choose one:

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

List C – choose one:

• ERST 634 – 20 credits.
• MAST 603 – Mana Kaitiaki (M?ori Resource Management) – 20 credits.
• PHIL 602 – 20 credits.
• PSYC 602 – Advanced Social Psychology of Wellbeing – 20 credits.

The current 2026 Academic Calendar confirms these three 20-credit course groups.

Key academic topics therefore include:

• Advanced resource studies theory.
• Quantitative social science research methods.
• Qualitative social science research methods.
• M?ori resource management.
• Social psychology and wellbeing.
• Interdisciplinary relationships between people, society and the environment.
• Environmental and resource-management issues.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The qualification does not have formally named majors or specialisations.

Instead, students create their focus through the approved course choices. The programme sits within Lincoln's wider Environment and Sustainability area. Lincoln identifies Land and Society alongside environmental management, environmental policy and planning, M?ori policy and planning, climate change and sustainability, biodiversity and conservation, marine and coastal studies, disaster risk and resilience, and cities, energy and transport as important areas of environmental study.

Possible academic focus areas include:

• Resource studies.
• Environmental management.
• Land and society.
• Social research.
• M?ori resource management.
• Environmental policy and planning.
• Sustainability.
• Human-environment relationships.
• Wellbeing and society.

Programme Highlights

• Postgraduate Certificate qualification.
• 60 credits.
• Normally 0.5 years full-time.
• One semester of full-time study.
• Semester 1 and Semester 2 entry.
• Lincoln University Campus.
• Multidisciplinary focus.
• Study of relationships between people, society and natural/physical environments.
• Quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• Critical analysis and evaluation.
• Practical application to real-world problems.
• Option to use the certificate as a pathway towards further postgraduate study.
• Three 20-credit course groups forming the 60-credit qualification.

Career Outcomes

The programme is particularly relevant to students seeking to strengthen their knowledge for work involving land, natural resources, society and environmental decision-making.

Potential career areas include:

• Environmental policy.
• Environmental management.
• Resource management.
• Land-use planning.
• Sustainability.
• Conservation.
• M?ori resource management.
• Government and local-government policy.
• Environmental consultancy.
• Non-governmental organisations.
• Community and development organisations.
• Research and policy analysis.
• Social and environmental research.
• Further postgraduate academic study.

International Student Visa Requirements

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

For a new international student, Lincoln states that the 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 additionally request:

• Medical certificates.
• Chest X-ray.
• Police Certificate.
• Additional information if the student will be under 18 when study begins.