Why Study / Key Benefits

The Graduate Diploma in Business and Sustainability is designed for graduates who want to develop specialist knowledge of how businesses can balance financial performance with social and environmental sustainability.

Lincoln highlights the increasing demand for managers and employees who can understand and apply sustainability principles and assess organisational performance using financial, social and environmental measures. The programme can prepare students for roles within businesses as well as advisory or assessment roles serving industry.

Key benefits include:

• Develop advanced knowledge of business sustainability.
• Understand the relationship between sustainable business practices and profitability.
• Learn about financial, social and environmental performance.
• Develop knowledge of triple bottom line measurement and reporting.
• Build skills relevant to sustainability-related management and advisory work.
• Gain a graduate-level qualification in one year of full-time study.
• Select additional courses in consultation with an Academic Coordinator, allowing the programme to be tailored to the student's interests.
• Build a potential pathway toward further postgraduate study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Graduate Diploma requires 120 credits:

• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability: 15 credits.
• Seven appropriate courses selected in consultation with the Academic Coordinator: 105 credits.

The public programme page does not prescribe a single fixed list of all seven additional courses. Instead, students work with the Academic Coordinator to develop a coherent study programme.

The programme therefore focuses on areas such as:

• Business sustainability.
• Financial sustainability.
• Social sustainability.
• Environmental sustainability.
• Triple bottom line measurement.
• Sustainable business practices.
• Business profitability and sustainability.
• Sustainability performance.
• Business management.
• Sustainability assessment and advisory practice.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The qualification does not have separately named specialisations.

The principal discipline is:

• Business and Sustainability.

Programme Highlights

Key features include:

• Graduate Diploma qualification.
• 120 credits.
• 1 year full-time.
• Two full-time semesters.
• Lincoln University Campus.
• February and July intakes.
• 2026 international tuition estimate of NZ$35,000.
• 2026 domestic tuition estimate of NZ$7,565.
• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability as a compulsory course.
• Seven additional approved courses.
• At least five 300-level courses.
• No more than one 100-level course.
• Focus on financial, social and environmental sustainability.
• Preparation for business, advisory and assessment roles. 

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that the Graduate Diploma prepares students for roles within businesses or as advisors or assessors to industry.

Potential career areas include:

• Sustainability management.
• Corporate sustainability.
• Sustainability consulting.
• Sustainability assessment.
• Sustainability reporting.
• Business advisory.
• Sustainability strategy.
• Environmental, social and financial performance analysis.
• Responsible business management.
• Sustainability planning.
• Corporate responsibility.
• Business operations incorporating sustainability principles.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The programme is currently listed as an active qualification in Lincoln University's current programme information and 2026 Academic Calendar.

Latest published starts:

• 22 February 2027
• 19 July 2027.

Important academic conditions include:

• 120 credits must be completed.
• BMGT 301 is required.
• Seven additional appropriate courses must be selected.
• At least five courses must be at 300 level.
• No more than one course can be at 100 level.
• The overall study plan must be coherent and approved through the appropriate academic process.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students must hold a valid New Zealand visa that permits them to study at Lincoln University. Lincoln directs new students to apply through Immigration New Zealand.

Lincoln states that a new student will 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 for travel to the student's home country at the end of study, or an air ticket.
• Visa application fee.

Students may also be required to provide:

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