The Graduate Certificate in Tourism Management at Lincoln University is a focused graduate-level qualification for students who already have an undergraduate degree and want to develop specialist knowledge in tourism planning, management, sustainability, events, heritage interpretation and related areas.

Lincoln describes the programme as combining academic learning with practical experience. It is designed to prepare graduates for planning, business leadership and management, research, and advisory roles within New Zealand’s tourism sector.

Key benefits include:

• Focused study in tourism management without committing to a longer master's qualification.
• Combination of academic knowledge and practical application.
• Exposure to sustainable tourism planning and management.
• Study options covering tourism, recreation, protected natural areas, events, heritage and project management.
• Opportunity to select courses that create a coherent individual study plan.
• A qualification that can complement an existing bachelor's degree in another discipline.
• Potential progression to further postgraduate study, including Lincoln's Graduate Diploma in Tourism Management and Master of Tourism Management.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Graduate Certificate requires 60 credits, with a minimum of 45 credits at 300 level. Students choose at least three courses from the specified Graduate Certificate in Tourism Management electives.

The available course options listed by Lincoln are:

Semester 1:

• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability, 15 credits
• RECN 341 – Recreation and Tourism in Protected Natural Areas, 15 credits
• RECN 344 – Event Management, 15 credits
• TOUR 304 – Heritage Interpretation for Tourism and Recreation, 15 credits

Semester 2:

• BMGT 315 – Project Planning and Management, 15 credits
• SOCI 315 – Policy and Practice, 15 credits
• TOUR 303 – Sustainable Tourism Planning and Management, 15 credits.

Major subject areas therefore include:

• Tourism management
• Sustainable tourism planning
• Tourism and protected natural areas
• Heritage interpretation
• Event management
• Business and sustainability
• Project planning and management
• Policy and professional practice
• Recreation and tourism.

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no separately named specialisations within the Graduate Certificate in Tourism Management.

The programme is centred on tourism management, with elective choices allowing students to develop interests in areas such as:

• Sustainable tourism
• Tourism planning
• Heritage tourism
• Events
• Tourism in protected natural areas
• Project management
• Business sustainability
• Recreation and tourism.

Programme Highlights

Key programme features include:

• Graduate Certificate qualification.
• 60 credits.
• Minimum 45 credits at 300 level.
• 0.5 years full-time.
• Normally one semester.
• Lincoln University Campus.
• February and July intakes.
• 2026 international tuition estimate of NZ$17,500.
• Choice of tourism, sustainability, recreation, events, heritage and project-management courses.
• Combination of academic learning and practical experience.
• Potential progression to further tourism postgraduate study.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that the Graduate Certificate prepares students for planning, business leadership and management, research and advisory roles within the tourism sector.

Potential career areas include:

• Tourism management
• Tourism planning
• Sustainable tourism
• Tourism consultancy
• Tourism advisory work
• Destination management
• Tourism research
• Event management
• Heritage and cultural tourism
• Protected-area tourism and recreation
• Project management
• Tourism policy and planning
• Business sustainability.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa when paying international tuition fees for this type of full-time tertiary programme.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can allow study for up to four years, depending on the circumstances.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of tuition funding.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Can allow eligible students to work up to 25 hours per week while studying and full-time during permitted holidays, subject to the conditions on the individual visa.

For tertiary study, Immigration New Zealand currently requires:

• NZD $20,000 for each year where study is for one year or more; or
• NZD $1,667 per month where study is shorter than one year.