Why Study / Key Benefits

Lincoln University’s Graduate Certificate in Recreation Management is designed for graduates who want to build specialist knowledge in recreation, sport, outdoor activities and related management.

Key benefits include:

• Develop outdoor recreation and sports management capabilities.
• Build knowledge relevant to public, commercial and voluntary-sector organisations.
• Study parks and park management, outdoor leadership, sports management, community recreation and tourism.
• Develop critical-thinking, practical-analysis and decision-making skills beyond undergraduate-level academic knowledge.
• Gain practical exposure through courses such as the Sport and Recreation Management and Practicum courses.
• Complete a focused graduate qualification in one semester of full-time study.
• Study within Lincoln’s specialist sport and recreation academic environment. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification requires 60 credits, with at least 45 credits at 300 level. The remaining 15 credits may be selected from the Schedule of Courses in consultation with the Academic Coordinator so that the programme forms a coherent study plan.

Students choose a minimum of three courses from the Graduate Certificate in Sport and Recreation course list.

Semester 1 options include:

• RECN 343 – Sport and Recreation Management, 15 credits
• RECN 341 – Recreation and Tourism in Protected Natural Areas, 15 credits
• RECN 344 – Event Management, 15 credits
• RECN 345 – Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science, 15 credits.

Semester 2 options include:

• RECN 393 – Practicum: Practical Experience in Sport and Recreation and Tourism Management, 15 credits
• SOCI 315 – Policy and Practice, 15 credits
• PSYC 302 – Social Psychology of Wellbeing, 15 credits.

The remaining 15 credits can be selected from the Schedule of Courses, subject to approval and course availability.

This structure gives students exposure to areas such as:

• Sport and recreation management
• Protected natural areas
• Event management
• Sport and exercise science
• Practical industry experience
• Policy and professional practice
• Social psychology and wellbeing
• Tourism and outdoor recreation.

Disciplines / Specialisations

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

The qualification is focused on the wider sport and recreation discipline, with study options covering:

• Sport management
• Recreation management
• Parks and outdoor recreation
• Outdoor leadership
• Event management
• Sport and exercise science
• Community recreation
• Tourism
• Policy and professional practice
• Wellbeing

Programme Highlights

Important 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 fee estimate of NZ$17,500.
• Focus on sport and recreation management.
• Options covering outdoor recreation, protected natural areas, events, sport science and wellbeing.
• Practical experience through RECN 393 when offered.
• Potential relevance to public, commercial and voluntary organisations. 

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that the qualification prepares students for careers in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors, with a focus on parks and park management, outdoor leadership, sports management, community recreation and tourism.

Potential career areas include:

• Recreation management
• Sport management
• Parks and outdoor recreation
• Outdoor leadership
• Community recreation
• Event management
• Tourism and recreation
• Recreation planning
• Sport and wellbeing programmes
• Public-sector recreation services
• Voluntary/community organisations
• Commercial sport and recreation organisations.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students must hold a valid visa that permits study in New Zealand at Lincoln University. Lincoln states that a new student needs to apply through Immigration New Zealand.

For the student visa application, Lincoln lists the following evidence:

• 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 travel home at the end of study, or an air ticket.
• Visa application fee.
• Medical certificate or chest X-ray where required.
• Police Certificate where required.