The Graduate Certificate in Commerce is a flexible graduate-level qualification at Lincoln University designed for graduates who want to broaden their commerce knowledge, strengthen their business skills or develop expertise in a particular commerce discipline. It can be completed in one semester of full-time study or studied part-time, and requires 60 credits, including at least 45 credits at 300 level. The programme covers areas such as business strategy, sustainability, marketing, supply chains, economics, finance, international management, agribusiness and tourism.

The supplied IPU programme link is for the Master of Global Business and is not a programme-specific page for Lincoln University's Graduate Certificate in Commerce. Therefore, IPU-specific partnership arrangements, delivery arrangements, pathway conditions, application procedures, fees or scholarships for this Lincoln programme are not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Provides a concise graduate-level qualification that can normally be completed in one semester full-time.
• Can also be studied part-time, providing greater flexibility for students who are working or have other commitments.
• Allows students to build a broad understanding of commerce before focusing on a particular discipline or area.
• Covers contemporary business and commerce topics relevant to New Zealand and international markets.
• Offers choices across business, marketing, economics, finance, agribusiness, supply chain management, tourism and sustainability.
• Provides an opportunity to develop advanced 300-level commerce knowledge without committing immediately to a longer graduate diploma or master's programme.
• Lincoln's business education has a distinctive connection with primary industries, agribusiness and the global agri-food economy.
• Can be useful for graduates wanting to add commerce knowledge to an existing degree from another discipline.
• The flexible course-selection model allows the programme to be shaped around a student's academic or professional objectives.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification requires 60 credits, with a minimum of 45 credits at 300 level.

Students choose a minimum of three courses from the designated Graduate Certificate in Commerce course list. The remaining 15 credits can be selected from the Schedule of Courses in consultation with the Academic Coordinator so that the overall programme forms a coherent study plan.

Semester 1 course options include:

• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability – 15 credits
• BMGT 322 – Accommodation Management – 15 credits
• MKTG 323 – Supply Chain Management – 15 credits
• MGMT 316 – Evaluating Agricultural Systems – 15 credits
• MGMT 318 – Opportunity Analysis in Agricultural Systems – 15 credits
• MKTG 301 – Marketing Research – 15 credits
• MKTG 311 – Product Design – 15 credits
• MKTG 322 – Sales Management – 15 credits
• ECON 326 – The Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment – 15 credits
• ECON 307 – Econometrics – 15 credits
• BMGT 306 – Business Strategy – 15 credits
• BMGT 314 – Quality Systems – 15 credits.

Semester 2 course options include:

• COMM 301 – Integrated Business Analysis – 15 credits
• MGMT 340 – Agribusiness Strategic Management – 15 credits
• MGMT 341 – Integrated Agribusiness and Food Marketing Strategy – 15 credits
• MKTG 308 – Marketing New Zealand Products and Services – 15 credits
• MGMT 317 – Strategic Management in Agricultural Systems – 15 credits
• TOUR 303 – Sustainable Tourism Planning and Management – 15 credits
• MKTG 321 – Promotion Management – 15 credits
• BMGT 308 – Supply Chain System Optimisation – 15 credits
• FINC 304 – Corporate Financial Strategy – 15 credits
• ECON 325 – The Economics of Food Markets and Policy – 15 credits
• ECON 327 – The Economics of Development – 15 credits
• ECON 302 – International Economics – 15 credits
• BMGT 324 – International Management – 15 credits

Disciplines / Specialisations

The Graduate Certificate in Commerce does not list separate formal majors or named specialisations.

Instead, students can create an area of academic focus through their course selection. The available areas include:

• Business and sustainability
• Business strategy
• International management
• Marketing
• Marketing research
• Sales management
• Product design
• Supply chain management
• Supply chain optimisation
• Finance
• Corporate financial strategy
• Economics
• Econometrics
• International economics
• Natural-resource and environmental economics
• Food markets and policy
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural systems
• Agribusiness strategic management
• Food marketing
• Tourism management
• Sustainable tourism
• Accommodation management
• Quality systems. 

Programme Highlights

• Graduate-level commerce qualification.
• 60 credits.
• 0.5 years full-time.
• Part-time study is available.
• Minimum 45 credits at 300 level.
• Two main annual intakes.
• Campus-based study at Lincoln University.
• Flexible course selection.
• Broad coverage of business and commerce.
• Strong links to agribusiness and primary-sector commerce.
• Options in marketing, economics, finance, business strategy and supply chains.
• Options in agricultural systems and food marketing.
• International management and international economics options.
• Sustainability and environmental economics content.
• Sustainable tourism planning and management option.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln does not publish a fixed list of occupations specifically associated with the Graduate Certificate in Commerce.

Because students can select courses from several commerce disciplines, potential applications may include:

• Business administration
• Business analysis
• Marketing
• Sales
• Supply chain management
• Business strategy
• International business
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural systems management
• Food marketing
• Economics
• Market research
• Tourism management
• Sustainability-related business roles
• Quality management
• Finance-related business roles.

International Student Visa Requirements

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

For a new international student, Lincoln states that the visa application requires:

• An 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.
• The applicable visa application fee.

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

• Medical certificates.
• Chest X-ray.
• Police Certificate.
• Additional information where the student is under 18 when beginning study.