Why Study / Key Benefits

The Graduate Certificate in Business & Sustainability is designed for graduates who want to develop business knowledge specifically around sustainability and responsible organisational practice.

Key benefits include:

• Develop an understanding of how businesses can improve their sustainability practices.
• Learn how sustainability can be assessed using financial, social and environmental measures.
• Gain knowledge of triple bottom line reporting.
• Develop an understanding of how sustainability strategies can be designed and implemented.
• Prepare for work within businesses or for external roles such as consulting and assessment.
• Complete a focused 60-credit qualification in approximately one semester full-time.
• Combine business knowledge with sustainability, an area that Lincoln identifies as increasingly important across organisations and industries. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme requires 60 credits comprising:

• BMGT 301 – Business and Sustainability: 15 credits.
• Three appropriate additional courses: 45 credits.
• Course selection is planned with the Academic Coordinator.

The core BMGT 301 course focuses on business and sustainability.

The programme's overall subject areas include:

• Business sustainability.
• Sustainable business operations.
• Sustainability strategy.
• Financial, social and environmental performance.
• Triple bottom line reporting.
• Sustainability assessment.
• Implementation of sustainability strategies.
• Business and organisational decision-making.

Disciplines / Specialisations

There is no separate named specialisation structure shown for the Graduate Certificate in Business & Sustainability.

The principal academic discipline is:

• Business and Sustainability.

Programme Highlights

Key programme features include:

• Graduate-level qualification.
• 60 credits.
• Approximately 0.5 years full-time.
• Normally one semester.
• Lincoln University Campus location.
• International tuition estimate of NZ$17,500 for 60 credits for 2026.
• Domestic tuition estimate of NZ$3,800 for 60 credits for 2026.
• BMGT 301 Business and Sustainability as a compulsory component.
• Three additional courses selected in consultation with an Academic Coordinator.
• Focus on business sustainability and triple bottom line reporting.
• Preparation for sustainability-related business, consulting and assessment work

Career Outcomes

Lincoln describes the qualification as preparing graduates to work within businesses or externally as consultants and assessors who can help organisations improve their sustainability practices.

Potential career areas include:

• Sustainability roles within businesses.
• Sustainability assessment.
• Sustainability consulting.
• Corporate sustainability.
• Sustainability reporting.
• Environmental, social and financial performance assessment.
• Sustainability strategy and implementation.
• Business advisory roles involving sustainability.
• Organisational sustainability planning.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The programme is currently listed as an active Lincoln University qualification. The current page shows the next start date as 22 February 2027.

The current 2026 Academic Calendar also includes the Graduate Certificate in Business and Sustainability among Lincoln's Graduate Certificate qualifications.

Important requirements for international applicants include:

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification.
• Meeting Lincoln's applicable English-language requirement.
• Appropriate immigration status/student visa.
• Approved medical and travel insurance for international students.
• Meeting any course-specific prerequisites associated with the courses selected.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student coming to New Zealand for this full-time Lincoln qualification will generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa unless another appropriate visa category applies.

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

• Is for students paying international tuition fees themselves, through family support, a loan or a scholarship.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can be granted for up to four years, depending on the circumstances and course.
• Can allow eligible students to work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during permitted holidays, subject to the actual conditions on the visa.

For this programme, the student would need evidence of:

• An offer of place from Lincoln University.
• Ability to pay the tuition fee.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Good health and character.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Ability to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.