Why Study "New Zealand Diploma in Tourism and Travel (Level 5)"

The New Zealand Diploma in Tourism and Travel (Level 5) at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is a one-year qualification designed for students who want to develop practical and management-oriented skills for the tourism and travel industry. The programme covers national and international tourism, visitor experiences, tourism operations, customer experience, marketing and supervisory skills. Students also benefit from industry visits, field trips and hands-on learning. The course is offered at Windermere Campus in Tauranga.

• Level of study: New Zealand Diploma, Level 5
• Campus: Windermere Campus, Tauranga
• Mode of learning: Primarily campus-based, full-time study; part-time study is also available
• Duration: 1 year full-time, including holidays where applicable
• Total credits: 120
• 2027 intakes: 22 February 2027 and 19 July 2027
• Timetable for full-time study: Monday to Thursday, generally 9:00 am–1:00 pm
• Part-time learners can select 1–3 study days per week
• The course is focused on practical learning and industry exposure.

Key Benefits

• Develops practical knowledge of the national and international tourism industry.
• Builds skills in tourism and travel management and supervisory work.
• Develops customer-service and visitor-experience skills.
• Covers tourism planning, marketing and enterprise development.
• Provides opportunities for industry visits, field trips and hands-on learning.
• Provides exposure to tourism, travel, hospitality and gastronomy.
• Can provide a pathway to further study, including the Bachelor of Applied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toi Ohomai.
• International students can use the qualification as preparation for employment in different areas of the tourism and travel sector, subject to New Zealand work-visa conditions.

Program Structure

The 120-credit programme includes six compulsory topics plus two topics selected from a group of four options.

Compulsory topics:

• Professionalism and Core Skills for Tourism and Hospitality
• Introduction to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry
• Supervisory Skills for Tourism and Hospitality
• Showcasing Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Gastronomy
• Managing the Customer Experience
• Planning and Marketing for Tourism and Hospitality Enterprise

Students also study two of the following:

• Tourism Operating Environments
• The Destination Experience
• Tourism Event Planning Fundamentals
• Travel Industry Knowledge

Discipline / Specialisation

The programme is focused on Tourism and Travel, with learning across tourism operations, visitor experiences, travel, hospitality, tourism marketing and supervision. The current course information does not list separate formal specialisations or strands. Students receive some choice through the selection of two topics from the four optional subjects.

Programme Highlights

• Practical, industry-focused Level 5 qualification.
• Learning about both national and international tourism.
• Industry visits and field trips.
• Hands-on learning opportunities.
• Development of professional and supervisory skills.
• Focus on delivering quality visitor experiences.
• Training relevant to travel providers, attractions, accommodation and conferences/events.
• Current 2027 study location is Tauranga's Windermere Campus.

For international students, Toi Ohomai currently lists the international tuition fee for this programme at NZD $27,360 for the February 2027 intake. The course page itself notes that its displayed $7,748 fee is the domestic indicative fee and that 2027 domestic fees were still subject to confirmation.

Scholarship availability should be checked against the current Toi Ohomai scholarship eligibility requirements. The general scholarship list includes awards for prospective and current students, but several currently listed scholarships are restricted to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or specific learner groups, so international students should not assume eligibility.

Career Outcomes

Graduates may pursue entry-level, trainee, junior management or supervisory positions across different parts of the tourism and travel industry. Toi Ohomai identifies potential employment areas including:

• Travel providers
• Activity and attraction operators
• Accommodation businesses
• Conferences and events
• Tourism and visitor-experience operations
• Tourism and travel-related supervisory roles

The qualification can also support progression into further study, including the Bachelor of Applied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toi Ohomai.

Visa Requirements (International Students)

International students normally need an appropriate New Zealand student visa to undertake full-time study in New Zealand. For a Fee Paying Student Visa, Immigration New Zealand requires an offer of place from an approved education provider, evidence of tuition-fee funding or a scholarship, sufficient living funds, acceptable medical and travel insurance, and satisfaction of health, character, genuine-study and onward-travel requirements.

• Tuition fees must be paid or appropriately evidenced according to Immigration New Zealand requirements.
• For tertiary study of one year or longer, students generally need to demonstrate NZD $20,000 per year for living costs.
• Students must also have funds for outward travel or an appropriate travel ticket.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance is required for the period covered by the student visa.
• Depending on visa conditions, eligible students may work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during scheduled holidays.
• Students from India may be asked to use Immigration New Zealand's Funds Transfer Scheme to demonstrate access to living funds; use of the scheme does not guarantee visa approval.

Visa requirements can change, so students should verify the requirements applicable to their nationality and application circumstances before applying.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The Toi Ohomai course page was last updated on 16 September 2026.
• The currently published 2027 intakes are 22 February 2027 and 19 July 2027 at Windermere Campus, Tauranga.
• International tuition is currently listed at NZD $27,360 for the February 2027 intake on Toi Ohomai's international course list.
• The course requires an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 with no individual band below 5.5 for the English-language requirement shown on the current course page.
• Academic entry normally requires NCEA Level 2 or equivalent, a related Level 3 or Level 4 qualification/equivalent, or evidence of the ability to meet the academic requirements.
• Applicants may be invited to an information meeting to discuss the programme, their career aspirations and their current level of experience.
• The published 2027 domestic fee is still being confirmed; international students should use the international fee of NZD $27,360 currently listed by Toi Ohomai when planning costs, while confirming the final invoice before enrolment.