Why Study/Key Benefits

• Gain foundational business, operational and customer-service skills for the hotel and hospitality industry.

• Learn in PIHMS’s hotel-style campus, where operational training includes food and beverage service and practical work in restaurants and kitchens.

• Study hotel management, departmental finances, marketing and administrative practices alongside operational training.

• Gain workplace experience through PIHMS’s Paid Industry Placement, which is advertised as a paid hotel job placement subject to the programme’s terms and conditions.

• Develop transferable skills in communication, teamwork, service quality, problem-solving and operational decision-making.

• Explore hospitality careers in New Zealand and internationally, depending on work rights, experience and employer requirements.

• Potentially progress into the second year of PIHMS’s Bachelor of Applied Hotel Management, subject to the stated academic and pathway conditions.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

PIHMS describes the programme as a combination of business studies, operational training and paid industry placement.

Business studies

• Departmental Finances: understanding departmental financial processes and the financial responsibilities associated with hospitality operations.

• Introduction to Hotel Management: introduction to hotel operations and the management of hospitality services.

• Introduction to Hotel Marketing Landscape: understanding hotel marketing and how hospitality businesses promote services.

• Hotel Administrative Practices: administrative tasks and practices that support hotel operations.

Operational training

Food and beverage operational training includes:

• Customer Service Management.

• Food Service Management.

• Practical experience in the food and beverage department and PIHMS’s operational training facilities.

Paid industry placement

PIHMS lists possible placement roles including:

• Food and Beverage Attendant.

• Banqueting Attendant.

• Food and Beverage/Barista.

• Food and Beverage/Bartender.

• Food and Beverage/Mini Bar.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The diploma focuses on general hospitality management rather than separate formal majors.

Core areas include:

• Hotel management and administration.

• Departmental finances.

• Hospitality marketing.

• Food and beverage operations.

• Customer service and guest experience.

• Practical hospitality operations and workplace experience.

Programme Highlights

• NZQA Level 5 diploma worth 120 credits.

• One year of full-time study.

• Business and operational training combined over 20 weeks.

• Practical learning in a hotel-style campus environment.

• Paid industry placement, with PIHMS advertising a guaranteed hotel job subject to programme terms and conditions.

• Compulsory on-campus accommodation for diploma students.

• Accommodation packages include meals, bedding, towels and Wi-Fi.

• Potential progression into the second year of PIHMS’s Bachelor of Applied Hotel Management, subject to the stated conditions.

• Career preparation for operational and junior supervisory roles in hospitality.

Career Outcomes

NZQA identifies the qualification as preparation for junior or trainee hospitality management, supervisory and team-leader roles. Graduates are expected to be able to support daily hospitality operations, service quality, inventory and supply processes, staffing and team development, and hospitality marketing activities.

Potential career directions include:

• Food and beverage attendant or supervisor.

• Restaurant or café operations.

• Banqueting and event-service operations.

• Hotel operations support.

• Front-office or guest-service roles, subject to experience and employer requirements.

• Hospitality team leader or junior/trainee supervisor.

• Hotel, tourism, sales, conferencing or business operations.

• Further study towards hotel management.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

Key points for the 2027 intake:

• PIHMS lists 25 January and 12 July 2027 as enrolment dates.

• The programme is one year, full-time, with 120 credits at NZQA Level 5.

• Students must live on campus during the diploma, according to the programme page.

• The course includes a paid industry placement. The overview refers to six months, while the detailed structure states 4–5 months; students should get the exact schedule in writing.

• English-language requirements differ between the programme page and the general entry-requirements page. Confirm the accepted IELTS threshold and equivalent tests with PIHMS.

• PIHMS’s published scholarship information does not identify scholarships available to international students.

• Students should confirm the total costs, accommodation arrangements, placement conditions and visa implications before accepting an offer.

Special consideration for international applicants

The placement is described as paid employment. Before paying a deposit, ask PIHMS to confirm:

• Whether placement is guaranteed for international students and what conditions or exceptions apply.

• The employer, placement location, expected hours and wage arrangements.

• Whether the placement is treated as a required component of study for visa purposes and what documentation Immigration New Zealand needs.

• Whether any visa work conditions restrict the placement hours or type of work.

• The exact IELTS requirement and whether alternative English tests are accepted.

International Student Visa Requirements

International applicants will generally need an appropriate New Zealand visa that allows them to undertake this full-time programme. The most relevant category to investigate is the Fee Paying Student Visa. Visa approval is decided by Immigration New Zealand, not by PIHMS.

Fee Paying Student Visa

Immigration New Zealand currently publishes the following general information:

• Visa cost: from NZD 850.

• Processing time: 80% of applications within 7 weeks; actual processing times vary.

• Maximum possible visa duration: up to 4 years, depending on the circumstances and visa granted.

• Recommended application timing: apply at least 3 months before intended travel.

• Applicants must have an offer of place from an approved education provider, meet tuition and living-funds requirements, have acceptable medical and travel insurance, meet health and character requirements, and demonstrate genuine study intentions.

• Applicants must show that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their authorised stay.

Living-funds requirement

For tertiary-level study, Immigration New Zealand specifies:

• NZD 20,000 for each year of study when the course lasts one year or longer.

• NZD 1,667 per month when the course lasts less than one year.

Work rights and paid industry placement

• A Fee Paying Student Visa may allow part-time work for up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time work during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions granted.

• Work rights depend on the individual visa conditions and should not be assumed from the programme description alone.

• PIHMS advertises a paid industry placement as part of the diploma. Applicants must obtain written confirmation from PIHMS about the placement schedule, hours, employer arrangements and supporting documents for Immigration New Zealand.

• Students must not assume that a paid placement automatically permits unlimited work hours. Any placement or employment must comply with the applicable visa and employment rules.

Insurance and supporting documents

Applicants should prepare the documents applicable to their case, including:

• A valid passport and acceptable photograph.

• An offer of place from PIHMS confirming the programme, duration, study mode and dates.

• Evidence of payment or ability to pay the required tuition fees.

• Evidence of sufficient living funds and their genuine source.

• Evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket.

• Evidence of acceptable medical and travel insurance for the required period.

• Police certificates and health documents where required.

• Details of the paid industry placement and evidence that it forms part of the course, where applicable.