The Diploma in Natural Resources is a one-year, full-time, 120-credit undergraduate diploma at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is a flexible, broad-based programme designed to provide a grounding in natural resources, their management and their importance, while also allowing students to choose courses from several related bachelor's-degree subject areas. The programme can be useful for students considering further study or a change into environment, natural-resource, planning, recreation or tourism-related fields.

A source clarification is important: this is a Lincoln University qualification. The supplied IPU New Zealand website and IPU programme URL do not publicly identify the Diploma in Natural Resources as an IPU qualification. Therefore, Lincoln University is the primary official source for programme-specific information.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Broad, flexible study focused on natural resources and their management.
• Students can select courses from several related Lincoln University bachelor's programmes.
• Provides a foundation for further study in environment, resource management, planning, landscape, recreation and tourism.
• Can also be used by students considering a career change.
• Includes courses covering environmental monitoring, GIS, freshwater, soils, ecological science, sustainability, planning, tourism and social/environmental issues.
• Students can study both 100- and 200-level courses, providing flexibility in constructing the qualification.
• Lincoln University describes the diploma as a practical qualification within its environment-focused study portfolio.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

Students must complete eight courses totalling 120 credits.

The approved courses are selected at 100 or 200 level from the regulations of the following programmes:

• Bachelor of Environment and Society
• Bachelor of Environmental Management
• Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Planning (Hons)
• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
• Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management
• Bachelor of Tourism Management

Semester 1:

• RECN 110 – Concepts in Sport and Recreation
• BMGT 116 – Principles of Management
• COMM 112 – Financial Information for Business
• RECN 213 – Event Planning
• RECN 216 – Principles of Physical Activity, Exercise and Health
• TOUR 203 – Tourist Behaviour
• ECON 113 – Economies and Markets
• SOCI 116 – Society, Culture and Environment
• PHSC 101 – Chemistry IA
• ENSC 101 – Introduction to Earth and Ecological Sciences
• SOCI 204 – Research Methods
• ECOL 202 – Biological Diversity
• WATR 202 – Water on Land: Quality and Quantity
• MAST 104 – Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)
• ERST 203 – Environmental Monitoring and Resource Assessment
• ECON 211 – Land Economics
• ERST 202 – Environmental Analysis with Geographic Information Systems
• MAST 206 – Whakatakoto Kaupapa (M?ori Planning and Development)
• TOUR 101 – Introduction to Tourism.

Semester 2:

• RECN 111 – Leisure Industry Leadership
• MKTG 115 – Principles of Marketing
• PSYC 202 – Motivation and Participation
• RECN 215 – Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
• RECN 217 – Sport and Society
• MAST 106 – Ng? Tikanga M?ori (M?ori Cultural Studies)
• TOUR 202 – Sustainable Tourism Systems
• SOCI 117 – Introduction to New Zealand Government and Public Policy
• ENGN 106 – Structures and Land Surfaces
• SOSC 106 – Soil Science I
• ERST 201 – Environmental Analysis
• ERST 205 – Principles of Urban and Regional Planning
• LINC 201 – Sustainable Futures
• SOCI 214 – The Living City
• SOSC 223 – Physical Landscapes: Formation and Function
• WATR 201 – Freshwater Resources
• VAPM 101 – Introduction to Property. 

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal named majors or specialisations within the Diploma in Natural Resources.

Instead, the programme allows students to build a broad combination of subjects. Areas represented in the approved course list include:

• Environmental management
• Environmental analysis
• Natural-resource assessment
• Geographic Information Systems
• Freshwater resources
• Soil science
• Ecology and biological diversity
• Environmental policy and planning
• Sustainable futures
• Landscape and land surfaces
• Maori culture, planning and development
• Tourism
• Sport and recreation
• Economics and land economics
• Management and marketing.

Programme Highlights

• Level 5 undergraduate diploma.
• 120 credits.
• One year full-time.
• Flexible course selection.
• Study at Lincoln University Campus.
• Courses available from six related degree areas.
• Natural-resource, environmental and sustainability focus.
• Exposure to environmental analysis, GIS, freshwater, soils, ecology and planning.
• Additional options in tourism, recreation, economics, management and M?ori studies.
• Suitable as an introduction to further study or for students considering a career change.

Career Outcomes

The diploma is broad rather than being a professional registration qualification. Lincoln describes it as providing a solid grounding in natural resources and as an introduction to further study or a possible career change.

Depending on the courses selected, students can develop knowledge relevant to areas such as:

• Environmental management
• Natural-resource management
• Environmental monitoring
• Resource assessment
• GIS and environmental analysis
• Freshwater-resource work
• Planning
• Sustainability
• Tourism
• Recreation
• Land and environmental policy.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student studying this full-time programme in New Zealand will generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa unless another appropriate visa category applies.

Immigration New Zealand requires an applicant to have an offer of place from an approved education provider and sufficient funds for tuition and living costs, or an acceptable scholarship/sponsor arrangement.

Key requirements include:

• Valid offer of place from Lincoln University.
• Evidence of tuition-fee payment or an approved arrangement/scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Evidence of onward travel or funds to purchase onward travel.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Appropriate medical and travel insurance.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Compliance with the conditions stated on the visa/eVisa.