Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Postgraduate Diploma in Executive Business Administration is designed for professionals seeking to upskill, prepare for a new career, or strengthen business leadership capability in a relatively short postgraduate qualification.
• UC states that the programme can be completed in a minimum of one year full-time.
• The diploma consists of the core courses from UC’s Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA). Students study alongside EMBA students but do not take the EMBA elective courses or complete the consulting project.
• The programme covers contemporary business leadership areas including digital transformation, innovation, data-informed strategy, agile leadership, finance, marketing, sustainability and economic decision-making.
• UC Business School holds AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. UC states that only around 1% of business schools worldwide have achieved all three accreditations.
• UC's current postgraduate Business offering emphasises research-informed teaching, applied projects, access to business innovators and industry leaders, and development of expertise relevant to the changing business environment.
• The qualification can provide a pathway to the Executive Master of Business Administration. 

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The 120-point diploma consists of eight 15-point courses:

• MBAM601 Digital Transformation and Technology Preparedness
• MBAM603 Innovation by Design
• MBAM604 Data Informed Strategy
• MBAM610 Agile and Innovation-driven Leadership
• MBAM615 Managerial Finance
• MBAM620 Creative Challenge
• MBAM622 Marketing and Strategic Intelligence
• MBAM623 Business Sustainability and Economic Decision-making

These courses collectively address:

• digital transformation and technology readiness
• innovation and design thinking
• data-informed business strategy
• agile and innovation-oriented leadership
• managerial finance
• creative problem-solving
• marketing and strategic intelligence
• sustainability
• economic decision-making
• business leadership and change. 

Disciplines/Specialisations

• The PGDipBA itself has no majors or minors.
• Its academic focus is executive/business administration and leadership.
• Main disciplinary areas include:
  • business leadership
  • digital transformation
  • innovation
  • strategy
  • finance
  • marketing
  • sustainability
  • economic decision-making.
• Do not confuse this programme with UC's separate Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration with Specialisations, which is a 120-point online qualification offering Health, Sport or Technology specialisations.

Programme Highlights

• 120-point postgraduate qualification.
• Minimum one-year full-time pathway.
• Five years of relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience normally required.
• Core courses shared with the EMBA.
• No elective courses or consulting project in the diploma.
• Eight specified business-administration courses.
• Executive-level emphasis on contemporary leadership and business transformation.
• Covers digital transformation, innovation, strategy, finance, marketing, sustainability and leadership.
• Triple-accredited UC Business School through AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS.
• Potential progression to the Executive Master of Business Administration.

Career Outcomes

UC indicates that postgraduate business study can support:

• development of specialist business skills
• enhanced professional knowledge
• progression into more senior positions
• improved career progression and starting-salary potential
• entry into specific occupations
• development of research capability
• demonstration of advanced academic attainment and self-discipline.

The qualification is particularly relevant to experienced professionals seeking advancement in areas such as:

• business and operations management
• strategic management
• digital transformation
• innovation management
• project and change leadership
• marketing and strategic planning
• financial management
• sustainability and responsible business.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current UC page has a naming/display inconsistency: its page title refers to the Postgraduate Diploma in Executive Business Administration, while the qualification regulations identify the qualification as the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDipBA).
• This should not be confused with the separate Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration with Specialisations, which is fully online and has Health, Sport and Technology specialisations.
• The programme requires a minimum of five years of appropriate practical, professional or scholarly experience.
• Admission can involve tests or interviews and requires approval by the Executive Dean of Business or delegate.
• UC's current “special applications and limited entry” information lists PGDipBA as requiring an application through myUC plus additional documentation, with earlier applications recommended; late applications may be considered subject to available places.
• The programme's current advertised starts are February and August.
• The part-time route is explicitly identified by UC as domestic-students-only, so international applicants should confirm the permitted study pattern before relying on a part-time plan.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying in New Zealand, the principal visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand's assessment.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Meeting health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Evidence that the student intends to leave New Zealand when required.
• The visa normally permits full-time study in the approved course.
• Visa conditions may allow work up to 25 hours per week while studying and full-time work during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions attached to the visa.