Why Study / Key Benefits

The Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Supervision (PGDipProfSup) is designed for experienced professionals who want to deepen their knowledge and practical capability in professional supervision.

Key benefits include:

• Develop advanced professional-supervision knowledge and skills.
• Learn how to support individuals, groups and organisations to improve their effectiveness.
• Develop the ability to work with complex professional and personal challenges.
• Strengthen supervisory practice within your existing profession.
• Tailor elective study to areas such as counselling, social work, healthcare, education and business.
• Potentially progress towards roles involving professional education, training or consultancy.
• The programme combines online learning with opportunities to study on campus, giving international students some flexibility in how they complete their courses.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification consists of two compulsory professional-supervision courses and 60 points of electives.

Compulsory courses:

• HLTH610 – Navigating the Art of Professional Supervision: 30 points
• HLTH611 – Shaping Futures: Advanced Supervisory Practices: 30 points

Both compulsory courses are fully online.

Elective options include:

• COUN681 – Solution-focused Theory and Skills with Individuals and Groups: 30 points
• COUN682 – Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT): 15 points
• EDME408 – Understanding Emotions in Education, Leadership and Health: 30 points
• HLTH407 – Ethics and Health: 30 points
• HLTH410 – Leading and Motivating People in Healthcare Organisations: 30 points
• HLTH430 – Motivating Behaviour Change I: 30 points
• HLTH431 – Motivating Behaviour Change II: 30 points
• PUBH421 – Hauora M?ori: 15 points
• SOWK612 – Tino Rangatiratanga and Mana Motuhake in Practice: 15 points

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements for the PGDipProfSup.

However, UC specifically indicates that students can tailor their elective study to professional contexts including:

• Counselling
• Social work
• Healthcare
• Education
• Business
• Other professional fields

Programme Highlights

Important highlights for an international student include:

• New UC qualification introduced in 2026.
• 120-point postgraduate diploma.
• One-year full-time structure.
• February and July intakes.
• Flexible part-time option of up to four years.
• Two dedicated professional-supervision courses.
• Both compulsory courses are fully online.
• Choice of 60 points of electives.
• Electives cover counselling, healthcare, education, social work, ethics, behaviour change and leadership.
• Opportunity to align learning with an existing professional context.
• No formal majors, minors or endorsements.
• Can potentially be awarded with Merit or Distinction.
• Up to 30 points of relevant equivalent postgraduate study may potentially be credited with prior approval.

Career Outcomes

UC describes the qualification as particularly relevant for experienced professionals who want to advance their supervisory practice.

Potential career directions include:

• Professional supervisor
• Advanced practitioner
• Supervisory or leadership roles
• Professional education
• Training
• Consultancy
• Organisational supervision/framework development
• Specialist supervisory roles within counselling, social work, healthcare, education, business and other professional environments

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current update is that PGDipProfSup is a new UC qualification for 2026. UC's international fee listing identifies it as “New in 2026.”

Additional requirements and rules include:

• Executive Dean of Health approval is required.
• There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements.
• Students may be withdrawn if they fail more than 30 points.
• Up to 30 points of relevant equivalent postgraduate-level study may be credited with prior approval.
• The qualification has a 48-month maximum time limit.
• Merit and Distinction awards are possible under UC's general regulations.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student intending to study in New Zealand, the relevant visa is generally the Immigration New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's individual circumstances.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition, or an acceptable scholarship/funding arrangement.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Evidence relating to onward/outward travel as required.
• Other documents depending on the applicant's circumstances.