Why Study / Key Benefits

The PGCertBus is intended for graduates who want to gain postgraduate-level business knowledge without initially committing to a full postgraduate diploma or master's degree. Massey describes it as a flexible qualification that allows students to select business courses according to their interests and progression plans.

Key benefits include:

• Postgraduate-level business study in a shorter 60-credit qualification.
• Flexible choice of approved business courses when studying without an endorsement.
• Opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in areas such as management, finance, human resource management, international business, sustainability, communication, economics and related business fields.
• Option to use the qualification as preparation for further postgraduate study.
• Potential progression to the Postgraduate Diploma in Business or relevant master's qualifications, subject to the entry and progression requirements of the next qualification.
• Online study is available for international students who remain outside New Zealand.
• On-campus study is also available for eligible international students, depending on the selected study option and courses.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The standard PGCertBus without specialisation requires 60 credits selected from the approved 700-level course schedule. It is deliberately flexible rather than having a single fixed set of compulsory subjects.

Current approved course examples include:

Accounting

110710 Contemporary Issues in Financial Accounting – 30 credits

Focuses on selected contemporary financial-accounting and external-reporting issues through relevant literature.

110711 Advanced Accounting Theory – 30 credits

Examines conceptual and theoretical issues in accounting, including the development of accounting thought and the relationship between philosophy of science and accounting.

Human Resource Management

114702 Human Resource Management and Workplace Relations – 30 credits

Covers organisational behaviour, employment relations, human resource management and development.

114709 Managing the Employment Relationship – 30 credits

Examines contemporary theory and practice relating to employment relations and HR management.

114722 Advanced Organisational Behaviour – 30 credits

Applies psychology and sociology to organisational contexts and requires critical analysis of organisational theory.

114735 Competitive Advantage and HRM Strategy – 30 credits

Examines how strategic HRM contributes to competitive advantage and considers talent-management issues in New Zealand and globally.

114761 International Human Resource Management – 30 credits

Examines comparative HRM, multinational organisations and strategic international HRM.

Finance

125700 Managerial Finance – 30 credits

Focuses on financial theory and its application to managerial decision-making. An appraisal/prerequisite requirement applies.

Management and Strategy

152700 Organisation and Management – 30 credits

Covers theories of management and their application within organisations.

152702 Advanced Strategic Management – 30 credits

Examines strategic planning, policy formulation and implementation.

152707 Leading and Changing Organisations – 30 credits

Examines practices, methods and frameworks for organisational leadership and change.

152752 Project Management – 30 credits

Provides advanced study of project-management theory and methods.

International Business

152725 Building Export and Import Businesses – 30 credits

Introduces knowledge and skills required to manage import/export businesses and international trade.

152726 Growing Multinational Enterprises – 30 credits

Focuses on foreign direct investment strategies and implementation challenges.

152727 Managing Multinational Enterprises – 30 credits

Examines management challenges within multinational firms, including cross-cultural teams, subsidiaries and host-country relationships.

Sustainability and responsible business

152704 Business and Sustainability – 30 credits

Examines relationships between business, the natural environment and social/environmental sustainability.

152728 Business Ethics and Responsible Management – 30 credits

Covers business ethics, social responsibility, stakeholder management and responsible management.

152730 Advanced Contemporary Issues in Sustainability – 30 credits

Examines sustainability strategies, sustainable supply chains, sustainable operations, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ethical trade.

Communication

115758 Interpersonal Communication at Work – 15 credits

Introduces the theory and practice of interpersonal communication.

219702 Management Communication – 30 credits

Examines internal communication processes within organisations.

219703 Perspectives in Business Communication – 30 credits

Explores workplace communication theory and practice through contemporary cases.

219704 International and Intercultural Communication – 30 credits

Uses communication theory and research to examine cross-cultural effectiveness in organisational environments.

Economics

178703 The Theory and Practice of Economics – 30 credits

Surveys developments in macroeconomic and microeconomic theory and their application to contemporary issues.

Health-related business management

152742 Health Systems Management – 30 credits

Compares and critically analyses health-care systems from a management perspective.

152743 Health Law and Policy – 30 credits

Examines relationships between health law and policy and practical health-care dilemmas.

152746 Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management – 30 credits

Examines issues affecting efficient and effective delivery of health services.

152747 Local Governance: Context, Structure and Finance – 30 credits

Examines local government, public administration, local-government finance and the role of local government in society.

Technology and business

157749 Technology Innovation Management – 30 credits

Focuses on initiating and developing innovative opportunities in the technology sector.

Marketing and consumer behaviour

156742 Understanding Consumers: Decision Making and Behaviours – 30 credits

Examines psychological, sociological and individual factors affecting consumer decisions, with practical activities, cases and industry examples.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The PGCertBus can currently be taken:

1. Without specialisation
2. With an endorsement in Business Administration.

The standard without-specialisation option allows students to combine approved courses from areas such as:

• accounting
• finance
• human resource management
• management
• strategic management
• international business
• sustainability
• business communication
• economics
• health service management
• project management
• technology innovation
• consumer behaviour and related business areas.

Programme Highlights

The current programme offers:

• 60 credits at postgraduate level.
• NZQF Level 8.
• One-semester full-time completion.
• Part-time study option.
• Flexible course selection without specialisation.
• Campus and distance/online study options for the general PGCertBus.
• Online study from outside New Zealand for international students.
• Potential progression into the Postgraduate Diploma in Business or master's study.
• A separate Business Administration endorsement designed as a pathway towards the Executive MBA. 

Career Outcomes

The standard PGCertBus is a flexible postgraduate qualification rather than a qualification leading to one regulated profession. Career outcomes therefore depend substantially on the courses selected and the student's previous experience.

Potential areas of professional application include:

• management
• human resource management
• accounting and finance
• business analysis
• international business
• project management
• organisational development
• communication
• sustainability
• health-service management
• technology innovation
• marketing and consumer-focused roles.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current PGCertBus structure has two options:

• Without specialisation: intended for flexible business study or progression to the Postgraduate Diploma in Business.
• Business Administration: intended for experienced professionals who want a pathway into the Executive MBA.