Why Study/Key Benefits

The Without Specialisation – Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus) at Massey University is a flexible postgraduate business qualification designed for graduates who want advanced business education without committing to a single named specialisation. A business degree is not required for entry, provided the applicant meets the qualification’s academic requirements. The programme is mainly taught-course based, although students may include a project where appropriate.

Key benefits for international students include:

• Flexible selection of postgraduate business courses according to career interests.
• Access to subjects across areas such as international business, human resources, finance, management, marketing, sustainability, communication, economics, health management and aviation.
• Suitable for graduates whose first degree is not necessarily in business.
• Can provide preparation for further postgraduate study.
• Students who achieve at least a B- average in the PGDipBus may be able to progress to the Master of Management, Master of Business Studies or Master of Finance, with possible credit transfer depending on the courses selected.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The Without Specialisation PGDipBus requires 120 credits selected from the approved course schedule. Students should choose courses carefully if they intend to progress to a specific master's degree because Massey recommends selecting courses from the relevant master's subject schedule.

The current course list includes the following areas and courses:

Accounting and finance

• 110710 Contemporary Issues in Financial Accounting – 30 credits
• 110711 Advanced Accounting Theory – 30 credits
• 125700 Managerial Finance – 30 credits
• 125705 Advanced Financial Modelling – 15 credits

These courses cover contemporary accounting issues, accounting theory, financial decision-making, quantitative financial modelling and risk analysis. Some courses have prerequisites or appraisal requirements.

Human resources and organisational behaviour

• 114702 Human Resource Management and Workplace Relations – 30 credits
• 114709 Managing the Employment Relationship – 30 credits
• 114722 Advanced Organisational Behaviour – 30 credits
• 114735 Competitive Advantage and HRM Strategy – 30 credits
• 114761 International Human Resource Management – 30 credits

Topics include HR management, employment relations, organisational behaviour, talent management, strategic HRM and international HRM.

Management and strategy

• 152700 Organisation and Management – 30 credits
• 152702 Advanced Strategic Management – 30 credits
• 152707 Leading and Changing Organisations – 30 credits
• 152716 The Contemporary Workplace: Business Management and Professional Skills – 30 credits

These cover management theory, strategic planning, organisational leadership, organisational change and professional business practice.

International business

• 152725 Building Export and Import Businesses – 30 credits
• 152726 Growing Multinational Enterprises – 30 credits
• 152727 Managing Multinational Enterprises – 30 credits

Topics include international trade, export/import operations, foreign direct investment, multinational enterprise strategy and cross-cultural organisational management.

Sustainability, ethics and governance

• 152704 Business and Sustainability – 30 credits
• 152728 Business Ethics and Responsible Management – 30 credits
• 152730 Advanced Contemporary Issues in Sustainability – 30 credits
• 152747 Local Governance: Context, Structure and Finance – 30 credits

These address sustainability strategy, responsible management, business ethics, stakeholder management, sustainable supply chains, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and local-government finance.

Health management

• 152742 Health Systems Management – 30 credits
• 152743 Health Law and Policy – 30 credits
• 152746 Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management – 30 credits
• 157701 Health Information Management – 30 credits

These courses cover health-system management, health policy and law, health-service delivery and healthcare information management.

Project management and research

• 152752 Project Management – 30 credits
• 152781 Advanced Research Methods in Business – 30 credits

The research methods course covers research approaches in management and organisational theory, including research design and preparation of research proposals.

Marketing and consumer behaviour

• 156742 Understanding Consumers: Decision Making and Behaviours – 30 credits
• 156756 Strategic Digital and Social Media Marketing – 30 credits
• 156757 Marketing Strategy: Connecting Businesses to Markets – 30 credits

Topics include consumer decision-making, market insights, digital marketing, social media, marketing analytics, customer needs and strategic marketing.

Economics and climate policy

• 178703 The Theory and Practice of Economics – 30 credits
• 178719 Climate Change Economics and Policy – 30 credits

These cover macroeconomic and microeconomic theory, contemporary economic issues and economic approaches to climate-change policy.

Technology and innovation

• 157749 Technology Innovation Management – 30 credits

This focuses on identifying and developing innovative opportunities within the technology sector.

Aviation

• 190703 Management in Aviation Systems – 30 credits
• 190720 Aviation Strategic Management – 30 credits

Topics include senior management in aviation, corporate responsibilities, regulation, strategy and development of airline and aviation products and organisations.

Business communication

• 115758 Interpersonal Communication at Work – 15 credits
• 219702 Management Communication – 30 credits
• 219703 Perspectives in Business Communication – 30 credits
• 219704 International and Intercultural Communication – 30 credits
• 115759 Current Issues in Business – 15 credits

These cover workplace communication, management communication, contemporary business issues and communication across cultures.

Other available areas

The current schedule also includes:

• 234731 Advanced Sport in the Social Context – 30 credits
• 234732 Advanced Sport Management – 30 credits
• 251731 Advanced Occupational Health and Safety – 30 credits

Disciplines/Specialisations

This particular pathway is formally titled Without Specialisation. It does not require students to graduate with a single named specialisation.

Instead, students can construct the 120-credit diploma from approved courses covering areas such as:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Human resource management
• Organisational behaviour
• Management
• Strategic management
• International business
• Marketing
• Consumer behaviour
• Sustainability
• Business ethics
• Project management
• Economics
• Business communication
• Health management
• Technology innovation
• Aviation management
• Sport management
• Occupational health and safety

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 8 postgraduate qualification.
• 120 credits.
• Normally 1 year full-time.
• Part-time study available.
• February and July intakes.
• Auckland and Manawat campus options.
• Distance and online study available.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand.
• Flexible, non-specialised course selection.
• Business degree is not mandatory for entry.
• Minimum B- average in highest-level bachelor's courses.
• Broad interdisciplinary business curriculum.
• Potential progression to the Master of Management, Master of Business Studies or Master of Finance after achieving at least a B- average, subject to course selection and master's entry requirements.

Career Outcomes

The programme does not prescribe one occupation because students can construct their diploma around different business disciplines.

Depending on the courses selected and previous professional experience, relevant career directions can include areas such as:

• Business and management
• Human resources
• Strategic management
• International business
• Finance
• Accounting-related roles
• Marketing and digital marketing
• Consumer insights
• Project management
• Business communication
• Sustainability management
• Health-service management
• Technology innovation
• Aviation management
• Sport management
• Occupational health and safety

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The latest information currently available indicates:

• The qualification remains a 120-credit, Level 8 postgraduate diploma.
• Standard full-time completion is 1 year.
• February and July starts are listed for international students.
• Auckland and Manawat? are the listed campus locations for the Without Specialisation pathway.
• Online study from outside New Zealand is available to international students.
• The minimum academic requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a B- average in the highest-level courses.
• Official transcripts are required for studies completed at universities other than Massey.
• Course prerequisites, restrictions and appraisal requirements must be checked before finalising the 120-credit study plan.
• Students planning to progress to a master's should select courses carefully because the credits that can transfer depend on the courses chosen.
• Massey recommends international students apply at least three months before their intended start date.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students physically studying this qualification in New Zealand would generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can be granted for up to 4 years, depending on circumstances and study.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of tuition-fee funding or an applicable scholarship.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to meet health and character requirements.
• Requires a genuine intention to study in New Zealand.
• Requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
• Requires satisfactory attendance and academic progress while studying.
• May permit work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time work during eligible holidays, depending on the conditions attached to the visa.