New Zealand Diploma in Business

A general business qualification endorsed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the New Zealand Diploma in Business provides an excellent grounding in business skills.  You will benefit from applied theory and practice that is relevant to today's business world.  This diploma is highly valued by employers.

Students advancing to the Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting may gain membership to the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.  Many students combine employment or other options with part time study, taking one or two papers each semester.

We have strong links with local businesses and focus on creating opportunities whereby our students can obtain real world experience before they graduate. An example of this is on the following link:
http://www.sit.ac.nz/pages/about/news_story_124

The New Zealand Diploma in Business consists of six compulsory and six optional papers. At least four papers must be taken at Level 6.  No more than three papers may be taken at Level 4.  Evening classes are offered in addition to day classes to allow students flexibility in study arrangements.  The papers offered each semester depend upon student demand and resource availability. Papers not offered at SIT are available through the Open Polytechnic by correspondence.

Compulsory Papers

Six of the following seven papers must be completed

400     Accounting Principles

510     Introduction to Commercial Law

520     The Economic Environment

530     Organisation and Management

541     Fundamentals of Marketing

550     Business Computing

560     Business Communication

Optional Papers

Six optional papers, at least four papers must be taken at Level 6

430     Quantitative Business Methods

435     Fundamentals of Small Business

501     Accounting Practices

580     Principles of Tourism

601     Financial Accounting

602     Management Accounting

603     Business Finance

605     Internal Auditing

606     Taxation

610     The Law of Business Entities

611     Business Law

630     Leadership

633     Human Resource Management

635     Employment Relations

636     Applied Management

650     Applied Computing

685     Tourism Industry Management

The aims and content of each paper are as follows:

400 Accounting Principles

Students will understand financial statements and reports and be able to analyse and interpret business performance for sole traders and small companies.

430 Quantitative Business Methods

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and methods of data analysis, statistical inference and financial mathematics.

435 Fundamentals of Small Business

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics, options and operation of small business in the New Zealand context.

501 Accounting Practices

Students will record and process financial transactions and prepare financial statements and cash budgets for entities in accordance with current accounting practices.

510 Introduction to Commercial Law

Students will demonstrate knowledge of commercial law, to enable application of legal reasoning.

520 The Economic Environment

Students will apply elements of economic theory to contemporary business issues.

530 Organisation and Management

Students will understand the factors that influence management and the organisation and apply a range of factors.

541 Fundamentals of Marketing

Students will have a working knowledge of fundamental marketing concepts relevant to contemporary organisations.

550 Business Computing

Students will understand, discuss, evaluate and apply information technology to meet business requirements.

560 Business Communication

Students will apply communication knowledge and skills in the evolving context of New Zealand and global business.

580 Principles of Tourism

Students will understand concepts of global tourism and apply this knowledge to the tourism industry in New Zealand.

601 Financial Accounting

Students will apply the regulatory and technical aspects of financial accounting and external reporting for companies and evaluate financial and non financial information.

602 Management Accounting

Students will collect, interpret, present and use relevant management accounting information for an organisation to effectively plan, control and make decisions regarding business operations.

603 Business Finance

Students will apply financial management knowledge and skills to a small or medium size business for decision making purposes.

605 Internal Auditing

Students will understand the role of internal auditing in the corporate governance framework.

606 Taxation

Students will apply knowledge of taxation rules to New Zealand taxable entities in a range of situations.

610 The Law of Business Entities

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the legal requirements for establishment, operation and the cessation as applied to various forms of business entity.

611 Business Law

Students will demonstrate understanding of practical legal opportunities,  responsibilities and risks that arise in specific business situations.

630 Leadership

Students will understand concepts and apply principles of leadership.  Students will create a personal plan to develop leadership capabilities.

633 Human Resource Management

This paper is designed to meet the needs of students who require skills and knowledge in human resource management in general or specific organisational roles.

635 Employment Relations
Students will apply knowledge of current employment relations legislation, processes and practices, and understand the relationship of the parties involved.

636 Applied Management

Students will apply management concepts.

650 Applied Computing

Students will use software applications in developing computer based solutions for business problems.

685 Tourism Industry Management

Students will apply business concepts to develop a business plan for a small to medium sized tourism venture.

The New Zealand Diploma in Business is a widely recognised intermediate level business qualification in New Zealand.  Organisations such as the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) and the New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM) recognise the value of the qualification and use it in conjunction with their professional qualifications.  Graduates are well positioned to find rewarding career opportunities in accountancy, management and marketing.  Graduates are ideally suited to general office management in an intermediate role or as a lead role in middle to smaller size business organisations in both the private and public sectors.  Graduates are well equipped to develop and run their own businesses.

Many of the NZ Diploma in Business papers cross credit to papers in SIT's Bachelor of Commerce programme. Contact the programme manager for details:

Warrick Low

Phone: (03) 211 2699 ext 8798

Email: warrick.low@sit.ac.nz

Click here to download the 2013 timetable (PDF file).

Click here for a suggested year one student's timetable if studying full-time.

Applicants must have:

• a minimum of 14 numeracy credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the Directory of Assessment Standards; and
• 50 credits at level 2 or above with at least 12 credits in each of three subjects including a minimum of eight literacy credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori; four credits must be in reading and four credits must be in writing; and
• the literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards found on the NZQA website at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/approved-subjects-for-university-entrance/.

or equivalent to the above.

Adults over the age of 20 years who do not have the minimum entry requirements may be admitted if they can satisfy the teaching institution they are capable of studying at this level and have a reasonable chance of successfully completing each paper attempted.

International students for whom English is a second language must also have:

• an IELTS overall score of at least 6.0 (academic) with no individual band lower than 5.5; or
• a TOEFL score of at least 550; or
• any other standard achievement or measure allowed for in rules made under section 253 of the Education Act.

Students must achieve a pass within the first three attempts at any given paper.  Following three fails in any given paper the student is barred from enrolling in that paper.

To pass any paper, a student must achieve a combined total of at least 50% in their course work plus final exam.

To complete the programme a student must have a minimum of a pass in 12 papers.  This must include six core papers.  At least four of the remaining six papers must be at Level 6. Of the total no more than three papers shall be at Level 4.

In addition to credits for the prescribed core and optional papers, each student may include in the qualification one unspecified credit as a substitute for an optional paper.  This credit must arise from a course that assesses the outcomes that are not part of an approved New Zealand Diploma in Business prescription.  The programme must be at an appropriate level, and assess outcomes that are relevant to the New Zealand Diploma in Business objectives as described in these regulations.  Any paper which is to be offered by a teaching institution for the award of an unspecified credit must meet the requirements of the regulations as per NZQA.

Please note: students failing to attend for 80% of timetabled programme hours will forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.  However, if due to individual circumstances a student is unable to meet this requirement, but nevertheless is able to satisfy the Programme Manager (in writing) that they have a viable learning strategy in place, this requirement may be waived.

To download key dates for 2014 click here