Study the Graduate Certificate in Communication (Corporate Sector) to build on your public relations skills and knowledge that will enable you to manage significant events or specialised roles in an organisation or government body. This course is aimed at Corporate Communication professionals with a relevant undergraduate qualification.
Find out more about the changes to the Bachelor of Professional Communication and its associated Graduate Certificates and Degrees, please click here
17 weeks full-time
Up to three years part-time
Intakes are 17 weeks long
2023 Intake 1:13 February to 9 June -Applications Close 30 January 2023
2023 Intake 2: 27 March to 21 July - Applications Close 13 March 2023
2023 Intake 3: 12 June to 6 October - Applications Close 29 May 2023
2023 Intake 4: 31 July to 24 November - Applications Close 17 July 2023
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme
International Students
This course will enable Corporate Communication practitioners (with an undergraduate qualification) to build on their applied skills and learning. The programme aims to ensure its graduates can manage significant events or specialised roles in an organisation or government body. A person already engaged in Corporate Communication at middle management level or someone with a good body of prior on-the-job learning is given the opportunity to become a Corporate Communication specialist.
The Graduate Certificate in Communications (CS) will provide you with the theory behind public relations communications; the effectiveness of various channels of communication; and the laws and ethics which impact on these.
Graduates will be able to identify and influence good outcomes through a sound theoretical approach and a thorough understanding of the environment in which they work.
You will learn to:
The Graduate Diploma/Certificate in Public Relations has now been changed to Corporate Sector. These changes have been made to reflect changes to both cultural and communication environments and the market place for communication professionals. If you are part way through this qualification, please see the attached transition table to see what papers you need to complete. If you are not sure, please contact the course administrator for assistance.
Corporate Sector
Compulsory:
BPC275 Communication Strategy - Corporate Sector (15 credits)
Paper offered in intakes 3 and 4 in 2023
This paper provides students with an understanding of the principles, use and application of communication strategies for achieving effective commercial and business communication in the corporate sector.
Choose three from the list below:
BPC300 Change Communication (15 credits)
Paper offered in intakes 1 and 2 in 2023
Students will be able to analyse and explain the components and risks of organisational change as they relate to communication strategies. They will understand the importance of understanding the culture of an organisation and how to identify and collaborate with partners and establish relationships with stakeholders to effect successful internal change communications.
BPC350 Online and Advanced Technologies (15 credits)
This paper provides students with an understanding of the use and application of current and emerging web technologies for publishing effective messages in the corporate, political or public sector working environment.
BPC312 Advanced Public Relations and Marketing Communication (15 credits)
This paper provides students with a critical appreciation of the role of public relations within an integrated marketing communications plan and how to develop and implement a marketing communications plan from a public relations viewpoint.
MGT706 Reputation and Brand Protection (15 credits)
This paper provides students with an understanding of what the components of reputation and brand are and how these are protected in a political setting. Students will also be able to develop strategic tactics for brand protection.
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Communication (Corporate Sector) will be able to identify and influence good outcomes through a sound theoretical approach and a thorough understanding of the environment in which they work. Recent graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Communication (Corporate Sector) have gained employment in areas including education, media and retail.
Entry is open to degree graduates who have graduated successfully from a relevant Bachelor’s degree programme, or can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
Suggested study path / combinations
Full time study
Full time study is completing 60 credits (four papers) per intake. Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.
Part time study
The number of credits selected per intake should depend on work, family, and other commitments. The recommended maximum number of credits per intake compared to working hours are:
Additional Information
All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and Internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.
Facilitator Assistance: During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only). All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study. Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme. Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.
Progress reports are sent out 6-8 weeks after the end of each intake.
We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.
Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.
What is the Zero Fees Scheme?
The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees. However, there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment and to student support services throughout your study with us.
Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?
Instructions to help you with your application:
If you are a new student …
Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.
What happens next?
For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification Graduate Certificate in Communication (Public Relations), they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments, successfully completed assessment requirements for all papers, and achieved a total of 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule. The timeframe for completion of this programme is three years.
Assessments for this programme may include written assessments, presentations, reports and online examinations.
For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here.
Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study