New Zealand Diploma in Business (Accounting Strand) (Level 5)

Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Accounting strand) will have the skills and knowledge to be employed in a variety of business entities in accounting roles such as:

• Finance administrator
• Inventory controller
• Accounts receivable/payable officer

Graduates may also be able to contribute to community groups in volunteer accounting functions.

School Leavers

Applicants should be a minimum of 18 years of age, have completed a minimum of four years secondary education, and have attained a minimum of 12 NCEA credits at Level 2 in each of four approved subjects. 

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 3 or above in a related discipline and/or relevant employment for two or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Leader as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Not withstanding the above admission categories in exceptional circumstances, applicants of mature age who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.

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.

Diploma at Level 5

• IELTS test - Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score of 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
• Cambridge English Examination – B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 162.  No less than 154 in each skill
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level   b) Current:
• Level 4 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 4 (General) or (Employment)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
• Language Cert - B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than merit in any band

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5).
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5) full-time over 1 year or part-time over a maximum of 5 years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit zero fees entitlement.

Graduates may progress to:

• New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Māori Business and Management) (Level 6)
• Business qualifications at degree level
• Relevant industry or professional qualifications at Level 6 or above.

Award of this qualification with the Accounting strand may equip graduates towards achievement of the academic requirements for CAANZ’s Accounting Technicians College.