Graduate Diploma in Project Management

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Project Management will have the capability to evaluate organisational challenges and implement projects that address strategic priorities outside standard operational activities. They will have the knowledge to apply project management methodologies, risk assessment, business case development, and leadership skills to plan and deliver initiatives in diverse and dynamic organisational contexts, both individually and as part of a team.

Possible roles may include project-focused, coordination, or advisory roles:

• Working on projects that sit outside business-as-usual operations, often supporting organisational change, improvement initiatives, or new capability development
• Planning, justifying, and coordinating projects, including risk assessment, business case development, stakeholder engagement, and reporting
• Contributing to cross-functional project teams, liaising between operational staff, managers, external providers, and stakeholders
• Taking responsibility for managing defined workstreams or entire projects with moderate complexity, risk, or innovation elements

All applicants must:

1. have obtained at least an undergraduate degree in any discipline (provide degree evidence with your application)

OR

1. be a mature student (aged at least 20 years) with at least three years’ relevant work experience and have successfully completed a minimum of 40 credits of study at Level 6 in any discipline (provide curriculum vitae detailing relevant work experience and evidence of academic achievements with your application). 

English Language Requirements

All applicants (international and domestic) need to provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme.

For domestic applicants, this can be demonstrated by the equivalence of: 

• 10 NCEA literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:

• 5 credits in reading
• 5 credits in writing

If unable to provide evidence of the above, applicants may be required to demonstrate capability using:

• an approved proficiency test or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules
• successful completion of Level 4 study in English

International applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, must provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme as outlined in the table for internationally recognised English proficiency outcomes for international students from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules and on Delivery Site English Language Requirements for International Ākonga webpage.

Full-time study

Full-time study is completing 60 credits per intake. Students studying full-time will complete the Graduate Diploma within two intakes (one year)

Full-time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.

Part-time study

The number of credits selected per intake will depend on work, family, and other commitments. The recommended maximum number of credits per intake, compared to working hours, are:

• Working 37+ hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 30 credits per intake
• Working 20 – 37 hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 45 credits per intake
• Working fewer than 20 hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 60 credits per intake (full-time study).

Cross Credit

If you have completed project management study at Level 6 or higher in the last five years you may be able to have some of your study credited towards this programme. 

Please contact SIT Online to discuss or download the cross credit application form. http://www.sit.ac.nz/Students/Academic-Support

Additional information

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period. Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
• All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs).
• Online enrolments are on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes in one enrolment.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover. 

All SIT Online courses require you to have a computer and Internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT Online 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 2^nd 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.

All students will receive an official academic transcript on successful completion of their programme of study which will be posted, or given to you at Graduation.  However, after each intake is finished, students can check their results on MySIT to view/print an interim (unofficial) transcript. 

We recommend students new to SIT Online read through the FAQs 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.

• I have read all sections of the Programme Information on this page
• I have read the SIT Online Frequently Asked Questions section
• I have met all admission criteria for the programme (found under "Application Criteria")
• I have met all the criteria for individual papers (found under "Course Content").
• I have selected the paper(s) I wish to study
• I have selected intake(s) (I have selected alternate intakes rather than overlapping intakes)
• I know my intended payment method
• If my organisation/company is paying for my studies, I have a completed and approved purchase order to attach to my online application.  I am aware that should my organisation or company not pay my fees, these will become my responsibility.
• New students – I have provided an active NSN in the name I am enrolling in or I have verified ID and will attach it to my online application.
• New students – I will attach academic documentation (NZQA record of achievement/academic transcripts/certificates).  These do not need to be verified. (If you do not have any academic documentation to support your application, please attach a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience).
• I have computer access,  an Internet connection and access to software to create electronic documents e.g. Microsoft Word or Open Office

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 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?

• A New Zealand citizen completing the full qualification or 
• An Australian citizen/New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident who will be residing in New Zealand for the duration of your enrolment.

Instructions to help you with your application:

1. Read the Programme Information on this page and the SIT Online Frequently Asked Questions and find out if you meet the application criteria for both the programme and the unit/s you wish to study.
2. Check your eligibility for Zero Fees. If you are not eligible to study under this scheme, please call 
   0800 748 257 for further options.
3. Complete your online enrolment checking that:

If you are a new student …

• Provide an active NSN number in the name you are enrolling in (contact NZQA on 0800 697 296 to get your NSN number if you do not know it);
• If you do not have an active NSN, then attach a copy of your verified ID in the name you are enrolling in.
• If you are a Resident or Permanent resident of NZ, please provide a copy of proof of residency;
• Attach all academic documentation to support your application including copies of any certificates of courses you have undertaken / NZQA record of achievement / transcripts / CV;

Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.

1. Please check that you have included all the required information and supporting documents.  Your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide.  Missing information will delay the processing of your application.
2. Please scan and email all additional documentation to sitonline@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

• You will receive an automatic email confirmation when we receive your online application. Processing may take up to three weeks. However, we will get in touch with you sooner if we require further documentation.
• Once your application has been accepted you will be sent a conditional offer of acceptance with an invoice and instructions on how to make payment.
• Once we have received your payment (or if you have opted to pay by Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order) you will be sent an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet. Closer to the start of the intake you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter which will give you all the necessary information, tools and guidance to start your study with us.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification Graduate Diploma in Project Management, they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments, successfully completed assessment requirements for all papers, and achieved a total of 120 credits as specified in the programme schedule. The timeframe for completion of this programme is four years.

Assessments for this programme may include, but are not limited to: 

• Essays/reports
• Case studies
• Presentations
• Reflections

All assessment items, including Discussion Activities, must be submitted and an overall grade of C- or higher must be achieved to pass the paper. All requirements for assessment must be submitted by the advised time and date. Late assignments will not be accepted unless an extension has been requested by the student and granted by the facilitator, in writing, before the due date. Please click here for further details of assessments in the papers in this qualification.

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here.