New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5)

Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to work in an autonomous management capacity and are likely to have control over the management of a primary industry business or a unit within a primary industry business.

Education pathway

This qualification may build on the skills and knowledge from a range of qualifications across the primary industry sector.

Graduates of this qualification may progress to relevant qualifications at Level 6 or may progress to SIT's Bachelor of Applied Management (Agribusiness Management major).

All applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in primary industry business management (and preferably have current employment or involvement in a primary industry business) and have academic attributes which demonstrate that they have a reasonable likelihood of successful completion of the programme.

• Examples may include completion of a programme of study at Level 4 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in a related field for 2 or more years. 

All enrolments in the New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management programme are at the discretion of the Programme Manager in consultation with the Head of Faculty as required.

Important note: For completion of assessments, learners entering this programme should be in a position to access financial, management, production and performance information about a specific primary industry business, and to manage production factors of a specific business.

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 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: a) 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 International ESOL Written (LRW) HIGH PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than merit 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

Full time study is classed as completing 60 credits per intake. Students who study full time will complete the qualification over two (non-overlapping) intakes. Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.

The number of credits selected for part time study should depend on work, family, and other commitments. The recommended maximum number of credits per intake, in consideration of 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).

This is a guide only and will differ from student to student due to individual circumstances.

Students studying part time have a maximum of four years in which they can complete the qualification.

Cross credits, credit transfers, and recognition of prior learning

Please refer to the Academic Support page on the SIT website for details regarding cross credits, credit transfers and recognition of prior learning: https://www.sit.ac.nz/Prior-Learning

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 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.

• I have read all sections of the Programme Information on this page
• I have read the SIT2LRN 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)
• Year one papers must be completed before commencing year two papers and year two papers must be completed before commencing year three papers
• 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.
• I have completed and will attach a cross credit form (if applying for a cross credit)
• 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 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?

• 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 SIT2LRN 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.

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.

Please scan and email all additional documentation to sit2lrn@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.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business 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 Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5)
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5) full-time over one year or part-time over a maximum of four years.

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

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

• Assignments
• Case studies
• Presentations
• Reports
• Discussion Activities

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.

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