New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) (Leadership and Management)

Locations and dates

Marlborough:

23 February 2026

20 July 2026

Nelson:

23 February 2026

20 July 2026
Study options

Full time and part time
Length

Full time: 34 teaching weeks plus 6 weeks of study break; part-time study is available in this programme.
Total credits

120
Fees

2026: $7,024 plus $350 Student Services Fee

A Student Service Fee applies (2025; $2.17 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.

N.B. The 2026 SSF final fee is currently subject to consultation with learners.
National qualification code

NZ2459

Become an effective leader by building the right managerial skills.

All business organisations need skilled and competent members of a team who demonstrate the potential to lead staff, ensure targets align with strategic objectives, manage projects, and contribute to business planning to achieve high performance and productivity.

This programme will give you the tools to motivate, engage, make a change, achieve objectives, manage workflows and ensure you meet all your necessary legal and organisational requirements as a manager while understanding the New Zealand business environment.

The knowledge you build will give you the skills you need to make you a valued employee who can contribute from day one in an organisation.

Once you qualify, this programme is also an excellent springboard for further study. Graduates of this programme are eligible to enter the second year of our Bachelor of Commerce degree(external link). You could also enter other relevant industry or professional qualifications at Level 6 or above.

Marlborough campus via video link

Most classes will be video linked from our Nelson campus for students studying on our Marlborough campus. Video link students meet and study together on the Marlborough campus and then interact with their fellow students, and the lecturer, in Nelson via the video linking software.

Marlborough students have full access to Library Learner Services and one-on-one tutor sessions as required.

Delivered fully online by Open Polytechnic

Programme delivery

This programme is delivered over the first two semesters, full-time students can expect to study four courses per semester.

Full-time students can expect to attend eight two-hour classes each week (two, two-hour classes per course). Classes are held between 8 am - 7 pm.

Each semester you should allow time to study.

As a general indication, for all level 5-7 (15 credit) courses, you can expect:

60 hours of teaching (4 hours per week for 17 weeks) in a classroom
90 self-directed learning (averaging 6 hours per week), working through course material and assignments in your own time
Totalling 10-12 hours of study per course per week

Study and career opportunities

Entry requirements

To be admitted to this programme, all applicants must be at least 16 years of age on the date the programme starts and meet one of the following requirements:

NCEA Level 2 or equivalent
Successful completion of an approved qualification at Level 3 or above with a relevant pathway.

Special and Discretionary admission is also available.

International applicants must provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the Programme as demonstrated by an IELTS score of 5.5 (academic) with no individual band lower than 5.0 from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules(external link).

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