Jumpstart your career with the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) and develop practical skills that can open doors to opportunities across hospitality, tourism, retail, customer service, events, and many other service-based industries.
This industry-focused programme helps students build knowledge in hospitality operations, customer service, facilities management, inventory control, teamwork, leadership, and staff management. Students also develop valuable communication, problem-solving, and organisational skills that are highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries.
With a blend of practical learning and real-world industry experience, graduates are well prepared for careers in hotels, tourism businesses, restaurants, retail management, events, sales, customer service, and business operations both in New Zealand and internationally.
One year full-time
Part-time study is also available
2026 Intake 3: 06 July to 02 May
2026 Intake 4: 14 September to 11 July
2026 Intake 5: 23 November to 19 September
2027 Intake 1: 01 March to 28 November
2027 Intake 2: 10 May to 05 March
2027 Intake 3: 19 July to 05 May
2027 Intake 4: 27 September to 14 July
2027 Intake 5: 06 December to 22 September
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
Kickstart your career in the hospitality and tourism industry with the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5). This practical and industry-focused programme gives students the skills and confidence to manage different areas of a hospitality business, including facilities, inventory, operations, customer service, and staff management.
The diploma prepares students for supervisory, team leader, and junior management roles across a wide range of industries such as hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, catering, accommodation, tourism businesses, events, retail, and other customer-focused service sectors.
Students learn hospitality operating procedures, compliance requirements, staffing strategies, communication, leadership, and facility and inventory management through a combination of classroom learning and practical industry experience. The programme helps students build valuable real-world skills that employers highly value, creating strong pathways into employment or further study both in New Zealand and internationally.
ACT510 Introduction to Accounting and Taxation
Develop an understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and taxation processes used in modern businesses. Students learn how to apply accounting concepts and tax rules to prepare and interpret financial statements, building practical financial skills valuable across hospitality, tourism, retail, and many other industries.
BSNS5001 Organisations in an Aotearoa New Zealand Context
Explore how businesses operate within the unique social, cultural, economic, and business environment of Aotearoa New Zealand. Students develop knowledge and skills to analyse different types of organisations and understand the role of culture, sustainability, and business practices in New Zealand workplaces.
BSNS5301 Introduction to Human Resources
Gain knowledge of key human resource functions including recruitment, staff development, communication, teamwork, and performance management. This course helps students understand how effective people management contributes to successful organisations and positive workplace culture.
BSNS5501 Introduction to Marketing
Learn the foundations of marketing and how businesses attract, satisfy, and retain customers in today’s competitive environment. Students explore marketing principles, consumer behaviour, branding, promotion, and digital marketing strategies relevant to hospitality, tourism, retail, and service industries.
HTM501 Introduction to Tourism
Discover the exciting world of tourism and hospitality through key concepts, theories, and real-world industry examples. This course provides an understanding of tourism markets, visitor behaviour, global tourism trends, and the importance of customer experience within the tourism and hospitality industry.
HTM505 Food and Beverage Management
Develop practical and management skills required for successful food and beverage operations. Students learn about hospitality operations, customer service, legal and operational requirements, staff supervision, and the importance of maintaining high standards in restaurants, cafés, bars, catering, and hotel operations.
HTM507 Hotel Operations
Gain an understanding of the key functions of Front Office and Housekeeping operations within hotels and accommodation businesses. Students learn the importance of guest service, teamwork, quality management, and creating positive guest experiences through both tangible and intangible hospitality services.
HTM509 Hospitality Service Delivery Systems
Build practical and managerial skills required to plan, manage, and improve hospitality service operations. This course focuses on service quality, customer satisfaction, service recovery, communication skills, and the practical application of hospitality management concepts within food service and hospitality environments.
Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) will develop the practical skills, industry knowledge, and confidence needed for a wide range of career opportunities within hospitality, tourism, retail, customer service, and other service-focused industries.
Career pathways may include junior or trainee management positions, as well as supervisory and team leader roles across hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, catering businesses, accommodation providers, tourism operations, and event venues.
The programme prepares students with strong communication, teamwork, customer service, and operational management skills that employers highly value. Many recent graduates have successfully gained employment within the hospitality and tourism industry across New Zealand, with some progressing into leadership roles and long-term career opportunities within the wider service sector.
School LeaversApplicants 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 ApplicantsApplicants 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 employment in the tourism or related sector for two or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager 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.
However, in exceptional circumstances, a mature aged applicant 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
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
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
(Please Note: students failing to attend for 80% of timetabled programme hours may forfeit zero fees entitlement).
This course pathways into the first year of SIT’s Bachelor of Hotel Management.
This means that New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) graduates can gain the Level 7 degree qualification by completing just two additional year's study - three semesters on campus in Invercargill, and one semester in an internship placement in the location of your choice.