Graduate Certificate in Project Management

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Project Management will be equipped to contribute effectively to project-based work within a range of organisational contexts. They will have the capability to support the planning, justification, and delivery of projects by applying foundational project management principles, business case analysis, and risk-aware decision-making.

Graduates would be well suited to entry-level or transitional project roles, or to upskilling within an existing role where project responsibilities are increasing. They may work as part of project teams, supporting feasibility assessment, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and the application of emerging project management practices.

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 Certificate within one intake.

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 sitonline@sit.ac.nz to discuss or download the cross-credit application form, found here.

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 Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.

Before you apply

Please read the Information on this page before starting your application. 
Your application will be assessed based on the information and supporting documents you provide.

Missing information or documents may delay your application.

Application checklist (once you click “Enrol”)

Before submitting your application, check that:

• You have read the Programme Information on this page.
• You meet the programme admission requirements.
• You meet any entry requirements for the individual paper(s) you want to study.
• You have selected your preferred intake(s), avoiding overlapping intakes.
• You know how you intend to pay for your study.
• If your organisation or employer is paying, you have an approved purchase order ready to attach. If they do not pay your fees, these will become your responsibility.
• If applying for cross credit, you have completed the required cross credit form.
• You have access to a computer, internet connection and software for creating electronic documents, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

For Level 3 programmes: You will be required by the Tertiary Education Commission to complete at least one literacy and one numeracy assessment as part of your studies.

New students

You will also need to:

• Provide an active NSN in the name you are enrolling under. If you do not know your NSN, contact NZQA on 0800 697 296.
• If you do not have an active NSN, provide verified identification in the name you are enrolling under.
• If you are a New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident, provide proof of residency.
• Provide supporting academic documentation, such as your NZQA Record of Achievement, academic transcripts or certificates. These documents do not need to be verified.
• If you do not have academic documentation, provide a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience.
• Attach any other supporting documents required for the programme.

Zero Fees Scheme | What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

Under the Zero Fees Scheme, SIT does not charge tuition fees. You will still need to pay the applicable Student Direct Material Cost and a non-refundable administration fee.

The Student Direct Material Cost provides access to Blackboard®, SIT's online learning environment, and student support services throughout your study.

Who qualifies?

The Zero Fees Scheme is available to:

• New Zealand citizens completing the full qualification.
• Australian citizens, New Zealand Residents and Permanent Residents who will be living in New Zealand for the duration of their enrolment.

If you are not eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme, call 0800 748 257 to discuss your options.

Submit your application

Complete the online application and attach all required supporting documentation.

Before submitting, check that the information you have provided is complete and accurate. Missing information or documentation may delay the processing of your application.

Any additional documentation can be emailed to sitonline@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

1. Application received
   You will receive an automatic email confirming that SIT has received your application. Processing may take up to three weeks. We will contact you sooner if we require additional documentation.
2. Offer and invoice
   If your application is accepted, you will receive a conditional offer of acceptance, an invoice and payment instructions.
3. Enrolment confirmed
   Once payment has been received, or you have selected an approved payment method such as Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order, you will receive an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet.
4. Get ready to study
   Closer to the start of your intake, you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter with the information, tools and guidance you need to begin your studies.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification Graduate Certificate 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 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule. The timeframe for completion of this programme is two 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.