New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 6)

Advance your career in the hospitality and tourism industry with the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 6). This industry-focused programme helps students develop advanced management skills and the confidence to lead hospitality and service businesses in today’s fast-changing global environment.

Students gain practical knowledge in business strategy, financial management, sales and marketing, leadership, operations management, customer experience, and team development. The programme combines real-world learning with industry knowledge, helping students build strong problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.

Graduates are well prepared for supervisory and management roles across hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourism businesses, events, retail, customer service, and many other people-focused industries both in New Zealand and internationally.

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Invercargill
Queenstown
Campus
Queenstown
Qualification
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
120
Duration

One year full-time

Part-time study is also available

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$2,161.00 (incl. GST)


International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.

Course Outline

Become a future leader in the hospitality and tourism industry with the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 6). This advanced diploma is designed to help students develop the practical management, leadership, and business skills needed to succeed in today’s hospitality environment.

Students learn how to manage different areas of a hospitality business, including customer service, business strategy, financial management, sales and marketing, operations, and team leadership. The programme focuses on real-world learning and helps students build confidence in making business decisions, solving problems, and leading teams effectively.

Throughout the programme, students will learn how to:

Manage and develop hospitality staff to create positive customer experiences
Use communication, consultation, negotiation, and reporting skills to build strong workplace relationships
Apply financial management techniques to improve productivity, profitability, and business performance
Analyse business challenges and develop strategic solutions in response to changes within the hospitality industry
Plan future business strategies involving marketing, product development, financial planning, and continuous improvement

This diploma prepares graduates for management roles with minimal supervision across hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafés, bars, catering, tourism businesses, events, retail, customer service, and other people-focused industries both in New Zealand and internationally.

Course Content

MAN636 Leadership & HR in Action

This paper develops students’ understanding of leadership and human resource management within modern organisations. Students explore leadership styles, teamwork, communication, motivation, workplace culture, and HR practices, while building practical skills required to manage and lead people effectively in hospitality, tourism, retail, and other service industries.

ACT610 Finance

This paper introduces students to financial management concepts and practices used within businesses. Students learn how to analyse financial information, prepare budgets, make financial decisions, and understand the role of finance in improving business performance and profitability.

MKT677 Digital Marketing

This paper explores the fast-changing world of digital marketing and online communication. Students learn how businesses use social media, digital platforms, online advertising, branding, and content strategies to engage customers and promote products and services in today’s digital environment.

HTM608 Entrepreneurship

This paper develops students’ entrepreneurial thinking and business development skills. Students learn how to identify business opportunities, develop innovative ideas, create business plans, and understand the key factors involved in starting and managing a successful business venture.

HTM601 Contemporary Tourism

This paper expands students’ knowledge of tourism and hospitality theories through practical industry examples. Students explore important topics such as ecotourism, sustainability, authenticity, visitor experiences, and the relationship between tourism systems and their social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts.

MKT675 Marketing Management

This paper develops students’ understanding of strategic marketing management in contemporary business environments. Students learn how to analyse markets, understand consumer behaviour, develop marketing strategies, and apply marketing concepts to improve business performance and customer engagement.

MAN632 Operations Management

This paper focuses on the management of business operations and processes within service and hospitality environments. Students learn how to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction through effective planning, resource management, and operational decision-making.

MAN638 Facilities Management

This paper introduces students to the management of facilities and physical assets within hospitality and service organisations. Students learn about maintenance planning, sustainability, health and safety, space utilisation, and the importance of managing facilities effectively to support business operations and customer experiences.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this qualification will be well prepared for management and leadership opportunities across a wide range of hospitality and service industries. They will develop the confidence, practical skills, and industry knowledge needed to work independently and effectively in management roles with minimal supervision.

Career opportunities may include hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafés, bars, tourism businesses, events, accommodation providers, retail, customer service, and other people-focused industries both in New Zealand and internationally.

The qualification helps develop professional standards and management capabilities that are highly valued within the hospitality industry, giving employers and customers confidence in graduates’ ability to deliver high-quality service, effective leadership, and positive customer experiences across different hospitality environments.

Application Criteria

School Leavers
Applicants should be a minimum of 18 years of age, with a minimum of four years secondary education and have attained a minimum of 48 NCEA credits at Level 2 or 36 NCEA credits at Level 3, or an equivalent academic indicator.

Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. 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, or

Have successfully completed the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5).

Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, 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 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic) 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

Qualification Pathways

This qualification provides a strong pathway into the third year of SIT’s Bachelor of Hotel Management. Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 6) can achieve a Level 7 degree qualification by completing just one additional year of study.

The final year of the Bachelor programme includes one semester of on-campus study in Invercargill, followed by one semester of internship placement, giving students the opportunity to gain valuable real-world industry experience in a location of their choice.

This pathway allows students to continue building their leadership, management, and professional skills while gaining practical experience that can open doors to exciting career opportunities within hospitality, tourism, events, retail, customer service, and other service-focused industries both in New Zealand and internationally.

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