NZ Diploma in Business

The NZDipBus can be completed in two years full-time study. However, a significant number of NZDipBus students enrol part-time. The teaching programme for a NZDipBus paper usually takes one semester (half year) and is typically delivered in four hours per week for 15 weeks.

The NZDipBus is a level 6 qualification and is comprised of prescriptions each worth 20 credits at levels 4, 5, and 6. Students choose from available prescriptions to complete the required 240 credits. A student has achieved the current NZDipBus qualification when they have:

• achieved 240 credits of which 80 credits are at level six
• completed six of the seven core prescriptions
• completed no more than 60 credits at level four.

See NZ Diploma in Business prescriptions for more information on prescriptions.

See Assessment Rules and Procedures for Granting of The New Zealand Diploma in Business 2009.  These rules and procedures are being revised to include the requirements for version three of the qualification.

If you are a provider wanting to offer the NZDipBus see Course approval for NZ Diploma in Business.

NZQA and NZDipBus

NZQA is the owner of the New Zealand Diploma in Business. The roles of NZQA in relation to the NZDipBus are to:

• establish and maintain the regulations for the qualification.
• maintain a national database of results for NZDipBus papers, and to issue result notices to students on request
• maintain national records relating to NZDipBus graduates and to issue NZDipBus certificates on request
• develop and maintain prescriptions for NZDipBus subjects. Prescriptions specify learning outcomes and other assessment requirements for a subject. They do not prescribe teaching methods or other aspects of course delivery.
• manage the national external moderation system.
• service the National Advisory Committee for Business Studies (NACBS)
• communicate with the ITP sector including attending New Zealand Applied Business Education Forum (NZABEF) meetings.

Credit recognition and transfer

The NZDipBus allows for credit recognition and transfer from other qualifications. Credit transfer is a process whereby credits already achieved for one qualification are recognised towards a new qualification. In addition, people with the required knowledge and skills (gained through workplace experience, for example) may be credited with NZDipBus papers as a result of an assessment of prior learning. Contact your local NZDipBus accredited provider for more details.

A number of providers offer exemptions from the initial stage(s) of a business degree to the holder of a NZDipBus. For example, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand recognises the NZDipBus as fulfilling the academic requirements for admission to the College of Accounting Technicians, provided that an applicant has included specified papers.

NZDipBus results and certification

Download one of the following documents to apply for your New Zealand Diploma in Business, a certificate reprint or a transcript:

• Application for the New Zealand Diploma in Business (PDF, 61KB)
• Application for a reprint of the New Zealand Diploma in Business (PDF, 62KB)
• Application for a New Zealand Diploma in Business Transcript (DOC, 142KB)

NZ Diploma in Business statistics are published annually.

For information about NZDipBus results and certification, send your inquiry to the NZQA Records team.

NZDipBus moderation and prescription development

Moderation is the quality assurance mechanism that ensures appropriate standards are maintained across all TEOs. To find out more about moderation see Moderation of NZDipBus.

There is a formal process for prescription development and review. For more information on this process see Development of NZDipBus prescriptions.

Versions of the NZDipBus

The NZDipBus was reviewed and registered as a level 6 qualification on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications in December 2006. This 2006 version constitutes version two of the NZDipBus qualification.

Changes to the rules for credit recognition and transfer and to the reporting code for assessment of prior learning were approved in November 2010 and came into effect (as version three of the qualification) on 1 July 2011.

For information on moving from version one to version two see NZDipBus assessment rules and procedures sections 6.5 and 6.6, and NZDipBus version two information.

For information on moving from version two to version three see version three information.

Further information

For further information on the NZDipBus, contact Tertiary Assessment and Moderation (TAM), or an NZDipBus accredited provider.