The aim of the Graduate Diploma in Business and Enterprise (GDBE) is to provide students with the opportunity to study business and entrepreneurial skills in the context of the creative and related industries that require flair, innovation and entrepreneurism. The GDBE consists of 120 credits, involving both coursework and work-integrated learning. It is a NZQA approved level 7 qualification that can be completed full-time within one year. It is offered at Tai Poutini's Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ) campus located in Auckland's CBD. Courses focus on entrepreneurship, in a context of the creative industries, and range across strategy, marketing, innovation, and applied research. The work-integrated capstone course provides the opportunity to directly apply this learning in a real-life situation.

This Graduate Diploma will provide Level 6 and 7 students with the opportunity to study business and entrepreneurial skills in the context of creative and other industries. It will also provide them with the opportunity to focus on a Capstone project by way of an internship in the industry they nominate which could lead to future employment, research or study. It aims to challenge them in terms of business creativity, enterprising thought and encourages them to search for business solutions which are a good fit for 21st century thinking.This programme may also appeal to international students who have an undergraduate degree or diploma from their home-land and wish to round this off with a graduate qualification which equips them with a broad range of business skills learned in a progressive country such as New Zealand. Graduates will be able to engage in business; they will be able to develop and implement a strategic plan they will be able to market products and services to a range of customers and clients using traditional and new methods of communication they will be able to research, analyse and implement strategies and identify risk and potential gain through entrepreneurism and they will be able to take their knowledge into a real-world situation and apply it to demonstrate they can function at practical and theoretical levels across a range of subjects and processes. Career outcomes Business or client manager Self employment Public client relations Higher level administrator Marketing management and liaison Project manager Event manager Overall Learning Outcomes include Ability to develop and implement a strategic plan for a small business An understanding of communications v marketing and how each is implemented for maximum gain, including a marketing plan Analysis and appraisal of models which apply innovation or entrepreneurship to a business idea Selection and analysis of processes for meeting business needs High level presentation skills using a variety of media Implementation of business skills in the workplace using practical sustainable business methods and be able to analyse and report on the success or otherwise.

This Graduate Diploma is open to students who have successfully completed an under-graduate degree; or a Diploma at Level 56 who can demonstrate substantial practical experience in their chosen field.Special Entry may be granted where evidence exists that the applicant can successfully complete the programme. Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet IELTS or equivalent Level 6.
Students will be eligible to pathway into postgraduate programmes of study.

Either an undergraduate degree, or a Level 5 or 6 Diploma and ability to demonstrate practical experience in a creative industry by satisfying the institution's Recognition of Prior Learning policy for that level of study (see below). Students for whom English is a second language should be able to show evidence of Academic IELTS with an overall score of 6 and no band score lower than 5.5 gained within the past two years in the one examination, or an equivalent measure of English-language proficiency. Students must be able to commit to attending three days a week for the full duration of each class for each five week course. Special Entry may be granted where evidence exists that the applicant can successfully complete the programme. This applies to students who can demonstrate they have previously met the learning outcomes of a particular course or courses. Where there is an exact match they may apply to have these cross credited. Students who can demonstrate industry experience relevant to these qualifications may apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Evaluation of RPL will be by a combination of the following: Inspection of outlines and results of any previously passed similar courses Interview to discuss the depth of industry experience and assessment of Curriculum Vitae. Special examination - challenge test. Students will be able to RPL or cross credit 25% of the full 75/120 credits. Applicants may seek to complete individual courses from this qualification in any given year. Some restrictions due to delivery methods may apply. Note: TEC funding rules require applicants to commit to completing the entire qualification although no timeframe is stated.