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Institute of Technology or Polytechnic

Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic logo

Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice

This course is available

Online

Level of Study

Graduate Certificate or Diploma

Duration

1 year

Next start date

Expected Dec 2026

Campus

Dunedin Campus

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Summary

The course is designed to take your current work environment as the basis of this qualification. It is a self-directed study where you investigate a challenge or an area at your workplace that you want to solve or develop. You can then research and define this issue, develop an approach for resolving it, and implement processes to achieve your desired outcomes.

About the programme

Are you experienced in your professional field? This programme is delivered through Capable NZ, our Assessment for Prior Learning Centre.

At Capable NZ, we base our philosophy on using the real-life experiences from your professional life as rich learning material. During this programme, you'll identify a challenge or goal in your work environment to research and then develop and implement an approach for resolving it.

Because the programme may be closely aligned with your organisation’s goals, it is often strongly supported by employers as a professional development opportunity and can be studied successfully while you're working. What’s more, you can apply a Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice to virtually any discipline or sector.

For example, sustainability, or workplace health and safety.

Studying part-time

We know full-time study isn't always possible.

We also offer a 18-20 month part-time option for this programme.

Entry criteria

Academic requirements

You must hold a bachelor's degree OR equivalent AND/OR 7-10 years of professional practice experience.

International equivalence

To enter Otago Polytechnic's undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees, you need to have achieved a secondary school qualification that is equivalent to New Zealand's NCEA levels (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).

This information is available by country on our Equivalent academic entry requirements page.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide: New Zealand University Entrance OR Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for internationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

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Please note that degrees and qualifications earned via remote or distance learning are excluded from the overseas credential evaluation and recognition services provided by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). For more information, please contact CSCSE directly: +86-10-62677800 (phone) or visit their website(external link that opens in a new tab).

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