Are you ready to take on a new challenge by stepping into a senior-level job? Perhaps you’re interested in postgraduate study but unsure about committing to a full master’s degree.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) is a 6-month introductory programme that prepares you for further postgraduate study. It also helps you develop advanced skills and knowledge for more specialist roles in the public sector and local and national government agencies.
Focus on partnership and stakeholder engagement.
Many of the world’s most critical environmental issues require biodiversity professionals who are experts in identifying priority biodiversity areas and developing strategies and tools that support conservation. Globally, this requires a high level of cultural competence, mainly when working with mana whenua (Indigenous people of the land – Māori) and other stakeholders, like policymakers, environmental managers, and landowners.
When you graduate, you’ll be able to:
Critically evaluate advanced knowledge in applied science including recognised industry methodologies, data analysis and effective problem-solving skills to explore issues arising from the human impact on the environment
Communicate and collaborate in diverse working environments in applied science to develop and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders, including government, Māori, and local communities.
Summarise advanced and new knowledge, insight, and innovation to improve practice in applied science for industry and community stakeholders.
Engage in analysis, criticism, and problem-solving to advance innovative practices in environmental sustainability in business, government, and non-governmental sectors.
Apply cross-cultural perspectives that embrace understanding and engagement with indigenous bodies of knowledge, practices, and worldviews with a key focus on Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in applied science.
Highlights
Earn and learn: This programme is a mix of online, on-campus learning, and field trips, making it an excellent option for biodiversity professionals who are already working and want to start postgraduate study.
Move your career up a level: With a postgraduate qualification, you’ll acquire higher-level knowledge and develop the necessary skills for your specialisation, strengthening your CV and the likelihood of a higher salary.
Key focus on Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Put into practice cross-cultural perspectives which embrace understanding and engagement with indigenous bodies of knowledge, practices, and worldviews.
Access Lab facilities (local and national): Depending on where you choose to complete your compulsory on-campus learning, you’ll learn in various facilities, including molecular biology, microbiology and GIS labs, Marae, herbaria and invertebrate collections, simulators, and other specialist equipment and machinery.
Learn from experts across the country: This programme is supported by highly qualified and respected scientists, other experts, and industry consultants from around Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Transition into further postgraduate study: This programme cross-credits towards our Master of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) and Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Biodiversity Management).
Scholarships and awards
At Unitec, we want to manaaki student success wherever we can, and scholarships is one of the ways we do that. We have scholarships that recognise the achievements and the challenges of dedicating yourself to learning, whether that's in vocational trade, at the undergraduate level, or at Masters degree level and beyond. Check out the scholarships listed below. The filters under Award Types, Characteristics, and Status will help refine your search. If you have questions, please email our Scholarships team or book in with a Scholarships advisor.
Unitec’s learning facilities
Applied Molecular Solutions Lab
If you’re interested in the genetics of animals, plants, and fungi, this lab is fully equipped for DNA extraction and analysis.
Some fascinating research projects include DNA barcoding of possible biological control agents, bioremediation of contaminated soils, and molecular analysis of seabird diets.
GIS Laboratory
Where science meets tech, the GIS Laboratory has 40 workstations with industry-standard ArcGIS and associated software.
Using high-performance Graphics Processing Units on Virtual Device Interfaces with large 24-inch monitors, these computers can run realistic 3D modeling, spatial analysis, image rendering, and other computing-intensive tasks.
The Herbarium
With a collection of 11,500 scientifically preserved plants, fungi, lichens, and seaweeds, the Herbarium is where you'll learn about plant specimen collection and preparation techniques.
The Herbarium supports essential research, including investigations into invasive and native plants and fungi and an active lichen research group’s studies.
There’s also the opportunity to assist with accessioning and curation as a volunteer.
Admission requirements
What you will need to study this programme.
Domestic students
Academic requirements
You must have completed at least one of the following:
A recognised bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with merit (an average grade of B- or higher; Or
A professional qualification in a relevant discipline recognised as equivalent to merit in a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
And meet one of the English entry requirements;
University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Māori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2026; please check back again soon.
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program code:PGCAS - PGCAS
Compulsory Course ID:013577 - 8001TP - Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
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Compulsory Course ID:013577 - 8001TP - Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
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Course count:108
Elective Course ID:013579 - 8003TP - Biosecurity: Strategy and Implementation
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Elective Course ID:013579 - 8003TP - Biosecurity: Strategy and Implementation
Elective Course ID:013592 - 8016TP - The Human Dimension of Change
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Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills and cultural competencies to authentically engage with Maori, Moriori, indigenous peoples elsewhere in the world, and other stakeholders. They do this by exploring stakeholders’ cultures and value systems, critically evaluating their own values, creating and enacting a plan for engagement and reflecting on their experiences.
Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills and cultural competencies to authentically engage with Maori, Moriori, indigenous peoples elsewhere in the world, and other stakeholders. They do this by exploring stakeholders’ cultures and value systems, critically evaluating their own values, creating and using a model for engagement, reflecting on their experiences, and creating an action plan for further professional development in applied science and biodiversity.
The aim of this course is to build skills to undertake a hypothesis driven applied research project based on review of previous knowledge around the student’s chosen research topic.
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the effective and efficient planning and implementation of biosecurity operations, integrating current practice and Māori traditional values. Learners will become proficient in the theory and practice of biosecurity, including legislation, policy, strategy and invasion biology.
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to manage the effective and efficient planning and implementation of biosecurity operations, integrating current practice and awareness of Māori traditional values. Learners will become proficient in the theory and practice for the development and implementation of biosecurity strategies, methodologies, legislation, and practices required for pest management operations.
Students will critically examine ecological restoration approaches, and the techniques and technologies used for ecological restoration considering different cultural perspectives. They will then critique the application of international conventions and national and local legislation and policy. They will then apply these learnings and skills to develop and plan an ecological restoration project that considers tangata whenua and other local communities.
Students will gain knowledge, skills and competencies to build, analyse and effectively communicate spatial solutions to complex challenges in ecological management. Students will be able to generate map products that will support decision making, planning and management of biodiversity related projects.
Students will gain experience, skills, and competencies to critically assess taxonomic methodologies, including interpreting and integrating phylogenetic analyses, to solve complex taxonomic uncertainties within a variety of taxonomic groups. Students will also be able to critique the application of nomenclature then also apply these skills to the curation and annotation of biological collections.
