About the programme
The Postgraduate Diploma in Parks, Recreation and Tourism is an NZQF level 8 programme at Lincoln University that builds an advanced understanding of parks, recreation and tourism and prepares graduates to contribute to recreation planning and development. It carries 120 credits and takes 1 year of full-time study.
Students examine the behaviour of tourists and of people taking part in recreation, along with the strategies and methods used by tourism and recreation providers. They also look closely at how political systems, policy bodies and local or global economic and environmental factors influence long-range planning and commercial choices across the sector.
The study plan opens with a compulsory course in resource studies theory. Students then choose at least three courses from a subject list covering sport and physical activity, events and festivals, tourism management, Mana Kaitiaki (Māori resource management), the social psychology of wellbeing, nature-based recreation and tourism, sport and recreation management, and tourist behaviour. Optionally, they can add one social science research methods course (or, with Academic Board approval, another 600-level research methods course) and up to 20 credits of 600-level courses from the wider schedule with the Academic Coordinator's agreement.
Graduates can apply their grasp of how the recreation and tourism industries really work to planning and development work at different levels. The diploma can be taken as a standalone qualification or used as a step towards a master's degree. It is taught on the Lincoln University campus.
Entry requirements
- A relevant New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree or recognised equivalent, with at least a B- average in 300-level and final-year courses
- Additional English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
What you study
- ERST 601 Advanced Theory in Resource Studies (compulsory)
- RECN 604 Sport, Physical Activity and Fitness
- RECN 640 Events and Festivals: Contexts and Concepts
- TOUR 603 Tourism Management
- TOUR 604 Tourist Behaviour
- RECN 626 Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
- RECN 627 Advanced Sport and Recreation Management
- MAST 603 Mana Kaitiaki (Māori Resource Management)
- PSYC 602 Advanced Social Psychology of Wellbeing
- Optional: SOCI 601 or SOCI 602 Social Science Research Methods
Careers after graduation
- Recreation and tourism planning and development at different levels
- Roles with tourism and recreation service providers
- Further study at master's level
Post-study work visa
About 1 year
Depends on the qualification, the length of study and other Immigration New Zealand requirements.
This description is based on the official programme page, checked on 09/09/2026. Ask an NIU adviser about fees and intake dates — the programme page on the Lincoln University website