At-a-glance 

Name: Postgraduate Diploma in Science 

Abbreviation: PGDipSc

Duration: 2 trimesters 

Duration details: 2 trimesters of full-time study or normally 4 if studied part time

Schedule: Lectures and lab sessions

Intensity: Part time and full time

Type: Coursework 

Study at: On-campus (Kelburn, Wellington)

Complete: 120 points (approximately 7 courses)

Entry: Bachelor of Science with at least a B average

Start: Trimester 1 or 2

Apply by: Standard trimester dates

Costs: From database for international only at this stage

Impact of previous university study in same subject: Requires

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you'll need:

A Bachelor's degree with at least a B average 

To have met the prerequisites for the subject you wish to study (see subject section below)

Acceptance by the relevant head of the school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study

Important information

• If you want to enrol in this programme but don't meet some of the entry requirements, you should contact the programme director or administrator to discuss your options.
• The academic Calendar is the authoritative source of programme and course information.

Programme requirements

For this programme you’ll need to:

Complete at least 120 points from 400- and 500-level courses

Satisfy the subject requirements

Subject requirements

For this subject you’ll need to:

Biotechnology

Have previously completed:

• BTEC 301
• TECH 302
• Further courses worth 35 points from:
  • BIOL 334-354
  • BMSC 301
  • BMSC 334-354
  • Either CHEM 305 or CHEM 306

Complete courses worth at least 30 points from BTEC 400-479

Complete further courses to total 120 points from:

• BTEC 400-489
• BTEC 580
• BIOL 400-480
• CHEM 400-480
• MBIO 400-480

Cell and Molecular Bioscience

Have previously completed:

• BIOL 340
• BMSC 339
• Further courses worth 40 points from:
  • BMSC 301
  • BIOL 329-354
  • BMSC 329-354

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• BIOL 430-440
• BMSC 433
• CBIO 489
• CBIO 580

Chemistry

Have previously completed 200- and 300-level courses worth 135 points from CHEM or other approved courses, including:

• At least 60 points at 300-level

Complete approved courses worth 120 points from:

• CHEM 400-489
• CHEM 580

Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience

Have previously completed nine courses:

• Either BIOL 114 or BMSC 114
• PSYC 232
• Three further courses from PSYC 200-299
• PSYC 325
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• PSYC 404
• PSYC 417
• PSYC 422
• PSYC 424
• PSYC 444
• PSYC 445
• PSYC 448
• PSYC 489
• BIOL 432
• BIOL 433
• BMSC 432
• BMSC 433
• CBNS 580
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Computer Graphics

Have previously completed four courses:

• COMP 308
• Three further courses from:
  
  • COMP 300-399
  • NWEN 300-399
  • SWEN 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• CGRA 408
• CGRA 409
• Further approved courses worth 90 points, including at least 30 points from CGRA, COMP and SWEN, from:
  • CGRA 401-489
  • COMP 401-479
  • MDDN 401-479
  • SWEN 401-479

Computer Science

Have previously completed four courses from:

• COMP 300-399
• NWEN 300-399
• SWEN 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• COMP 400-489
• NWEN 400-489
• SWEN 400-489

Conservation Biology

Have previously completed:

• STAT 193 or equivalent  
• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete BIOL 420 and further courses worth 90 points from:

• BIOL 400-440
• BIOL 519
• ERES 525
• ERES 526
• ERES 527
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Have previously completed eight courses:

• PSYC 232
• Three further courses from PSYC 200-299
• PSYC 325
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete four courses:

• PSYC 433
• PSYC 434
• Two further courses from:
• • PSYC 423
  • PSYC 431
  • PSYC 432

Complete further courses worth 60 points from:

• PSYC 400-448
• CPSY 580

Ecological Restoration

Have previously completed:

• STAT 193 or equivalent  
• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete ERES 525 and ERES 526

Complete courses worth 60 points from:

• BIOL 403
• BIOL 404
• BIOL 421-440
• ENVI 503-508
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Ecology and Biodiversity

Have previously completed:

• STAT 193 or equivalent 
• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete either BIOL 405 or BIOL 422

Complete courses worth 30 points from:

• BIOL 400-440
• BIOL 519
• ERES 525
• ERES 526
• ERES 527
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Electronic and Computer Systems

• Have previously completed approved 300-level or higher courses worth 60 points from
  • Courses listed for the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
  • PHYS 300-399

Complete approved courses worth 90 points from:

• ECEN 400-479
• ENGR 440
• ELCO 489
• ELCO 580

Complete further approved 400-level courses worth 30 points from those listed for the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

Forensic Psychology

Have previously completed four courses:

• PSYC 325 or an approved substitute
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete PSYC 412 and PSYC 442

Complete courses worth 90 points from:

• FPSY 400-580
• PSYC 400-488

Important information

• You may replace courses worth up to 30 points with the approval of the head of school.

Questions

Subject exceptions

Entry: 

Geography

Have previously completed approved courses worth 60 points from GEOG 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• GEOG 400-489
• GEOG 580
• PHYG 400-488

Geology

Have previously completed:

• ESCI 341
• ESCI 342
• Further courses worth 60 points from ESCI 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• ESCI 400-489
• ESCI 580
• PGEO 401

Geophysics

Have previously completed approved courses worth 60 points from:

• ESCI 300-399
• GPHS 300-399
• MATH 300-399
• PHYS 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• ESCI 407
• ESCI 411
• GPHS 400-489
• GPHS 580
• MATH 461
• PGEO 401

Marine Biology

Have previously completed:

• STAT 193 or equivalent
• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete BIOL 423

Complete further approved courses worth 90 points from:

• BIOL 400-440
• BIOL 519
• ERES 525
• ERES 526
• ERES 527
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Mathematics

Have previously completed four approved courses from MATH 300-399

Complete approved courses worth 120 points from MATH 400-489

Molecular Microbiology

Have previously completed four courses:

• BIOL 340
• BMSC 301
• BTEC 201
• One course from:
• • BIOL 236
  • BMSC 334
  • BTEC 301

Complete BIOL 430 and MBIO 434

Complete courses worth 60 points from:

• BIOL 400-429
• BIOL 431-439
• BIOL 489
• BMSC 401
• MBIO 440

Petroleum Geoscience

Have previously completed:

• ESCI 341
• ESCI 342
• Further courses worth 70 points from ESCI 300-399

Complete seven courses:

• PGEO 401
• PGEO 511
• PGEO 580
• ESCI 403
• ESCI 406
• ESCI 407
• ESCI 411

Physical Geography

Have previously completed:

• Either GEOG 318 or GEOG 319
• GEOG 323
• Further approved 300-level courses worth 20 points from courses listed for the BSc

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• PHYG 404-489
• PHYG 580

Physics

Have previously completed four courses:

• PHYS 304
• PHYS 305
• PHYS 307
• PHYS 309

Complete courses worth 120 points from PHYS 400-491

Psychology

Have previously completed:

• PSYC 232
• Further 200-level PSYC courses worth at least 45 points
• PSYC 325
• 300-level PSYC courses worth at least 45 points

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• PSYC 400-489
• CBNS 580
• CPSY 580

Statistics

Have previously completed courses worth 45 points from:

• MATH 353
• MATH 377
• OPRE 300-399
• STAT 300-391
• STAT 393-399

Complete approved courses worth 120 points, including at least 60 points from MATH 477 and 400 level OPRE, STAT and STOR, from:

• MATH 401-489
• OPRE 401-489
• STAT 401-489
• STOR 401-489
• Other courses approved by the head of school

Stochastic Processes in Finance and Insurance

Have previously completed:

• Courses worth 45 points from:
  • MATH 301
  • MATH 312
  • MATH 377
  • STAT 332
• Further approved courses worth 30 points from:
  • MATH 300-399
  • ECON 300-399
  • FINA 300-399
  • OPRE 300-399
  • STAT 300-399

Complete courses worth at least 45 points from:

• MATH 441
• MATH 442
• STAT 433
• STAT 435
• STAT 437
• STAT 457

Complete further courses to total 120 points from:

• MATH 441
• MATH 442
• MATH 461
• MATH 462
• MATH 464
• MATH 477
• OPRE 401-489
• STAT 401-489
• STOR 401-489
• Other approved alternatives