Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma in Construction – PGDipConstr

The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction is a stepping stone to a research-based degree. You’ll become a construction professional, with relevant knowledge and skills the industry needs.

Type of qualification

Postgraduate diploma

Level of study

Postgraduate study
NZQF level 8

Time to complete

1 year full-time (120 credits)
Part-time available

International students

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand, or studying online outside New Zealand

Key dates

Admission application due dates
Course enrolment dates for accepted students
Semester dates

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Construction – PGDipConstr

World-leading expertise

Massey University construction staff have a wide range of industry and research experience. You’ll work with people who know how the industry works and what potential employers are looking for. The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction will help you become a construction professional, with relevant knowledge and skills the industry needs.

You will be in demand

There is a shortage of qualified graduates with skills in this area. There is over $100 billion in construction work (covering both building and infrastructure work) to be done in New Zealand alone over the next 30 years. Demand in many countries beyond New Zealand is even bigger.

There is massive work to be done and there is high demand at all levels of work in the construction industry - ranging from construction tradespeople to construction professionals.

Further study

If you complete the qualification at a satisfactory level you may be able to proceed to the Master of Construction. If so, credits you have gained through this qualification may be credited to the master's qualification.

A PGDipConstr is a good fit if you:

• have an undergraduate construction degree, or are near completion
• are interested in postgraduate construction study, but don’t have a research background
• would like to undertake a predominantly taught postgraduate qualification.

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction you will have been awarded or qualified for:

• the Bachelor of Construction degree, or equivalent, or
• a relevant Bachelor’s degree followed by a relevant Postgraduate Certificate or an equivalent qualification.

You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit

Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction or Merit.

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

• review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• contact us through the Get advice button on this page.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Maximum time limits for completion

There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

Courses and specialisations

Key terms

Courses

• Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey. Course code
• Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course , the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study). Credits
• Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification. Specialisations
• Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Credit summary

120 credits

Endorsement option

• Courses from 1 Endorsement – 75 credits
• Courses from the Schedule – 45 credits

No endorsement option

• Courses from the Schedule – 120 credits

A specialisation (endorsement) is optional, requiring at least 75 credits in the endorsement.

Course planning key

Prerequisites

• Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses. Corequisites
• Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses. Restrictions
• Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Schedule A: Endorsements

The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction may be awarded with or without a specialisation (endorsement).

Specialisations

• Construction Law
• Construction Project Management
• Digital Built Environment
• Quantity Surveying
• Sustainable Built Environment
• Without Specialisation

Schedule B: Elective courses

• International Construction
• Leadership and Teamwork
• Managing Financial Resources
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Digital Transformation
• Emergency Management
• Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development Goals in Practice
• Planning Law
• Implementation and Management of Systems Security
• Location Systems: Spatial Databases, Tools and Applications
• Location Data: Mapping, Analysis and Visualisation
• User Interface Design and Evaluation
• Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Environmental Economic Issues
• Economic Growth, International and Development Economics
• Supply Chain Analytics
• Value Chain Management
• Quality Improvement
• Quality System Development and Management

Fees and scholarships

2026 tuition fees

• Domestic students: $11,615 – $11,645
• International students: $46,100 – $50,190

Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Course fees

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students.

Scholarship and award opportunities

• Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship

Careers and job opportunities

On completion of the postgraduate diploma, you will be well equipped to aim for senior positions in the industry after gaining requisite experience. Alternatively, you could continue on to the master’s, provided you meet the required academic performance.

Sought-after by employers

International trends are for employers to reward postgraduate study well, especially in larger enterprises. The skills you learn are increasingly recognised as setting you apart from other potential employees.

Earn more

A 2017 Ministry of Education publication, "The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates", found that, in New Zealand, earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed.