Graduate Diploma in Accounting

NMIT is part of Te Pūkenga

This means that you will now graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification. Read more
Locations and dates

Marlborough:

16 February 2026

Part-time study only

Nelson:

16 February 2026

Part-time study only
Study options

Full time or part time
Length

1 year full time (or equivalent part-time study); 40 weeks including 6 weeks of study breaks
Total credits

120
Fees

2025: Part-time only - $966 plus $33 Student Services Levy per course

A Compulsory Student Services Levy applies (2025; $2.17 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.
National qualification code

3875

Understand and process accounting information in a range of business environments.

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting allows you to add a specialisation in accounting with an elective option in project management, strategic management and more to further your career.

You will use your existing graduate skills or extensive experience to start your business study at the equivalent level to the final year of a business degree.

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting is a great option if you are seeking promotion in your existing employment, wish to widen your skills and knowledge base and keep ahead in the knowledge game or if you are considering a career change, including self-employment.

Your studies will see you process and evaluate a full set of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices in New Zealand. On completion, you will demonstrate a technical, analytical and conceptual understanding of the role of accounting in the business environment.

Aims of the programme

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting give students who already have a degree, or extensive business experience, an opportunity to pursue study in a specific business discipline at an advanced undergraduate level.

Graduates of the Grad Dip Accounting programme will have the personal attributes, specialist knowledge and professional skills necessary to make an immediate and valuable contribution in demanding and evolving business environments.

Key features

One year full time or longer part time
Open entry for any person with an undergraduate degree
Receive quality supervision from expert advisors for level 7 research project BUS750 Advanced Business Project
Use recognition of prior undergraduate study, or extensive work experience, to skip courses you already hold the necessary skills and knowledge in (see 'Recognition of Academic Credit’ below)

Structure

Study full time over one year (two semesters plus study breaks), or part-time. Courses are run on our Nelson/Marlborough campus.

See 'Classes and Study hours' for more information.

Marlborough campus via video link

The majority of classes will be video linked from our Nelson campus for students studying on our Marlborough campus. Video link students meet and study together on the Marlborough campus then interact with their fellow students, and the lecturer, in Nelson via the video linking software.

Marlborough students have full access to Library Learner Services and one on one tutor sessions as required.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline.

Alternative requirements

Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic Entry Requirements, but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternative entry by the Curriculum Manager (or delegate).

English language requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants will need to provide a result from a test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives English Proficiency Outcomes Table:(external link)

IELTS 6.0 Academic (no lower than 5.5 in each band),

Note: Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, may contact NMIT for an assessment

Applicants who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English language skills

IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form and are valid for two years from the date of the test

-

Recommendation

It is strongly recommended that students are able to competently utilise digital applications and technologies, and have access to same.

Career opportunities and study pathways

Graduates will be qualified to work in a range of accounting roles including financial accounting, management accounting and business consulting. They will be able to add a strong financial understanding to a non-accounting occupation.

Potential roles after graduation include:

Accounts/PAYE Assistant
Auditor
Financial Accountant
Management Accountant
Systems Accountant
Taxation Accountant
Financial Advisor

Further educational opportunities might be completing the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting on a pathway to becoming a Chartered Accountant or progressing to postgraduate study in business or related fields at NMIT.

Classes and study hours

This programme is run on the NMIT Semester model with two 17 week semesters plus an optional 8 week summer school semester in a calendar year. Four courses per semester is considered full-time study.

When will I attend class?

A face to face student can expect to attend two, two hour sessions each week per course.

Therefore a full time student (taking four courses per semester) can expect to attend eight, two hour sessions each week.

These sessions are run between 8am and 7pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday).

How much time do I need to spend studying each semester?

As a general indication, for all level 5-7 (15 credit) courses, you can expect

60 hours of teaching (4 hours per week for 17 weeks) in a classroom environment, face to face or online.
90 self-directed learning (averaging 6 hours per week) working through course material and assignments in your own time.

Courses and pre-requisites

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Accounting, the student will have met the requirements shown below:

Compulsory Courses	Pre-requisites	Level	Credits
RES680 Research Methods	QNT565 or equivalent	6	15
BAC601 Financial Accounting OR ACC601 Financial Accounting	BAC501, BAC502 or equivalent ACC500 or ACC502 and ACC503 or equivalent	6	15
BAC602 Management Accounting OR ACC602 Management Accounting	BAC501, BAC502, BAC503, BAC504 or equivalent ACC500 or ACC502 or equivalent	6	15
BAC701 Advanced Financial Reporting OR ACC701 Advanced Financial Reporting	BAC601 or equivalent ACC601 or equivalent	7	15
BAC702 Advanced Management Accounting OR ACC702 Advanced Management Accounting	BAC602 or equivalent ACC602 or equivalent	7	15
BUS750 Advanced Business Project	RES680 plus 15 credits Accounting at L7 or 30 credits Management at L6 or 30 credits Marketing at L6	7	30
Elective Courses		Level	Credits
Business qualification course		7	15
Compulsory Credits			105
Elective Credits			15
Total Credits for completion of the Graduate Diploma in Accounting			120

Graduate outcomes

Graduate Diploma in Accounting graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate and apply core business competences, such as but not limited to - critical thinking, decision making, negotiation, presentation, problem solving, managing self and others.
Research, assess and critically evaluate business information relevant to their selected business areas and business environment and communicate this information in both written and oral form.
Evaluate and adopt different approaches to decision making as required by the environment.
Practise business in a legal, sustainable, ethical and culturally appropriate manner.
Demonstrate a technical, analytical and conceptual understanding of the role of accounting in the business environment.
Process and evaluate a full set of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices in New Zealand.

Recognition of Academic Credit (RAC)

Evidence of previous study or extensive work experience can be used to apply for recognition of academic credit (RAC), also known as Recognition of prior Learning (RPL) or Cross credit (CC) potentially allowing you to skip courses which you can show you hold the required skills and knowledge for already.

If you think you may be eligible for Recognition of Academic Credit (RAC), contact us about making an appointment to discuss this with our Student Learning Advisor. It is useful to bring along documentation such as:

Previous academic transcripts
Course Descriptors or Syllabus including Learning Outcomes
Curriculum vitae and work history

The Student Learning Advisor will help you assess your eligibility for Recognition of Academic Credit, and advise you on what further evidence you may need to provide and fees. It is recommended the RAC processes is started a minimum of eight weeks prior to the course start date to ensure time for assessment and processing.

Find out more about the NMIT Policies and Procedures(external link) around Recognition of Academic Credit.

Filter