Develop your leadership in the public sector
The Postgraduate Certificate in Public Management (PGCertPM) puts you on a pathway to being a more effective public manager. It will boost your ability to influence the strategic and operational direction of public-sector organisations.
In this programme, you’ll benefit from our direct engagement with government agencies, gaining insight into the management processes that drive the public sector.
The PGCertPM can be your first step towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Public Management, if you’re not yet ready to commit to a longer qualification.
Who can study for this qualification
The Postgraduate Certificate in Public Management is designed for those who hold—or want to hold—management positions in public-sector organisations.
To get into the PGCertPM, it’s helpful to have at least two years of experience working in the public sector. But we also welcome applications from experienced professionals who don’t have a degree, as well as from recent graduates with suitable grades.
What you’ll learn
Through the PGCertPM, you’ll develop core capabilities in:
- public governance and public-sector reform
- financial and resource management, including budgets and organisational capital
- designing, delivering, and evaluating innovative public programmes and services
You’ll study four courses that combine theory and practice, covering advanced topics in policy analysis, economics, the role of government, and managing people and public resources. These courses equip you with the skills to lead and manage in the public sector.
How you’ll study
While some parts of the programme may be available online, the PGCertPM is primarily designed around in-person participation. Most of the courses are taught in three to five blocks per trimester.
You choose four courses from a pool of six. Two are offered in Trimester 1 and four in Trimester 2. So if you start in Trimester 2, you can complete the PGCertPM in a single trimester (half a year). If you start in Trimester 1, you’ll need to spread your study across more than one trimester.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
Get in touch and a copy of our prospectus, or get in touch directly with our Recruitment Manager, Jade Chiam.
Email: jade.chiam@vuw.ac.nz
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the PGCertPM shall have:
(i) completed a New Zealand Bachelor’s degree or another degree approved by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Wellington School of Business and Government;
(ii) had two years of relevant work experience (this requirement may be waived by the Head of the School of Government in special cases); and
(iii) been accepted by the head of school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the associate dean for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the PGCertPM
2. Except as provided in section 5, the course of study for the PGCertPM shall consist of courses worth 60 points from Part 1 of the MPM or, with the permission of the head of school, other approved courses from the MPM Schedule.
3. (a) A candidate for the PGCertPM shall normally complete the certificate within two years of first enrolling in it.
(b) The head of school may extend the maximum period in (a) in special cases.
4. A candidate who has been awarded the PGCertPM shall abandon that qualification upon being awarded the PGDipPM.
Future careers
If you're already working in a government or non-governmental organisation—or want to move into this field—the PGCertPM is a good choice.
You could find leadership and management work in:
- central, local, or regional government
- businesses or consultancies
- not-for-profits or iwi.
More career information
Find out more about careers in public management.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Public Management
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The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
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This scholarship is for a Master's research project on the tensions concerning insurability and climate adaptation in Aotearoa New Zealand, ideally with a particular focus on marae-centred communities.
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The fund, which was established at the time of the renovation of the C3 lecture theatre, is to assist a second-year student from any faculty in their studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Scholarships for international students
We're currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Public Management
-
The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
-
This scholarship is for a Master's research project on the tensions concerning insurability and climate adaptation in Aotearoa New Zealand, ideally with a particular focus on marae-centred communities.
-
The scholarship was established through the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation as a result of a bequest in his will made by Mr Archie Dunningham, former City Librarian at Dunedin Public Library, for a scholarship to be named in honour of Miss Nora Bateson. Nora Bateson was Director of the New Zealand Library School from 1948-1953.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Why Wellington
Wellington is New Zealand’s hub of public management. Our lecturers actively collaborate with leaders in the public sector, exchanging ideas on key policy and management issues.
Our academic staff have strong research relationships with the Treasury New Zealand and other departments in central and local government.
And we are the only New Zealand university connected to the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). This connection ensures your qualification is recognised for quality and relevance across the public sector.
Further research or study
The Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and Master of Public Management form a tiered pathway. Courses you complete in the Certificate or Diploma can count towards the Master’s, so you can build your qualification over time.
The Postgraduate Diploma (120 points) builds on this foundation with more advanced study and elective courses that align with your interests and career goals.
The Master of Public Management (180 points) is the most comprehensive qualification. It builds advanced expertise and strong analytical skills for career progression and leadership in public management.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.