Become a leader in promoting physical activity
Develop the skills to promote the health of Aotearoa New Zealanders. If you’re working a health professional, educator, or physical activity practitioner, this postgraduate diploma will help advance your career.
You’ll study exercise science, health promotion, and Māori models of wellbeing (hauora). Your study will give you the cultural and practical skills to research, analyse, and develop programmes to promote New Zealanders’ physical activity and hauora.
You’ll graduate with skills to advance your career in health promotion, sports development, community recreation, education, and related policy roles.
Who can study for this qualification
The PGDipPAH is a good way to start or build on your career in physical activity, sport, play, and health. It’s a good fit for you if:
- you're a physical activity and health practitioner looking to develop advanced knowledge and skills
- you've graduated in another area and are looking to move into the physical activity sector.
What you’ll learn
The PGDipPAH includes five core courses in:
- health promotion theory and practice
- emerging issues in health promotion
- research or evaluation methods
- emerging issues in physical activity
- physical activity and the environment.
You also choose another course from three options:
- Innovative Approaches to Physical Activity and Public Health—develop practical skills in using evidence to create effective policy, practice and advocacy for physical activity
- Active Play—learn how to promote active play across a person’s lifespan
- Sport for Development—learn the theory and practice for promoting sport-for-development initiatives.
How you’ll study
This is a coursework-based programme. Each course is delivered in two blocks, each with a workshop of 2–3 days in Wellington. The rest of your learning is online.
Part- and full-time study options
This is a flexible qualification that you can adapt your course schedule around your commitments. You can study full time over three trimesters, or part time.
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 PGDipPAH shall have:
(i) completed a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline; and
(ii) 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 (Students) for a candidate who has extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the PGDipPAH
2. The course of study for the PGDipPAH shall consist of courses worth at least 120 points from Part 1 (i)(ii)(iii) of the MPAH.
Part 1 of the MPAH:
(i) Health Promotion Theory and Practice (HLWB 525), Emerging Issues in Health Promotion (HLWB 526), Ngā Take o Kori Tinana me te Hauora / Emerging Issues in Physical Activity and Wellbeing (PAAH 501), Physical Activity and the Environment / Kori Tinana me te Taiao (PAAH 502)
(ii) Research Methods (HLTH 521) or 528
(iii) 15 further 400- or 500-level points from MPAH and MHlth schedules, or other approved courses
3. (a) A candidate for the PGDipPAH shall normally complete the diploma within three years of first enrolling in it.
(b) The Associate Dean (Students) may extend the maximum period in (a) in special cases.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Future careers
If you’re new to the field, you could enter roles in government or community organisations, such as:
- community or play development officer
- health promoter or recreation coordinator
- policy analyst or workplace wellbeing adviser.
If you’re already working in physical activity promotion, your postgraduate qualification could help you move into senior roles in programme design, project management, or policy analysis.
More career information
Find out more about careers in health and wellbeing.
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 health and wellbeing
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Scholarships for international students
We are 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 health and wellbeing
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
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 at the heart of where Aotearoa New Zealand’s health policy is made. By studying here you'll have direct access to Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa's national headquarters, and other key health and physical activity organisations that shaped this programme.
The city's compact size means you can easily connect with government health agencies, community sport organisations, and public health practitioners who are leading physical activity promotion nationwide.
The capital's concentration of policy makers and health sector leaders creates gives you excellent networking and practical learning opportunities.
A family of related qualifications
We offer three qualifications in postgraduate Physical Activity and Hauora. These are ‘staircased’, so that courses completed for a smaller qualification can count towards a larger one.
- Master of Physical Activity and Hauora (MPAH)—180 points
- Postgraduate Diploma in Physical Activity and Hauora (PGDipPAH)—120 points
- Postgraduate Certificate in Physical Activity and Hauora (PGCertPAH)—60 points
Choose the qualification with the time commitment and career benefits that suit you.
If you start with the Certificate or Diploma, you can apply to transfer to the Master’s degree at a later stage.
If you’re working towards the Master’s but can’t complete it for some reason, you may have enough points to be awarded the Certificate or Diploma.
Find out more about our study options in this subject.
Get in touch
Contact the programme director for more information about the qualification contents.
Lara AndrewsLecturer (Teaching) in Physical Activity & Wellbeing
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.