Course details

Summary

The major objective of the Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management (PGDipWLM) is to train students with the skills necessary for employment in some aspect of wildlife or ecological management or research. Other important goals of the course are to develop in students:

• an understanding of the ecological basis of conservation, harvest management and pest control.
• skills in handling, marking, observing and censuring wild animals.
• an appreciation of the practical realities of wildlife management from the administrative and legal points of view.
• a knowledge of the biology, ecology and behaviour of wild animals in New Zealand.
• skills in communicating about the management of, and scientific research of, ecological communities. Verbal presentations, debating, dealing with the media, popular science writing and scientific report writing are all emphasised and taught.

Papers

The programme shall consist of 120 points comprising:

• WILM 401 Principles of Wildlife Management
• WILM 402 Techniques of Wildlife Management
• Plus at least 80 points from WILM, ZOOL and other 400-level papers

Notes: Must include WILM 404 (or equivalent) if ZOOL 316 has not been passed previously.

A candidate may be exempted from some of the required papers as prescribed above on the basis of previous study.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences), on the advice of the Head of the Department of Zoology and the Director of the Wildlife Management diploma programme.
Every applicant shall either

• have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science, or equivalent, in Zoology, Biology, or Ecology; or
• have alternative qualifications or experience in wildlife management or administration acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

English Language Requirements: IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.