Course details

Summary

Economics is the study of how people behave. Every day, people and society are confronted by choices. Should you go to university or start a career? What should you do with your next dollar? Should the government raise the minimum wage, or not? How do we address the big issues in the world such as poverty and climate change?

Choices involve trade-offs where we are choosing between two things. The outcomes of choices have both costs and benefits to consider. Economics is the study of how people and societies make such decisions in the production, exchange, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

At UC, students can specialise in Economics or study it alongside other disciplines. As Economics can be studied as part of an Arts, Commerce or Science degree, you can decide which combination suits your personal strengths and interest's best. Common combinations include studying Economics with Finance, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology and Mathematics. Students, who wish to combine the study of Economics with another business discipline as part of a commerce degree, may be interested in the Business Economics major.

The Graduate Diploma in Commerce offers students an opportunity to complement and extend their undergraduate studies with further study in commerce subject. It is ideal for those who wish to transition into postgraduate study and is also suitable for graduates with a non-commerce degree who have an interest or career goals in any of these areas.

Qualification structure and duration

Graduate Diploma in Commerce (GradDipCom) students is required to pass at least 120 points from courses at 200 or 300-level from the Bachelor of Commerce. Of these, 75 points must be at 300-level including 60 points in a single subject of the diploma.

The flexible structure means students can tailor their programme according to their immediate needs and career goals.

Further study

Students will graduate having obtained advanced knowledge in their subject of choice, which will enable them to progress into a research-based postgraduate qualification in this area if they wish. UC offers a range of master's qualifications and the Doctor of Philosophy.

Career opportunities

Graduates in Economics find employment in many areas of government and business, where it is recognised that an economist's education provides valuable specialist training for a professional career as well as good general preparation and background for an executive, entrepreneurial or administrative career.

The increasingly large volume of information available to decision makers has created a demand for people with well-developed quantitative analysis skills, such as those developed in econometrics.

Professional economists are employed to conduct research and give advice on economic matters in various organisations such as government ministries and state-owned enterprises (eg, Treasury, Health, Social Development, Agriculture and Forestry, and Foreign Affairs and Trade). Graduates also find work in marketing organisations, the Reserve Bank, Statistics New Zealand, trading and merchant banks, stock broking, insurance, trade commissions, local authorities, market research and other consultancies, and large businesses.

Those who are passionate about economics and education can also go on to teaching careers in schools or universities.

Entry criteria

Graduate diplomas require a relevant bachelor's degree. If you gained your qualifications overseas, these will need to be assessed to ensure they are of an equivalent standard.

Acceptance for the programme will depend on the standard and relevance of previous studies. Candidates are expected to have attained at least a B+ GPA in their final year of undergraduate study. All candidates need to be approved by the Dean of Commerce.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.