Course details

Summary

We live in an ‘Information Age' where access to information, information systems and digital technology play a major role in organisations. With information systems we can change how we work, how we communicate, and how we do business.

Information Systems (IS) is about how businesses use information technology to become smarter, better, faster, and achieve their strategic goals. IS enables businesses to create value, provide solutions to business problems, and use technology to innovate and create new business opportunities. Information Systems addresses the design, development and delivery of solutions to business problems, and the management of IS projects, IS personnel and IS resources.

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

Information Systems is one of the fastest growing areas for study and employment. It is on the long-term skill shortage list for New Zealand and there is also a global shortage in this area, ensuring high demand and salaries for graduates. IS graduates with a good mix of business and technical skills and knowledge would be well-placed to take up these opportunities.

For IS graduates there are many exciting career options: business analyst/consultant, business process analyst/consultant, business intelligence analyst, systems analyst, IS implementation consultant, IT project manager, IS manager.

IS expertise is marketable worldwide and can open the door to even more exciting and challenging careers. Many of our graduates are now in key positions all around the world including the UK, USA, Hong Kong and Australia.

If you take Computer Science/Software Engineering with IS, your options also include: solutions architect, software engineer, applications developer, programmer/analyst, database administrator, and website designer/developer.

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.