Graduate Diploma in Event Management
Business & Management
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Gain the skills to organise, promote and manage events of all sizes, from entertainment and sports to conferences and community functions. Study full-time or part-time on campus in Dunedin at NZQA Level 7.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin Campus, Dunedin
It will take a total of 1 year
Core skills this course teaches
Plan, promote and deliver successful events
Apply project management principles to organise and deliver a variety of events, including logistics, marketing, and evaluation.
Manage event logistics and risk
Coordinate health and safety, risk management, crowd control, and on-site operations for different event settings.
Develop event marketing and sponsorship strategies
Create marketing and sponsorship plans; prepare pitches and presentations for event sponsorship.
What You're Signing Up For
This one-year graduate diploma is designed for those seeking a career in event management and builds on prior qualifications or experience. You'll learn to plan, coordinate, promote, execute, and evaluate a range of events. The programme is delivered by experienced industry professionals, includes hands-on event projects, and offers both full-time and part-time study options on campus in Dunedin. Career prospects are strong, with opportunities in diverse sectors such as hospitality, tourism, and corporate event planning.
Course Content
- Project Management: Principles, initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, closure, and review.
- Event Logistics: Health and safety, risk management, crowd control, logistics coordination at actual events.
- Event Planning and Management: Creating event plans, evaluating events, practical volunteering.
- Event Marketing and Sponsorship: Marketing plans, communications, sponsorship proposals and presentations.
- Event Project: Planning, resourcing, marketing, finances, HR, event execution with industry clients.
- Organisational Research Design: Research approaches, proposal design, legal and ethical standards in research.
- Industry Project: 200-hour applied project in a workplace/industry involving research and report writing.
What you need to know first
An undergraduate degree OR appropriate degree-equivalent practical, professional or scholarly experience.
You cannot enrol in a major already completed at undergraduate level.
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Events
Business
Tourism
Hospitality
Sports
Community Engagement
Future employment opportunities might be
Event Manager
Conference Coordinator
Festival or Concert Organiser
Corporate Event Planner
Sponsorship Coordinator
Community Events Coordinator
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.