Postgraduate Certificate in Marine Conservation

With the increasing pressures on the marine environment, both in the South Pacific region and worldwide, experts in the conservation and management of marine organisms and ecosystems are in high demand.

As a world-leader in marine conservation, New Zealand is a great place to develop your expertise in the field. Its unique and lengthy coastline is home to an abundance of marine organisms—from the tiny phytoplankton to the endangered New Zealand sea lion.

Study with our School of Biological Sciences, a leader in marine biology research, and learn how to make a positive impact on these valuable ecosystems around the world. Examine marine conservation issues and practice in New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific, and the wider Indo-Pacific region. What you learn from these examples can be applied worldwide.

Earth and Marine Sciences at Te Herenga Waka are ranked in the top 150 in the world in the 2023 QS World Rankings by Subject.

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you'll need:

A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, normally with an average grade of at least B+ in the relevant 300-level courses.

To be accepted by the programme director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0

TOEFL: minimum score of 90 for the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing

Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50)

Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purpose (EAP) programme: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)

NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)